Healing the Wounds of War: History

Since the development of the Healing the Wounds of War (HWW) program in Bosnia in 1997, CMBM and its founder, Dr. James Gordon, have used the approach to improve the lives of children and adults affected by disaster both internationally and nationwide.

We have now successfully implemented the HWW program in:

  • Kosovo
  • Israel
  • Gaza
  • New York City post-9/11 with firefighters and their families

We continue to work successfully with local and state governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations and professionals in private practice to allow for the integration of the model in existing structures so to reach the wider community and promote sustainability of the program.

Healing the Wounds of War Timeline:

  • 1997: Healing the Wounds of War (HWW) begins in Bosnia led by CMBM’s founder and director, Dr. James Gordon.
  • 1999- present: CMBM begins implementation of the HWW program in Kosovo after the 1999 NATO-led war ended the ethnic cleansing of Albanians by Serbian military forces. CMBM trains over 600 Kosovar health and mental health professionals, teachers, and community leaders to deal with their own stress and trauma, and to work with the population as whole. A local faculty comprised of the leading psychiatrists and psychologists in Kosovo has subsequently trained all professionals within the national community mental health system and they continue to train and consult with these professionals as they care for and treat people traumatized by war throughout Kosovo.
  • June 2002: firefighters, wives, widows, children, and their counselors attended a CMBM weekend retreat held by CMBM. They are granted an opportunity to speak openly of their own stress, sadness, anger and grief after 9/11 and learn techniques, such as relaxation, meditation, imagery, drawings, biofeedback, movement and yoga- which they could then use to help themselves.
  • Summer 2002- present: prominent Israeli and Palestinian psychologists independently contact CMBM and Dr. James Gordon asking for his help in treating children suffering from PTSD. CMBM begins initial development and outreach for HWW in the Middle East and hires in-country program coordinators. CMBM then implements professional training, advanced training and leadership training programs in Israel and Gaza respectively with participants representing various institutions, ministries and trauma centers throughout the region.
  • June 2005: CMBM receives a matching $2.23 million grant from the Atlantic Philanthropies for the HWW program in Israel and Gaza. For every dollar received, Atlantic Philanthropies donates two. Read press release

The Center for Mind-Body Medicine continues to explore additional areas in which we can be of service to populations traumatized by natural or man-made disaster, such as returning veterans and Americans affected by Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.

If you would like to make a contribution to the Healing the Wounds of War program, please mail a CMBM online donation form to:

The Center for Mind-Body Medicine
ATTN: Namrata Mehta
5225 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 414
Washington, DC 20015