Bessel van der Kolk is one of the world's foremost experts on trauma, having revolutionized our understanding of how the body processes psychological stress. As founder of the Trauma Center in Boston and professor of psychiatry at Boston University, his research has transformed trauma treatment by integrating body-based approaches with traditional therapy. His bestselling book The Body Keeps the Score has brought trauma science to mainstream awareness. Van der Kolk's work bridges neuroscience, psychology, and somatic experience, making him uniquely qualified to explore James's insights into religious experience through a modern scientific lens.