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Dr. Edith Eva Eger is a clinical psychologist, Holocaust survivor, writer, and public speaker, who is well recognized for her efforts in helping people overcome emotional trauma. Dr. Eger was born on September 29, 1927 in the town of Kosice, Slovakia. In 2017, she published a best selling memoir called The Choice: Embrace the Possible.

Personal Life

Edith grew up as the youngest child alongside two sisters, Klara and Magda. Edith's father owned a tailor shop that was well-regarded in their hometown while Edith's mother was a civil servant. During childhood, Edith suffered from a botched medical procedure condition that left one eye crossed, often leaving her feeling insecure about her appearance. When she was 10, the issue was finally corrected through surgery.

Growing up, Edith longed to stand out and be unique from her sisters. She began doing ballet, gymnastics, and participating in book club readings. Edith also aspired to join the 1944 Olympics gymnastics training team, but was removed due to her Jewish background. The Hungarian government began enacting anti-Jewish laws at the time and anti-Semitism tensions began rising in her town. Some of her neighbors and relatives had began fleeing the country, but Edith's family remained.

In 1944, Edith's town was occupied by German forces in the middle of the night. The town's occupants were forced to live in brick factories for several weeks before being deported to the Auschwitz concentration camp in May.

Edith lost both of her parents. Her mother was sent to a gas chamber shortly after arriving at the camp. That same day, Dr. Josef Mengele, a notorious Nazi doctor who performed sadistic medical experiments on Jewish prisoners, forced Edith to dance for his entertainment. Fearing death if she did not comply, Edith danced and was later thanked with a piece of bread.

In her memoir, Edith remembers that she and the other prisoners were forced to donate blood every few weeks for the benefit of wounded German soldiers. In addition to harsh conditions, Edith suffered from malnutrition, typhoid fever, pneumonia, and pleurisy. She sustained significant back injuries during her time at Auschwitz.

In 1945, Edith was finally freed from the concentration camp by American soldiers. After the war subsided, Edith moved to Czechoslovakia where, in a hospital, she met Béla Eger, the man she would eventually marry in 1946. In 1949, they moved to the United States to commence a new life. Edith dealt with survivor's guilt, depression, and suicidal thoughts in the aftermath of her experiences at Auschwitz.

Education & Sources of Inspiration

In 1969, Edith received her bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Texas, El Paso. For her doctorate research, she interviewed fellow concentration camp survivors to learn more about how a person survives and even thrives in the wake of trauma. She was interested in how people healed and created lives of joy, purpose, and passion no matter what wounds they have suffered. Additionally, in interviewing people with whom she shared a traumatic past, she was able to lay a foundation for her own healing and self-recovery. She earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Saybrook University in 1978.

In her memoir, Edith expressed interest in multiple topics of psychology. She was highly interested in the Calamity Theory of Growth posited by Richard Farson, which states that while tragedies can sometimes paradoxically damage people, they can nevertheless serve as growth experiences. Edith was interested in how traumatic experiences and hardships could lay the groundwork for self-transformation in a person's life. Edith was also fascinated by the field of Positive Psychology and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy.

Clinical Work

Currently, Edith holds a clinical practice in the state of California as well as a faculty appointment at the University of California, San Diego. She specializes in treating people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addiction, and depression. Edith characterizes her therapy as "C.H.O.I.C.E" therapy, in which freedom and healing from trauma stems from 6 internal components - compassion, humor, optimism, intuition, curiosity, and self-expression. She is a consultant for United States Navy and Army in resilience training. Edith is also a motivational public speaker, giving speeches and Ted Talks at universities across the country.

Recognitions

• 2017 National Jewish Book Award for "The Choice: Embrace the Possible" in Krauss Family's Biography, Autobiography, and Memoir category. This awards program recognizes exceptional Jewish literature.
• 2018 Christopher Award for "The Choice: Embrace the Possible." This award acknowledges filmmakers, authors, and artists who have a positive and motivational impact on society.
• Featured on interviews with Oprah Winfrey and Larry King Now.
• Story featured in Holocaust documentary on Dutch National Television.