Earl Spencer had same therapy for trauma as Prince Harry

Earl Spencer disclosed that he also underwent therapy for trauma just like Prince Harry did.

The recently published memoir, A Very Private School, reveals the extent of mistreatment that was inflicted upon the older brother of the late Princess Diana during his boarding school years at Maidwell Hall.

Earl Spencer, who is currently 59 years old, has revealed that he underwent therapy in order to deal with the physical, sexual and emotional abuse that he endured during his time at a prep school located in Northamptonshire. This information was disclosed following the recent release of his book. The abuse took place from 1972 to 1977.

"I undergo EMDR therapy, a type of treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder," he disclosed.

Back in 2001, the Duke of Sussex disclosed that he had undergone a kind of therapy known as PTSD treatment. This therapy was relatively new at that time. He shared this experience as a part of his AppleTV series, The Me You Can’t See.

The Duke clarified that he employed EMDR (a type of therapy that uses eye movements to help process traumatic memories) to address four or five distressing memories from his youth that still affected him.

EMDR therapy focuses on examining life experiences that may have resulted in psychological distress. To do this, patients are instructed to track the movement of an object with their eyes or to tap their bodies, or be tapped by their therapist. This process helps alleviate negative emotions and promotes a sense of well-being.

Our goal is to connect the mental recognition of the traumatic experience with a recollection of feeling secure.

Earl Spencer also mentioned that he had abstained from alcohol for a considerable amount of time after coming to terms with his past and focusing on achieving inner balance.

"Dealing with malevolence is a catastrophic experience," he expressed to the Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme on the BBC.

He stated that he had an enduring curiosity regarding the actions that individuals can inflict upon one another.

Earl Spencer shared that during his childhood, when he acted inappropriately, his nanny would discipline him by knocking his head against another surface.

He explained that the penalty was a "sharp cracking sound" that was extremely painful in his opinion.

In plain English, Earl Spencer stated that it highlighted the lack of connection between parents, without directly blaming his own mother and father. Instead, he acknowledged that it was typical for parents to delegate responsibilities to their hired help, including dealing with childcare.

In the past, she would forcefully make our skulls collide if we were caught misbehaving, but always without my dad's awareness. It was painful.

I still recall the sound of the punishment vividly; it wasn't just a gentle reminder. It was a loud, impactful crunch.

In my opinion, this highlights once more how parents can become disconnected. Please note that I am not criticizing my own parents as they tried their best, just like the majority of parents do (around 98%). However, it's common that parents rely on nannies to handle situations like this.

He also stated that another caregiver disciplined his two elder sisters by administrating a huge amount of medication that helps in bowel movement.

Earl Spencer shared an account of the physical abuse and sexual attacks he endured during his time at Maidwell Hall boarding school in his memoir. The traumatic experiences have plagued him throughout his life.

According to him, during his time at school at the age of 11, an assistant matron subjected him to abuse. This experience was so traumatic that he resorted to self-harm, fearing that the person causing him harm might leave the school.

Maidwell Hall expressed its regret for the unpleasant incidents encountered by Earl Spencer and others while attending the school, according to a public announcement.