I certainly don't know how our mind works Lucy, but what you wrote surely rings true to me.
Maybe it's this way: Some live their life in a way, so that every earlier life-episode is not only in the past, but as well really over in the sense this person said good-bye to it, it's all well worked through, closed, and the conclusions of this past-experiences are integrated well into the present.
Others (and I guess that's more common) have a more sequenced lifeline, meaning many events of their life are not really closed; projects which couldn't have been maintained due to outer circumstances, experiences that are "not done", not worked through, mysterious occurings, and of course experience of extreme pain and fear.

Now my line of thoughts is, could it be, the more quasi-separated sequences there are in one's life, the more "surprises" there will be in the afterlife, as all those not-goodbyed past events could function as crystallization cores for a specific afterlife-surrounding? This thought seems to be supported by the fact, that in the afterlife there aren't these physical cycles (dates, daytime, sleep-wake, hungry, digestion etc.), so that all these undone past events could come to the surface more easily than in the physical, where all the details of daily routine can provide a cover for memorizing.

Spooky

Very nice interview. It is interesting to me to hear the doctor's methods to help the monks. I see that he uses different interactive methods, including chanting, healing sounds such as tibetan bowls, and guided meditation to help calm them. I believe that these methods are completely effective, especially when used regularly. Choosing and using different methods like these is very empowering, whether used immediately after traumatic events, or much later.

It makes a lot of sense that these experiences continue to exist within the mind. I know exactly what he is talking about regarding people feeling like they have 'lost their souls' -- and having that appearance after their traumas. For anyone who has been 'brainwashed' it is a terrible experience, no matter what methods are used.

We are, each of us, exposed many times a day to information and expectations which can be very harmful over time. For others, it is even worse, and much more personal.

In addition to 'calming' methods, I believe that even stronger 'empowering' methods can be helpful, as well. To simply find yourself in a 'peaceful' state is not always enough. I think that inner strength is something that can be built up, reinforced, and absolutely relied upon.

What I believe people don't realize is that we are all traumatized in some ways.

Your theory makes sense to me. One thing he emphasized was giving people a 'choice' -- meaning, that you can't really 'force' these 'cures' on people who are suffering in this way. They must be given freedom to choose their own healing, to walk their own path to acceptance. I really feel strongly about that, at this point in my own journey.

For those with dementia, I have read that healing 'visual' journeys using nature videos and other kinds of presentations can be helpful. I am not an expert in this field, but I can relate to all of this from a personal perspective.