A former member of the Hungarian Olympic gymnastics team, Edith Eger experienced the profound destruction of the Holocaust before establishing a career as a clinical psychologist. Her later work focused on the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, drawing upon her own history to develop therapeutic methods that encouraged patients to reclaim autonomy over their mental states.
Wartime Experience
Born in Košice in 1927, Eger was detained by German forces in 1944. Following her arrival at Auschwitz, she was separated from her mother and held in various camps, including Mauthausen. She later survived a 55-kilometre death march to the Gunskirchen concentration camp. By the time of her liberation by the United States military in May 1945, she suffered from multiple severe physical ailments and weighed only 32 kilograms.
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After recovering in field hospitals, she returned to Košice and married Bela Eger. The couple eventually moved to the United States, settling first in Baltimore and later in Texas. Eger balanced her family life with academic pursuits, eventually earning a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Texas at El Paso in 1978. This credential allowed her to obtain a license to practice and begin a career in mental health.
Psychological Practice and Writing
Based in La Jolla, California, Eger maintained a private clinic and served on the faculty at the University of California, San Diego. Her clinical work emphasized the ability of individuals to alter their perception of external events. In 2017, she published her first memoir, The Choice: Embrace the Possible, which became an international bestseller. This was followed by The Gift: 12 Lessons to Save Your Life in 2020.
Fast facts
- Born: 1927, Košice
- Died: 27 April 2026, San Diego
- Citizenship: Hungary, United States
- Education: University of Texas at El Paso
- Primary Field: Clinical Psychology
- Key Specialty: Post-traumatic stress disorder
Questions readers ask
What was Eger's primary contribution to psychology?
She specialized in treating post-traumatic stress disorder, helping clients process their experiences to find personal freedom.
How did Eger transition to a career in the United States?
After working in an underwear factory in Baltimore, she relocated to Texas, where she pursued her PhD and eventually opened a private practice in California.
Achievements
- Educated at University of Texas at El Paso
- Worked as psychologist, consultant and psychotherapist
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