6th Annual International Conference on
Transgenerational Trauma
Communal Wounds and Victim Identities
Amman, Jordan: October 12-14, 2017
List of Presenters:
Farha Abbasi, Ilene Serlin, Kirk Schneider, Nimo Patel, Myron Eshowsky, Steve Olweean, Ayat Nashwan, Ghalia AlAsha, Tanya Awad Ghorra, Maya Jacobs-Wallfisch, Erica Serlin, Peter Breen, Ayda Alavi
List of Program Sessions:
1) “Community Circles for Addressing Historical Trauma“
Presenter will present a brief review of indigenous circle models (group treatment) used to address communal trauma in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Participants will then utilize basic tenets of these models to experience being in a circle. We will process the group’s experience of being in a circle and discuss some of the challenges in group work with historical trauma.
Myron Eshowsky, MS
2) “Using the Arts to Work with Trauma: KinAesthetic Imagining”
In this workshop, we will learn about theory and research on the use of the arts to work with trauma. We will experience a method called KinAesthetic Imagining, a movement-based creative arts therapy, and explore ways in which KinAesthetic Imagining can be incorporated into your work.
Ilene Serlin, PhD, BC-DMT
3) “The Experiential Communication Process: Healing the Stereotypes that Wound”
This workshop concerns a “whole person to whole person” approach to healing cultural or religious divides. The approach draws from depth-existential principles of therapeutic practice and stresses experiential skill-building through demonstrations, breakout groups, discussion, and time permitting, a video demonstrating the approach, e.g., see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g92cNF5-Tpw&t=2364s.
Kirk Schneider, PhD
4) “Discovering And Practicing NonViolent Communications (NVC) On The Way To Conflict Resolution”
Active and interactive workshop, where we start by defining communication (feelings, needs, process. verbal, non-verbal), followed by NVC practice (does and don’ts,active listening, understanding the way I see facts…), NVC during conflict, the 4 ways of conflict resolution, understanding the conflict circle. All done in an active way, with over 5 “games” or exercises to be used by participants in their fields.
Tanya Awad Ghorra, MBA
5) “International Psychosocial Intervention for Refugees in the Middle East Facing Trauma: Discussion of Barriers and Possible Solutions”
This workshop will discuss an educated discussion surrounding the topic of effective International psychosocial interventions for Refugees in the Middle East who have experienced trauma fleeing war-torn conflict. Many Non-Governmental Organizations are quick to provide relief efforts and begin implementing development programs while underestimating the value of the cultural and religious context. In this workshop, we will discuss the barriers faced by practitioners, possible solutions, and questions.
Ayat Nashwan, PhD, and Shefa Obaid, BA
6) “The Wounds Of History Inside And Out Of The Consulting Room”
In this presentation a paper will initially be given which discusses both subjective and clinical experience of trans-generational trauma within the context of the Holocaust. The rest of the session will be interactive dialogue and small group experiential exercises among participants aimed to highlight the skills and attitudes that may facilitate connection with those who present with Trans-generational trauma.
Maya Jacobs-Wallfisch, UKCP SARSM ARBS
7) ” Trauma Therapy with Children”
This workshop will introduce participants to play therapy interventions, since children show more than they can tell as they express their pain and heal from trauma. Attendees will learn specific techniques for creating safety, expressing feelings, self-calming, and resolving trauma as well as strategies for reducing symptoms.
Erica Serlin, Ph.D
Working With Refugee Families With Young Children In Norway “
Presentation of the first Transcultural Center in Norway and its work with traumatized refugee families with young children based on research on transgenerational trauma. This will be a presentation that will be both practical and theoretical in its content.
Domnine Lecoq, PhD and Aina Basilier Vaage M.D
8) “Effectiveness of Counseling Program Based on the Transactional Analysis in Improving Positive Thinking and Self Assertive Skills for Abused Women in Amman”
A counseling program applied with abused women who have been exposed to domestic violence, emotional abused, and sexual abuse. The program is based on one of the theories of psychological counseling and psychotherapy, and will demonstrate the benefit to the mental health of women impacted by abuse through focusing on positive thinking, patterns of social interaction skills, and assertiveness.
Reyad Mohammed Abu Sharaf
9) “The First Arabic Online Intervention For PTSD; The Journey So Far”
The current paper explores the adaptation and development of an online intervention for the treatment of PTSD in Egypt. The current paper describes the process, challenges and successes of developing the tool, and designing a large-scale intervention study to implement and measure effectiveness and acceptability amongst Egyptians.
Kate Ellis, DclinPsy, Phd
10) “Parenting Program: An Essential Intervention Within A Refugee Community”
Parents are one of the most important providers of psychosocial intervention, support, and security to children in a crisis. The program presented is designed to help mothers in particular, as a central member in a family, to effectively reduce and manage their own pain from multiple trauma and develop effective parenting skills to help restore positive communication and emotional stability between mothers and children. It also promotes rebuilding positive connection among members of the refugee community itself and with the local community.
Ghalia Alasha, PhD
Roundtable Topics:
1) “Violence, Trauma, Displacement, and Gender”
2) “Psycho-social and Whole-Person Approaches for Healing Individual and Communal Trauma”
3) “Self-Help and Mutual Support Coping Skills For Vulnerable Communities Under Stress”
4) “Moving From Separation and Competition to Mutual Support and Collaboration: Responsible Models for More Effective Humanitarian Assistance”