3rd Annual International Conference on
Transgenerational Trauma
Communal Wounds and Victim Identities
Two Back-To-Back Programs:
Amman, Jordan: October 15-18, 2014
Istanbul, Turkey: October 22-24, 2014
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~ The Full Programs for Each Country Are Now Posted ~
To View Each Go To:
Amman, Jordan
Istanbul, Turkey
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List of Presenters:
Stanley Krippner, Francine Shapiro, Farha Abbasi, Jed Magen, Alvaro Cedeno Molinari, Aykan Erdemir, Cheryl Duckworth, Tiffany Masson, Philip Adu, Tanya Awad Ghorra, Myron Eshowsky, Steve Olweean, Metin Corabatur, Umit Cetin, Celia Jenkins, Sonali Gupta, Nancy Egger, Filiz Celik, Martin Gereve, Metin Kahraman, Kemal Kahraman, Nermin Soyalp, Othman Shibly, Barbara Hamm, Holly Aldrich, Vanina Grossi, Vivet Alevi, Ayat Nashwan, Shefa Obaid, Emre Konuk, Crystina Wyler, Rachel McGinnis, Drorah Setel, Muna AlBadran, Saad Ali Saad, Dmitri Oster, Darrel Combs, Sebnem Kartal
List of Program Session Topics:
1) “Breaking Transgenerational Trauma among Secondary School Students in Rwanda: Hope Club Model”
We plan to present research conducted to find out the how joining the HOPE (Healing Opportunities through Purposeful Engagement) Clubs has helped students to deal with their trauma and improve their academic performance
Tiffany Masson, Psy.D. and Philip Adu, PhD
2) “Training Imams in Psychiatric First Aide”
Muslim communities in non-Muslim countries are often disadvantaged and contain individuals who suffered significant trauma from torture/abuse/sudden displacement and wars but who have significant issues with stigma. Michigan State University has been training Imams to recognized psychiatric disorders, make simple interventions and understand referral mechanisms. This workshop describes the program and engages the group in discussion of techniques to engage Muslim leaders and communities.
Farha Abassi, MD and Jed Magen DO, MS
3) “Tackling Hate: Reflections on Turkish Society and Politics”
This presentation is based on the presenter’s ethnographic research on Alevis, the roots and nature of hate and prejudice against Alevis in Turkey, and also on his experience with advocacy NGOs and the Turkish Parliament, challenges of combating hate and prejudice in Turkey.
Aykan Erdemir, PhD
4) “Trauma and Soul Loss: Indigenous Viewpoints on Healing Individual and Communal Trauma”
What psychology calls dissociation, indigenous people around the world call soul loss. Dissociation has a range of symptoms including: feeling empty or not connected to one’s own body; depersonalization; anomalous experiences; psychosomatic issues; psychic numbing. Participants will see a demonstration of how this occurs and how indigenous treatments can help speed traditional trauma treatment recovery time.
Myron Eshowsky, MS
5) “Use of Rituals and Ceremonies for Healing Communal Trauma”
Many communal traumas are beyond our capacity to put to words. Ritual assists in solving complex and deep rooted community wounding. It helps to confirm and transform worldviews, identities, and relationships. The presentation will give information on how to create community rituals, provide stories of situations where rituals were used, and offer a brief experience of the use of ritual to heal a communal trauma
Myron Eshowsky, MS
6) “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
7) “Transgenerational Trauma and Teaching 9/11: Implications for the Classroom”
This workshop will present data on how teachers have been approaching teaching about the US’s chosen trauma—9/11. I will then offer implications for the classroom and engage participants in developing activities to help students understand how they are impacted by traumatic history and move towards healing
Cheryl Duckworth, PhD
8) “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,andShefa Obaid, BA
9) “Intergenerational Transmission Of Trauma In Children Of Asylum Seekers”
This presentation will discuss the factors that contribute to the intergenerational transmission of trauma in children of asylum seekers. The manner in which trauma manifests in these children and implications for child development will be addressed. An intervention model that promotes healthy development will be described
Sonali Gupta, Psy.D
10) “A Narrative Model of Trauma Recovery: Personal and Public Narratives of Trauma and Loss”
A Narrative Model of Trauma Recovery (NMTR) which recognizes the need for ongoing, incremental interventions with individuals, families, and communities whose exposure to violence is both historical and contemporary. This workshop will explore both the “fixed” and “fluid” narratives of those affected by violence. Participants will capture a current point-in-time personal narrative through discussion and shared engagement in art-making and create visual and written narratives called ”accordion books.” These books allow for unfolding narratives and may be kept as personal records or combined as public installations which evolve as the narratives incorporate growth and change
Barbara Hamm, PhD andHolly Aldrich, MSW, L.I.C.S.W
11) “No One Knows About Us’: Alevi Youth, Suicide, And Educational Interventions”
High suicide rates and negative identities among Alevi youth triggered a unique collaboration between the Alevi community, schools and University to introduce units on Alevism for the Religious Education curriculum, with positive results. This presentation outlines possible causes of suicide and aims/outcomes of the project
Umit Cetin, PhDandCelia Jenkins, PhD
12) “Giving Voice to Trauma Through Traditional Cultural Song and Music: The Case Of The Dersim Massacre”
The trauma of the Dersim Massacre(1937-38) that could not have been articulated for decades found its expression in local traditional poetry and music. this panel will combine research findings of presenters and will include live performance local cultural music by reserchers and musicians Metin –Kemal Kahraman
Filiz Celik, PhD candidate, Martin Gereve, PhD,Metin Kahraman, and Kemal Kahraman
13) “Exploring Historical Trauma And Social Movements Through Self Organizing Systems And Experiential Methods”
Workshop participants will learn what self-organizing system is; how starlings dance in the sky; and how we can mimic and apply their science in our daily lives. We will explore how self organizing systems manifest in current social movement and in the interim how we individually and collectively can prevent dark side of the collective behavior from manifestation which we see in the cases of war and genocide.
Nermin Soyalp, PhD candidate
14) “Our Creative Muscle: Find it…Stretch it…Use it!”
This workshop is on how to build creative tools for social engagement, focusing solely on what’s on hand for the practitioner. A lack of resources is more inspiring than hindering; our innate creativity allows us to navigate the most challenging situations. It is innate creativity I call ‘creative muscle’. With practice, no matter the challenge of the moment you will be able to tap into your innate creativity to transform the conflict.
Crystina Wyler, PhD candidate
15) “Male Sexual Assault During Intrastate Conflict: Moving from Gender to a Human Rights Focus”
In conflict the premise is not just defeating the ‘other’, but that the enemy will never challenge ‘us’ again. Defeating one’s enemies can be accomplished multiple ways: killing, pillaging, and/or eliminating their resources. Another tactic rarely documented or discussed in traditional historical context is male sexual assault, which has been ignored historically. By not addressing it we rewrite history and as a society assist the ‘victor’ to use history and memory to their benefit, in turn abetting in trapping the victim in their own personal abyss. Due to this and stigma surrounding male sexual victimization we may see one’s entire being affected across all areas, physically, emotionally, mentally, and socially causing further damage to the community as a whole.
Rachel E. McGinnis, PhD candidate
16) “NonViolent Communications – NVC”
Vivet Alevi
17) “Psychopathology from Trauma Perspective: EMDR”
Emre Konuk
18) “The fourth year of “Temporary protection” for Syrian refugees in Turkey”
The first group of Syrian refugees entered into Turkey in 29 April 2011, the number of Syrian refugees in Turkey now exceeded 1,5 Million. There is a fast growing tension between local communities and refugee groups and this presentation will discuss what is needed to start thinking about living together with Syrian refugees
Metin Corabatir
19) “Vicious Circle of Limited Access to Services by Syrians in Turkey”
Support to Life (STL) is an international humanitarian aid organisation providing support to Syrians since October 2012. Throughout the four year of protracted crisis in Syria, the number of Syrians in Turkey and reached as high as 1, 5 million estimates. In this moment, support of civil society organisations is vital to go through the system with Syrians.This presentation will exhibit the practical aspects of accessing to health services in Şanlıurfa, Turkey.
Muna AlBadran
20) “Understanding, Managing, and Mediating Communal Conflicts”
The session will give a brief overview about understanding complex conflicts, mapping them, and identifying ways in which activists can contribute to constructively influencing systems in order to negate violence.
Saad A. Saad, M.S.
21) “Helping Professionals’ Contribution to National Security and Healing: A Social Work Perspective”
Presenting a theme and proposition of how mental health clinicians and social workers possess unique skill-sets to engage socio-politically oppressed communities in efforts to contain forces of extremism, while empowering various segments of such communities
Dmitri Oster, LCSW, MA, PhD candidate
22) “Ecological Identity and Responsibility as a Resource for Healing Transgenerational Trauma”
Aboriginal elders have come together to create an intergenerational initiative called the Yiriman Project that heals trauma through reconnecting youth and young adults to nature, culture, language and spirituality. New stories and identities are created through time on country, ranger projects, sustainable land management, cultural tourism and leadership development. This workshop is very interactive and includes storytelling and exercises to introduce a model of healing trauma by creating an ecological identity.
Darrel Combs, PhD candidate
23) “Reviving education and human values in war: Toward enlightened and hopeful future for children inside war areas of Syria”
Children inside war zone areas in Syria are deprived of normal education and School. Some children study in basements in poor conditions, others are not. As a result they experience anger, hate, frustration, and loss of hope. We introduced a new model based on cultural and spiritual values that address these challenges that focuses on several principles. Reviving human identity based on shared common values. Promote social project and activities that give meaning to life and elevate stress and promote hopeful, enlightened future. We will discuss these principles and their impact on the suburb Schools of Damascus, Syria.
24) “Reclaiming “Lost” Children”
During times of trauma there is a breakdown of the secure fabric and structure of a child’s life. Due to developmental and matruational needs, teens are at particular risk of becoming targets for recruitment and exploitation. This session will review the process of helping them re-establish necessary structure, brainstorm, and discuss ways to engage these at-risk youth in healthier activities.
Nancy Egger, LCSW, ACSW
25) “Aikido: The Way of Harmony”
Aikido, the Japanese martial art, offers a philosophy and methods for self care in the face of chaos and trauma. Presentation will demonstrate how trauma events effect us and simple tools for empowerment and personal healing. Participants will have opportunity to experience the simple magic of the mind/body connection in these practices.
Myron Eshowsky MS
Panel Topics:
“Understanding Our Universal Human Dilemma: Revealing The Cultural Stories Of Communal Trauma and Victim Identities”
“Community Healing Itself: Local Capacity Building For Transition From Victims to Survivors As Healers”
“TeleHealth: New Models For Bridging Geography, Distance, and War Zones For Healing At The Large Scale”