Jointly Sponsored by the Expressive Arts Therapy Program in Counseling & Psychology Department at William James College and the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association

Mitchell Kossak, PhD, LMHC, REAT, Yousef Alajarma, PhD, Kayla C. Daly,  MA, MT-BC, LMHC,  Brian Harris, MA, MT-BC, LCAT and Michelle Harris, MA, instructors 

This full day conference on trauma, resiliency, and attunement has an integrated approach toward gaining a basic understanding of how expressive arts therapy can address attunement, attachment, empathy, intimacy, biophysical states, and interpersonal neurobiology as they relate to individual and collective trauma. The day will include Keynote speaker Mitchell Kossak, PhD, clinician and expressive arts therapist for 35 years and author of Attunement In Expressive Arts Therapy.  The day will also include 2 morning and 2 afternoon workshops by other expressive arts therapists on clinical approaches to trauma, resiliency and attunement.

Specific learning objectives:

• Discuss integration of trauma treatment frameworks with expressive art therapy treatment through didactic presentations, art experientials, case studies, and discussion.

• Examine the importance of promoting resilience and post-traumatic growth through affect regulation skills building and expressive arts therapy.

• Describe three important skills in identifying and gaining practical applications of rhythmic attunement in relation to trauma.

Program Code: EAT16
6 CE Credits
Location: William James College, Newton

Mitchell Kossak, Ph.D., LMHC, REAT, is an associate professor in the Expressive Therapies department at Lesley University. Previously he was the Division Director, 2006-2013 and academic coordinator for the Lesley University Israel extension campus 1999-2006. He has been the executive co-chair/president of the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA) since 2010. He has been a licensed mental health counselor since 1994, and a registered expressive arts therapist (REAT) since 2009. He is the associate editor of the Journal of Applied Arts and Health and fellow of the Institute for Arts and Health at Lesley University. His clinical work combines expressive arts therapy and body-centered approaches. Dr. Kossak has trained in a variety of mind body modalities and has studied and practiced energy- based healing forms such as Tai Chi, Chi Gong, Vispassana meditation, and Iyengar yoga for over 30 years. He earned his doctorate from the Union Institute and University in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Expressive Arts Therapy and Transpersonal Psychology. He has written about and presented his research on rhythmic attunement, improvisation, psychospiritual and community-based approaches to working with trauma and embodied states of consciousness at conferences nationally and internationally. Dr. Kossak is also a professional musician, performing for the past 30 years in the Boston area.

Yousef AlAjarma, PhD REAT, is a core faculty in the Counseling program at William James College. His areas of professional interest include: the application of Arts to teaching and to psychotherapy practice, Resilience and Trauma, Family and couples therapy, and conflict transformation. Dr. AlAjarma earned his bachelor’s degree in Social Work and psychology from Bethlehem University, Palestine, and has his M.A. from the European Graduate School in Switzerland in Expressive Arts Therapies. Also, he completed advanced training in trauma studies at Lesley University. Dr. AlAjarma earned his Ph.D from Lesley University in Expressive Therapies, his dissertation title was: “The Role of the Arts Toward Healing Trauma and Building Resilience in the Palestinian Community”. Dr. AlAjarma grew up in the Aida refugee camp near Bethlehem in Palestine and since then he has worked with traumatized children, teenagers, adults and parents. Dr. AlAjarma also has more than fifteen years of working with adults, teens and children in schools and community centers.  He also worked as an Expressive Arts Therapist with many trauma survivors in Palestine. He held positions with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, Les Médicins du Monde (Doctors of the World), the Palestinian Ministry of Education and many other NGOs. Dr. AlAjarma is an experienced instructor who has been teaching grad students for more than six years. He currently teaches many courses including Group Dynamics, Principles and Practices of Expressive Therapies, Standards and Ethics, Couples and family therapy, and Supervision. Dr. AlAjarma also co-author a workbook for the children’s of Gaza: My Personal Story about Living in Gaza: A Guided Activity Workbook for Children & Families.

Michelle Harris, MA, LMHC, ATR-BC, is a board certified registered art therapist who specializes in trauma sensitive art therapy with a cross-cultural lens.  She has been a clinician and trainer at the Trauma Center at JRI and both taught and worked as the Associate Director of Field Training at Lesley University in the Expressive Therapies Division.  She has also worked as a clinician and consultant with teachers in the Boston Public School system on approaches to improve learning for students with trauma exposure.