Faculty: Yousef AlAjarma, PhD, REAT

Yousef Alajarma

Yousef AlAjarma, PhD, REAT

Professor, Counseling and Behavioral Health Department

Email
yousef_​alajarma@williamjames.edu
Phone
617-327-6777 x1493
Location
Work Space 314E
Degree Major/Emphasis Institution
PhD Expressive Therapies Lesley University, Cambridge, MA
MA Expressive Arts Therapy The European Graduate School in Switzerland, Switzerland
BA Social Work Bethlehem University, Palestine

Courses

  • Mental Health Counseling Internship I and II
  • Lifespan Development
  • Practical Approaches in Expressive Arts Therapy
  • Group Counseling and Psychotherapy
  • Introduction to Family Therapy

Research and Practice Interests

  • The application of Arts to teaching and to psychotherapy practice
  • Resilience and Trauma
  • Family and Couples therapy
  • Conflict Transformation
  • Clinical supervision
  • Diversity in clinical training

Professional Licenses and Certifications

  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor (Massachusetts)
  • Registered Expressive Arts Therapist - REAT

Awards

  • Excellence in Teaching Award - 2015, Commencement Exercises, William James College
  • Excellence in Teaching Award - 2012, Shared with the Counseling Psychology Department, Commencement Exercises, Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology

Publications and Presentations

  • AlAjarma, Y. (2010). The Role of the Arts Toward Healing Trauma and Building Resilience in the Palestinian Community. Doctoral Dissertation. ProQuest.
  • AlAjarma, Y. Barzilay-Shechter, K. The Group Twice Promised - Reflections About Co-teaching in Israel. Journal of Pedagogy, Pluralism, and Practice. Issue 14, Fall 2009.
  • AlAjarma, Y. Barzilay-Shechter, K. (2007). Dialogue Between Political Trauma and Personal Defenses Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 47: 320-332

Concurrent Leadership, Service and Professional Activities

  • Private practice – Psychotherapist

Prior Experience

  • Assistant Professor and the Coordinator of the Expressive Therapies Program, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA
  • Family Therapist, Star House Inc. Beverly, MA
  • Counselor, Slifka and Malkin Scholars, Brandeis university, Waltham, MA
  • Expressive Arts Therapist and Psychosocial Project Coordinator, The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees UNRWA, Ramallah, Palestine
  • Expressive Arts Therapist and Youth Counseling Program Coordinator, Palestinian Youth Union and Doctors of the World, Ramallah, Palestine
  • School Counselor, Al-Aytam Secondary School, Jerusalem, Israel
  • Rehab and Addiction Counselor, Al-Sadeq Al-Tayb Association -Drug Treatment Center, Jerusalem, Israel

Professional Affiliations

  • American Counseling Association
  • The International Expressive Arts Therapy Association IEATA

Community Involvement

  • Executive Co-Chair, The International Expressive Arts Therapy Association, IEATA
  • Ummah Health, Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center, Boston, MA. Providing pro bono counseling services.
  • Lajee Center/ Palestine