Psychology Roundtable

In 1968, the cover of Time magazine asked if God was dead. Today, a growing number of Americans practice some form of spirituality, often linked to physical practices such as yoga and meditation. In psychology, too, spirituality and faith have become central areas of focus. How, precisely, does spirituality help people? What are its physical effects on the brain? And what does it mean to acknowledge spirituality in psychology research and practice? These and other questions will be debated by a distinguished panel that includes TC faculty members Lisa Miller, Associate Professor of Psychology and Education; Suniya S. Luthar, Professor of Psychology and Education; John Allegrante, Deputy Provost and Professor of Health Education; and clinicians Dale Atkins (M.S. '72) and Betsy Schur Levy (Ph.D. '89).

Those are some of the stresses of life in the 21st century, along with the vicissitudes of love, aging and family relationships. The Office of Alumni Relations has partnered with TC's Psychology faculty to bring you "Living in a Traumatic World," the first in a series of TC Psychology Roundtables showcasing ongoing work across all psychological disciplines. "Living in a Traumatic World" brings together six diverse TC-affiliated experts to discuss and debate questions such as: What defines a traumatic experience or exposure to trauma? Do we learn or change from such experiences, or merely endure? Are there resilient and non-resilient types of people, and is their makeup genetically determined? How can we enhance resilience? What are possible therapeutic approaches? Moderated by TC's Marla Brassard, Professor of Psychology and Education, the panel will include TC faculty members George Bonanno, (resilience, grief and trauma); Lisa Miller, (religion & spirituality) and Phil Saigh (post traumatic stress disorder). They will be joined by TC alumnae and clinicians Dr. Dale Atkins, an expert on relationships, stress and life balance ; and Dr. Ghislaine Boulanger a Professor in the NYU Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis who is an expert on adult onset trauma.