DR. ELHAM (ELLIE) ZARRABIAN

** ******* **. **, ********** 94114

ad38ps@r.postjobfree.com

310-***-****

EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE

Ph.D., Psychology (2010) Saybrook University, San Francisco, CA M.A., Transpersonal Psychology (1997) John F. Kennedy University, Orinda, CA B.S., Psychobiology (1992) University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA SUMMARY

Experienced manager, educator, healer, coach, and counselor. I emerged from studies at UCLA, JFK University, and Saybrook University with an undergraduate degree in Psychobiology and a doctorate in Psychology. Since then, I have worked to heal the aftereffects of trauma, addiction, and multicultural, gender, and relationship issues among people here in California, across the US, and worldwide. This work includes serving as director of my own foundation for the past 15 years; additional 2 years of management work in government agencies; healing, coaching, and counseling sessions for individuals for more than 20 years; and more than 10 years' work teaching college and university students. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

September 2013 – present: Centerpeace Project. Los Angeles, CA. Founder and Executive Director. Peace building with young adults in Pakistan, in Indonesia, and worldwide. We have worked to empower people in high-conflict areas to resolve conflict, heal trauma, and create more peaceful and sustainable solutions at home and in the community.

July 2008 – present: Centerpeace Foundation, Los Angeles, CA. Leader. Private healing, coaching, and consulting sessions offered to individuals, singles, couples, and families on personal growth and psycho-spiritual development - in California, across the US, and internationally. January 1999 – April 2001: Asian American Drug Abuse Program, Los Angeles, CA. Program Supervisor. Ran a program for middle school students offering prevention and intervention programs for at-risk youth. Managed three staff members and worked with collaborators and stakeholders. Also counseled youth and adults and youth with drug and alcohol dependencies. Tasks involved case management, writing treatment plans, individual/family counseling, group facilitation, STI education and counseling. I applied holistic methods of treatment and prevention through exercises, meditation, journaling, art, and dance and dream work.

September 1995 – September 1996: Orinda Community Center, Orinda, CA. Meditation Facilitator. Taught groups a mental discipline of focusing the mind upon one thing or activity in order to develop clarity of thought, focused concentration, and a greater sense of peace. TEACHING EXPERIENCE

July 2008 – Present: Centerpeace Project, Los Angeles, CA. Workshop Facilitator. Offering workshops to groups, organizations and agencies in the area of Stress Management; Relationship Building, from Conflict to Calm; Everyday Shamanism; Spirituality and Love; Spirituality and Abundance; Pathways to Wellness.

August 2023 - Present: Notre Dame de Namur University, Belmont CA, Adjunct Faculty in the BA Psychology Completion Program. Teach Social Psychology to undergraduate students entering careers in the field of psychology.

July 2017 – September 2017: Antioch University, Culver City, CA. Adjunct Faculty in the Psychology Department, Trauma Specialization Program. Taught Perspectives: Trauma and Its Effects, Awareness, and Recovery to graduate-level students in the Masters program. February 2002 – January 2010: Santa Monica City College, Santa Monica, CA. Adjunct Faculty in the Psychology Department. Taught courses to young adults preparing to enter four-year university and older adults working towards a career/ life change. Topics taught include: Biological and Experimental Psychology; Cognitive/Behavioral Psychology; Transpersonal/ Humanistic Psychology; Developmental, Social and Clinical Psychology.

October 2001 – January 2005: University of Phoenix, Fountain Valley, CA. Adjunct Faculty in the College of Counseling and Human Services. Taught courses to graduate and undergraduate adult learners, including: Introduction to Psychology, Dependency and Addictions; Human Motivation; Psychology of Personality; Advanced Interpersonal Communications; Emotional Intelligence; LifeLong Learning and Professional Development; Cultural Diversity and Special Populations; and Life Span and Family Development.

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

August 2017 – December 2017: Roze Room Hospice, San Fernando Valley, CA. “Death doula,” hands-on healing. Helped in assisting hospice patients to transition. January 2016 – January 2017: Sephardic Temple Tifereth Israel, Los Angeles, CA. PTA Co-president. Started the Center for Youth Empowerment and Engagement to promote and empower young people to think critically, solve problems, and develop communication and leadership skills. Geared toward youth ages 13 to 18 (post-Bar/Bat Mitzvah). Also ran a monthly Parenting Talk Series group for parents to help foster awareness, knowledge, and parenting skills. Sept 2011 – August 2012: Sephardic Temple Tifereth Israel, Los Angeles, CA. Snack Committee Coordinator. Create healthy menus, coordinate and recruit parent volunteers, attend to kitchen duties, attend meetings, and help deliver healthy snacks to classrooms for children attending after-school religious programs.

September 2010 – 2011: Reading Buddies Program at Fairburn Elementary School, Los Angeles, CA . Parent volunteer. Read with elementary school children during lunchtime. Helped find and pair up older reading buddies for younger children struggling with reading skills. September 2007 – March 2009: Saybrook University, Los Angeles, CA. Regional Student Coordinator. Coordinated student meetings each semester and invited guest speakers to discuss and address student needs and concerns.

April 2005 – June 2005: Daniel’s Place, Santa Monica, CA. Support Group Facilitator. Facilitated a weekly support group for parents of mentally ill children. August 2000 – March 2001: Ivri-Nasawi, New Association for Sephardi/Mizrahi Artists and Writers International, Los Angeles, CA. Program producer and workshop facilitator. Helped to promote Sephardi/ Mizrahi music, literature, art and history through advocacy, education, scholarship and entertainment. Duties included facilitating monthly conversations on Roots & Identity, a group exploring the question of identity within the younger generation of Iranian-American Jews. Also facilitated Open Tent, a monthly group exploring issues of identity, peace, and war among Arab, Israeli, and Iranian Jews, Muslims, and Christians.

November 1997 – January 1999: Coalition of Women from Asia and the Middle East (CWAME), Los Angeles, CA. Activist. Helped promote the education, employment and self-development of immigrant and refugee women living in the United States.

January 1994 – May 1995: Planned Parenthood, Los Angeles, CA. Health Educator. High school health educator and speaker on sexually transmitted infections. PUBLICATIONS

In English and Farsi

Zarrabian, E. (2015). Urban shamanism. Treating depression using shamanic healing practices. In I. Beery

(Ed.), Shamanic Transformations: True stories of the moment of awakening (pp. 18-25) Rochester, Vermont: Destiny Books.

Zarrabian, E. (2014). Six Degrees of Liberation: Finding inner peace through conflict. Unpublished manuscript.

Zarrabian, E. (2013). Shamanic Healing Within an Iranian Cultural Context. A Journal of Contemporary Shamanism. p.34-37.

Zarrabian, E. (2010). How to Discipline Kids without Punishing Them. Associated Content. Online source Zarrabian, E. (2010). Before Dating, Single Moms Should Embrace a Spiritual Outlook. Associated Content. Online source

Zarrabian, E. (2009). Coping with Depression: First meditate, then medicate. Online source Zarrabian, E. (2005). The Gift of Effective Communication. Awareness Magazine. http://www.awarenessmag.com/mayjun5/mj5_gift_of_effective.html Zarrabian, E. (2003). Psychology and Spirituality: Two Paths, One Goal. Awareness Magazine. http://www.awarenessmag.com/mayjun4/MJ4_PSYCHOLOGY_SPIRITUALITY.HTML Zarrabian, E. (2003). Shoshanna’s Tale. Voices Magazine-online publication Ezzati, E. (2001). The Psychology of Love from the Perspective of Molana Jalaluddin Rumi. Mahtab Publications, p. 16- 18.

Ezzati, E. (2000). Domestic Violence in Iranian Homes: A Look at the Cycle of Abuse within the Family. Iranian Medical Journal, p. 21-23.

Ezzati, E. (2000). Effective Communication in Intimate Relationships. Iranian Medical Journal, p. 78-80. Ezzati, E. (2000). Woman Against Women: Oppression Through Gossip, Criticism and Competition. Iranian Medical Journal. p. 93-94.

Ezzati, E. (1999). The Subject Tonight is Love: An Ecumenical Approach to the Poetry of Shams-ud-din Mohammad Hafez. Iran: Land of the Sun, p. 30-34.

Ezzati, E. (1999). Sexuality and Power in the Iranian-American Community: The Dilemma of Virginity and Its Psychological and Emotional Effects on Iranian Men and Women. Chem-Andaz Magazine, p. 24-25. PRESENTATIONS

2018: “Using Social Media as a Tool to Build Community with the Muslim World.” 11th Annual Conference For the Society for Humanistic Psychology on Liberation Through Wisdom and Love: Humanistic Psychology, Social Justice and Contemplative Practice, Naropa University, Boulder, Colorado 2011: “Holistic Methods for Coping with Stress, Anxiety & Depression.” Presented at National Alliance for Mental Illness 4th Annual Conference in Los Angeles, California 2009: “Healing Rhythms: Research Conference and workshop on Music, Movement and Meditation.” Presented at Indiana State University, Indianapolis RESEARCH

September 2008-December 2009: Doctoral Dissertation, Saybrook University: The Usefulness of Meditation in the Alleviation of Self-Reported Depressive Symptoms Among Women. Qualitative Study.

January 1991-July 1992: Research Assistant, Jerry Lewis Neuro-Muscular Research Center, University of California, Los Angeles. Conducted two projects: Project 1: Researched the neuro-muscular effects due to calcium release from nerve endings under various intracellular conditions. Project 2: Analyzed Freeze Fracture preparations of neuro-muscular junctions in order to discern normal versus disrupted Active Zone ultra structure. Research involved dissection of frog Pectoris and Sartorius muscles. TRAINEESHIP

February 2010- September 2010: Psychological Trainee, UCLA Aftercare Program, Los Angeles, CA. Worked in an outpatient research clinic to provide free treatment and assessment to patients who participated in clinical research for psychotic disorders. Duties include: individual counseling, healthy behaviors, group therapy, and case management.

AWARDS/ ORGANIZATIONS

2005 Recipient: Saybrook University Tuition Assistance ($1000). LANGUAGES

Fluent: English, Farsi

Moderate: Spanish

REFERENCES

Available upon request.

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