The Power of Purpose: Meaning-Making as a Protective Factor in Trauma Recovery post-October 7th

Webinar presented by Dr. Miri Bar-Halpern

Date: Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024

Time: 5:00 pm PT / 6:00 pm MT / 7:00 pm CT / 8:00 pm ET

Presented by Dr. Miri Bar-Halpern

Location: ZOOM Link will be emailed to participants a few days in advance of the webinar

Trauma can leave individuals struggling to find stability and purpose in the wake of deeply unsettling experiences. However, the process of meaning-making—constructing personal significance and understanding from trauma—has emerged as a buffer against trauma-related symptoms. This presentation examines the impact of traumatic invalidation and the role of meaning-making in fostering trauma resilience, highlighting how individuals can transform difficult experiences into sources of strength and purpose. Through my own story and real-life examples, I explore the mechanisms by which meaning-making promotes psychological resilience and facilitates post-traumatic growth, providing insight into how individuals can cultivate healing and empowerment from adversity.

Dr. Miri Bar-Halpern is the Director of Intensive Outpatient Treatment Services at Boston Child Study Center and is a lecturer in Psychology at Harvard Medical School. In addition, She is an author, a public speaker, and an advisor to digital health companies. Dr. Bar-Halpern is extensively trained in implementing a broad range of evidence-based interventions to treat children, adolescents, and families with severe psychiatric conditions. As an expert in the field of trauma, Dr. Bar-Halpern has developed treatment manuals, therapy groups, and training seminars and has been invited to present nationally and internationally. She has published several chapters and articles about trauma and emotion regulation, including the book, Becoming a Superhero: A Book For Children Who Have Been Exposed to Trauma. Dr. Bar-Halpern also provides consultation to schools and organizations in developing trauma-informed social-emotional programs to enhance safety, quality of life, and performance. 

Since October 7th, 2023, following the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel and the rise of antisemitism in the USA, Dr. Bar-Halpern has dedicated her time to helping those directly and indirectly affected by the attack and ongoing war. She has organized mental health support for the Israeli community in Massachusetts, assembling a team of clinicians to provide one-on-one consultations, therapy groups, college support, webinars, and more. Dr. Bar-Halpern has been invited to speak on panels and media outlets, addressing traumatic invalidation within the Jewish community and the intersection of antisemitism and trauma at school and college campuses. Additionally, she offers supervision, training, and mentoring to mental health organizations in Israel, focusing on burnout, mindfulness during wartime, vicarious trauma, post-traumatic growth, and developing culturally sensitive, trauma-informed interventions. Furthermore, Dr. Bar-Halpern co-hosts the podcast “Our Stories Matter: We Will Dance Again” through Trauma Informed LA, an initiative aimed at dismantling false narratives and promoting unity on college campuses, fostering a safe and inclusive academic environment for all students.