Psychotherapy & Spirituality Institute

Returning Veterans Program | Gary Hellman, Psy.D

Phyllis Rodriguez and Steve Karakashian from Institute For Healing Visit PSI

PSI - Returning Veterans Program

On March 23 and 24, PSI participated in the second of three networking meetings in New York City hosted by Intersections International. These meetings will bring together Veterans, educators, chaplains, clinicians, and leaders in post-conflict transformation.

One of the desired outcomes of these meetings is to design a series of “Witnessing Forums” that would bring veterans and others together for a process that allows for speaking and listening in the service of healing. Veterans will have an opportunity to talk about their experiences in a small group setting consisting of other veterans and a facilitator.

At the forums veterans will also have an opportunity to be connected to an array of referral services, including housing, financial counseling, mental health treatment and substance abuse treatment.

Dr. Mary Ragan is working with PSI Board member Scott Thompson (the Program Director of Intersections International) to listen to the experiences of veterans, their families, and care providers, and to identify characteristics and best practices for effective programs and treatments.

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Click here to view the work of our veteran partner, Joe White who is a photo journalist, videographer -- as well as an Afghanistan/Iraq veteran.

Gary Hellman, Psy.D

Gary Hellman received the Psy.D Degree (Doctor of Psychology) on May 8, 2009 from the Graduate Theological Foundation in South Bend, Indiana. This degree brings together his years of study and practice engaging the fields of psychology, the behavioral sciences, philosophy and theology, and the practice of integrating psychotherapy and spirituality as his specialization. Dr. Hellman will continue his clinical practice at PSI, both in Lower Manhattan, and in Greenwich Village where he has practiced psychotherapy, marriage and family therapy, and group psychology for over 30 years. Dr. Hellman will also continue as assisting priest at St. John's in the Village Episcopal Church.

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Phyllis Rodriguez and Steve Karakashian Visit PSI....

On April 16th, Phyllis Rodriguez and Steve Karakashian from the Institute for Healing of Memories visited with Mary Ragan (PSI at Trinity Area Director) and Mark D'Alessio (PSI Executive Director).

The Institute for Healing of Memories seeks to contribute to the healing journey of individuals, communities and nations. Their work is a response to the emotional, psychological and spiritual wounds that are inflicted on nations, communities and individuals by wars, repressive regimes, human rights abuses and other traumatic events or circumstances. Fr. Michael Lapsley SSM is founder and Director of Institute for Healing of Memories.

Click here to read more about their work…

In December 2008, PSI hired a new President and Executive Director, Mark D’Alessio.

Prior to joining PSI , Mark was the President and Founder of two agencies – Think Ahead, Stay Ahead and Ingenious Mind – creative thinkshops that assisted global companies across categories to create a future today. He has served on the Executive Committee of the national trade association QRCA (the Qualitative Research Consultants Association) and is recognized internationally for his work in building global brands, organizational development and innovation.

Mark has spent more than 25 years in positions of leadership. As a trustee and director at the Creative Problem Solving Institute (where he also served as Vice President of CEF – The Creative Education Foundation – the founders of “brainstorming”), he has created programs and trained executives, managers, inventors, artists, community leaders, government officials, educators and clergy in how to manage change, lead creatively and strategically, and uncover their own unexpected solutions. His studies in applied imagination, semiotics, philosophy, psychology, religion and theater contribute to his unique approach.

Having worked extensively in both the corporate and non-profit worlds, Mark brings to PSI strategic business acumen and a highly developed skill in organizational systems, program development, community outreach, fund-raising and board building.

Mark currently holds positions on the boards of SAGE (the nation’s largest services and advocacy agency for LGBT seniors) and Incarnation Center (a retreat, camp and conference center that helps people of all ages to develop a strong connection to, and reverence for, our natural world). He is a founding partner in Dolphian (a commercial software and consulting group based in Paris), and the founding co-chair of the Empire State Pride Agenda, NY State’s largest LGBT rights organization.

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