Dr. Ilene Serlin

Who I am:

I am a licensed psychologist and registered dance/movement therapist who combines Jungian, existential and behavioral perspectives to coach patients and family members who are facing serious changes or life-threatening illnesses.

Philosophy of Practice:

I bring a humanistic approach to a whole person psychology. My focus in on the innate powers of wellness and creativity in each person, and helping them build resiliency. From thirty years of studying mind/body and spiritual approaches to wellness, from working in inpatient psychiatric hospitals, children's centers, nursing homes, health spas, I have seen a wide range of human experience and knows that therapy must be tailored to each unique person and each unique situation. Although I have been trained in a variety of techniques such as imagery and hypnosis, I have found that the heart of the healing relationship is most importantly based on trust, genuineness, and a collaborative journey toward healing.

As an educator, I have trained generations of psychologists and dance therapists in graduate programs and continuing education seminars to incorporate mind/body techniques into their practices. I have conducted research on the efficacy of these therapies, and served on a presidential task force of Whole Person Healthcare for the American Psychological Association. I am committed to integrating the best of whole person perspectives with the best of traditional psychology and medical treatment.

As a community activist and consultant, I believe that health is linked with human relationships and constructive social involvement. I have worked with the Red Cross on trauma, consulted with organizations on stress and wellness, led warm-up exercises for Race for the Cure, Art.Rage.Us and community healing events.

My goal is to bridge research, education and clinical service in a compassionate setting that provides wellness education for individuals, couples and groups.

My Approach to Treatment:

I use dialogue, imagery, meditation and movement to help people:

--Develop their own self-care daily program
--Learn stress-reduction techniques
--Restore body image and sexuality
--Grieve
--Confront mortality and cultivate courage
--Discover meaning and purpose
--Create rituals of healing

Biography:

Ilene Serlin is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, past president of the Division of Humanistic Psychology. She has taught at UCLA, The C.G. Jung Institute of Zurich, Saybrook Gradual School and Lesley University, both nationally and abroad. She is on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Humanistic Psychology, The Journal of Dance Therapy, and PsyCritiques. Recent publications include: Serlin, I.A. & Cannon, J. (2004). A Humanistic Approach to the Psychology of Trauma. In Living with Terror, Working with Trauma: A Clinician's Handbook. D. Knafo (Ed.); Serlin, I. (2004). Religious and Spiritual Issues in Couples Therapy. In Handbook of Couples Therapy, M. Harway (Ed).; Serlin, I. A. & Criswell, E. (2001). Humanistic psychology and women: A critical-historical perspective. In K. Schneider, J, Bugental, J. Pierson (Eds.). Handbook of Humanistic Psychology: Leading Edges of Theory, Research, and Practice .

She is a clinical supervisor at Chrysalis Counseling for Women, and is in private practice in Sonoma County and San Francisco.