Antisemitism—and the traumatic invalidation that often accompanies it— has impacted students and staff across educational institutions, creating heightened stress, fear, and division. This session offers a trauma-informed dialogue framework specifically for administrators and support staff, designed to surface and validate the experiences of those affected by antisemitic bias, repair relational ruptures, and cultivate a shared commitment to psychological safety. Participants learned how to recognize and interrupt patterns of invalidation, facilitate conversations that honor the pain of targeted individuals, and co-create norms that prevent future harm. The session also explored how to validate students’ experiences while holding them accountable for academic responsibilities, fostering a balanced approach to support and structure. The session also addressed how antisemitism—if unacknowledged—can contribute to radicalization, and how trauma-aware responses can prevent further polarization, helping campuses remain inclusive, safe, and grounded in shared values.
Presented by Dr. Miri Bar-Halpern,
Director of Trauma Training and Services at Parents for Peace and a Lecturer in Psychology at Harvard Medical School, where she supervises psychology interns and psychiatry residents. With two decades of experience across clinical, academic, tech startup, and policy settings, she has developed global training programs and public health initiatives focused on resilience, healing, and recovery—especially in the face of extremism, identity-based violence, and chronic stress.
[2025.11.17.Creating Safe Dialogue.1a.m4v]
