– Current Projects –
May 19, 2025 –
“RECOVERING MEANING AND PURPOSE” – a group therapy provided to residents of Transitional Living Homes run by S.T.A.R Care Services in Fort Wayne, IN
Presenters
James W. Williams & Alicja Brownstein, Numa
Audience
Residents of Transitional Living Homes run by S.T.A.R. Care Services
Partners
S.T.A.R. Care Services, Fort Wayne, IN
Content
This spiritually-oriented group therapy addresses substance abuse issues, mental health issues, and supports the adjustment to life after the reentry process. This program does not adhere to any specific religion but draws from many spiritual traditions, in accordance with the religious, spiritual, and intellectual preferences of our clients. Our clients explore religious, spiritual, and philosophical aspects of mental health, recovery, and adjustment after reentry, by deepening their relationships with themselves and others, reflecting upon a purpose of life, and cultivating a healthy sense of self-esteem and hope. They do so by combining talk therapy in a group process with mindfulness meditation, engaging in creativity, intellectual work, connection with nature, and with community work. The plan is to develop this program into a sustainable element of the recovery process for the clients of S.T.A.R. Care Services, and for other people in need of such therapeutic support.
– Projects Completed –
February 22, 2025
“CARING FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESSES” – a symposium organized with collaboration with Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Fort Wayne, IN
Presenters
James W. Williams & Alicja Brownstein, Numa
Audience
Open to the community
Partners
Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Fort Wayne, IN
Content
Best practices in caring for loved ones living with a variety of mental health illnesses, with emphasizing the importance of understanding early symptoms of burnout, compassion fatigue, grief, as well as codependence and enmeshment. We discussed in depth the particulars of the inpatient and outpatient treatment. Our presentation is based on our experience working as counselors, psychotherapists, and social workers in hospitals, private practices, and social service agencies. We are particularly sensitive to cultural differences in addressing mental health issues in diverse family and community settings.
March 23, 2024
“NUMA’S SUPPORT FOR UKRAINIAN PSYCHOTHERAPISTS” – an invited talk in the series “Diversity Dialogues” at Parkview Health, Fort Wayne, IN, USA
Presenter
Alicja Brownstein, Ph. D., Numa, Inc.
Facilitators
Diana Jackson-Davis, Ph.D., Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Parkview Health
Partners
Department of Diversity and Inclusion, Parkview Health
Participants
Open to the employees of Parkview Health
February 17, 2024
“A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS: AN INTERVIEW WITH JAMES W. WILLIAMS” – a virtual meeting with Numa’s Vice-President in celebration of the Black History Month
Presenters
James W. Williams & Alicja Brownstein, Numa
Audience
Open access
Content
James shared with us stories from his life in music and in the theater. He talked about his work and encounters with the Scott Brothers, James Brown, Earth, Wind and Fire, Al Green, the Chi-Lites, B.B. King, Theodore Pendergrass, Gladys Knight, Ike and Tina Turner, Chaka Khan, Howlin’ Wolf, Michael Jackson, Stylistics, the Bar-Kays, and much other R&B, Funk, Blues, and pop performers. He shared stories about performing at the White House with Lionel Hampton, the Apollo Theater in Harlem, McCormick Place in Chicago, or in such a lost gem of Black culture as High Chaparral Lounge on the South Side of Chicago, or at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia. He shared his travels around the world, and about his life in theater as an actor, director, writer and composer.
Link
January 26, 2024
“TRAUMA-FOCUSED LONG-TERM PSYCHODYNAMIC GROUP THERAPY WITH ELEMENTS OF PEER MENTORING FOR THE U.S. MILITARY VETERANS” – an article by Alicja Brownstein in Psychologia w Praktyce
Author
Alicja Brownstein, Ph. D., Numa, Inc.
Venue
Psychologia w Praktyce, 43/2024
Audience
Polish-reading psychotherapists
November 10, 2023
“COMMUNITY AND INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA: TRAUMA-INFORMED THERAPEUTIC PRACTICES IN CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK WITH MARGINALIZED AND HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED GROUPS” – a virtual graduate seminar for psychology students organized by the Faculty of Psychology and Cognitive Sciences at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland
Presenters
Alicja Brownstein, Ph. D., Numa, Inc.
Facilitators
Prof. Monika Bobako
Faculty of Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland
Partners
Faculty of Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland
– Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu, Wydział Psychologii i Kognitywistyki
This seminar was a part of a program: “Uniwersytet Jutra II – zintegrowany program rozwoju Uniwersytetu im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu”
Participants
Graduate students in psychology and cognitive sciences
Content
Zajęcia poszerzają wiedzę studentów psychologii i kognitywistyki o teorie i metody terapii praktykowane obecnie w Stanach Zjednoczonych, a wywodzące się z tzw. „Trzeciej Fali” psychoterapii. Wybrana problematyka dotyczy głównie kompetencji kulturowej (inter/cultural competence), terapii w kontekście relacji kulturowych, metakognitywistyki społecznej (social metacognition), duchowości, wartości, pokory kulturowej (cultural humility), działań antyopresyjnych, antywykluczeniowych i sprawiedliwości społecznej (social justice), traumy zbiorowej (collective/community trauma), traumy międzypokoleniowej (intergenerational trauma), PTSD, traumy wtórnej i zapośredniczonej, rany moralnej (moral injury), zmęczenia współczucia (compassion fatigue) oraz aktywizmu społecznego (social activism) mającego na celu kolektywne uzdrawianie z historycznej traumy opresji i wykluczenia.
November 24, 2022
“CURRENT ISSUES IN PSYCHOLOGICAL HELP IN EDUCATION AT THE TIME OF WAR” – an international conference co-organized by Municipal Institution of Higher Education “Dniprovsk Academy of Continuing Education,” Institute of Strategic Development and Mediation, and “Island of Hope” in Dnipro, Ukraine
Presenters
James W. Williams & Alicja Brownstein, Numa
Facilitators
Ołena Kovalchuk, Municipal Institution of Higher Education, Dniprovsk Academy of Continuing Education
Prof. Mykoła Nesprava, Charity Fund “Island of Hope”
Translator
Olena Kovalchuk
Audience
Ukrainian psychotherapists, educators, and social workers
Partners
Municipal Institution of Higher Education “Dniprovsk Academy of Continuing Education” of Dnipropetrovsk Regional Council,
Institute of Strategic Development and Mediation
Charity Fund “Island of Hope”
Link
March – October 2022
Weekly virtual supervision / introvision group: “CLINICAL WORK WITH REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PEOPLE” for Ukrainian psychotherapists working in Ukraine and in diaspora. Project completed with cooperation with Alfred Nobel University in Dnipro, Ukraine
Group leaders
James W. Williams & Alicja Brownstein, Numa
Group facilitators
Dr. Oxana Bayer and Natalia Grysenko, Alfred Nobel University in Dnipro, Ukraine
Group translators
Natalia Shutiak, Tetyana Veskur, Olena Kovalchuk, Dana Zlenko Eisentraut, Oxana Bayer, Ph.D.
Partners
Department of Innovative Technologies in Pedagogy, Psychology and Social Work, Alfred Nobel University in Dnipro, Ukraine
Discussion topics
principles of trauma-focused and trauma-informed therapy
addressing PTSD and chronic stress
trauma-focused therapeutic methods such as EMDR, ART, layering, exposure therapy
countertransference
spirituality in psychotherapy
screenings and assessments for PTSD and chronic stress for the military and the civilian population
clinical work with survivors of sexual violence
secondary and vicarious trauma
burn out and self care
trauma-focused work with children and adolescents
somatization
mindfulness meditation and guided imagery
October 7, 2022
“INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA” – a lecture co-organized with Alfred Nobel University in Dnipro, Ukraine
Presenter
Alicja Brownstein, Ph.D., Numa, Inc.
Facilitators
Dr. Oxana Bayer and Natalia Grysenko, Alfred Nobel University in Dnipro, Ukraine
Translator
Natalia Shutiak
Partners
Department of Innovative Technologies in Pedagogy, Psychology and Social Work, Alfred Nobel University in Dnipro, Ukraine
Audience
Ukrainian psychotherapists
Link
September 23, 2022
“CLINICAL WORK WITH SURVIVORS OF THE POLITICAL VIOLENCE: BASIC PRINCIPLES”– a lecture co-organized with Alfred Nobel University in Dnipro, Ukraine
Presenter
Alicja Brownstein & James W. Williams, Numa
Facilitators
Dr. Oxana Bayer and Natalia Grysenko, Alfred Nobel University in Dnipro, Ukraine
Translator
Natalia Shutiak
Partners
Department of Innovative Technologies in Pedagogy, Psychology and Social Work, Alfred Nobel University in Dnipro, Ukraine
Audience
Ukrainian psychotherapists
Link
“Клінічна робота з жертвами політичного насильства: базові принципи”
September 16, 2022
“PTSD, CHRONIC STRESS, EMOTIONAL DYSREGULATION, AND SOMATIZATION” – a lecture co-organized with Alfred Nobel University in Dnipro, Ukraine
Presenter
Alicja Brownstein & James W. Williams, Numa
Facilitators
Dr. Oxana Bayer and Natalia Grysenko, Alfred Nobel University in Dnipro, Ukraine
Translator
Natalia Shutiak
Partners
Department of Innovative Technologies in Pedagogy, Psychology and Social Work, Alfred Nobel University in Dnipro, Ukraine
Audience
Ukrainian psychotherapists
“ПТСР, хронічний стрес, розлади адаптації та соматизація”
September 7, 2022
“LAYERING AS A METHOD IN TRAUMA THERAPY” – an article by Alicja Brownstein in Psychologia w Praktyce
Author
Alicja Brownstein, Ph. D., Numa, Inc.
Venue
Psychologia w Praktyce, 35/2022
Audience
Polish-reading psychotherapists
August 19, 2022
“APPLYING FOR INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH GRANTS” – a seminar co-organized with Adam Mickiewicz University Poznań, Poland and Alfred Nobel University in Dnipro, Ukraine
Presenter
Anna Bernaczyk, Project Support Centre, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (Poland)
Facilitators
Dr. Oxana Bayer and Natalia Grysenko, Alfred Nobel University in Dnipro, Ukraine
Dr. Alicja Brownstein, Numa
Translator
Dr. Oxana Bayer
Partners
Department of Innovative Technologies in Pedagogy, Psychology and Social Work, Alfred Nobel University, Dnipro, Ukraine
Project Support Centre, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland
– Centrum Wsparcia Projektów, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu, Wydział Studiów Edukacyjnych i Wydział Historii –
Audience
Faculty and students of the Department of Innovative Technologies in Pedagogy, Psychology and Social Work, Alfred Nobel University in Dnipro, Ukraine
June, 2022
Translation and distribution of TRAUMA-FOCUSED THERAPY WORKBOOKS ON PROCESSING TRAUMA AND GRIEF FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS from English into Ukrainian
Authors
Alison Hendricks, Matt Kliethermes, Judith Cohen, Anthony Mannarino, and Esther Deblinger
Translator (with the permission by the Authors)
Iryna Kuryliak
Titles
“Dealing with Trauma: A TF-CBT Workbook for Teens,”
“Your Very Own TF-CBT Workbook,”
Partners
Ms. Angie Hayden, Fort Wayne IN (a sponsor)
Consultation
Dr. Oxana Bayer, Alfred Nobel University, Dnipro, Ukraine
Distribution
The workbooks have been distributed through the social media platforms and mailing lists among Ukrainian psychotherapists working with children and adolescents in Ukraine and in the refugee populations
March 25, 2022
“TRAUMA-INFORMED AND CARE FOR REFUGEE CHILDREN” – a seminar co-organized with the Faculty of Educational Studies at Adam Mickiewicz University Poznań, Poland
Presenter
Alicja Brownstein, Ph.D., Numa, Inc.
Facilitators
Dr. Magdalena Lachowicz, Department of History
Prof. Kinga Kuszak, Associate Dean of Curriculum and Student Affairs
Faculty of Educational Studies Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland
Partners
Department of History, and Department of Educational Studies, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland
– Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu, Wydział Studiów Edukacyjnych i Wydział Historii –
Participants
Faculty- and students- volunteers organizing a daycare for children refugees from Ukraine on campus of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland
March 22, 2022
“TRAUMA-INFORMED AND TRAUMA-FOCUSED CARE FOR REFUGEES” – a seminar co-organized with Centre of Women’s Rights in Poznań, Poland
Presenter
Alicja Brownstein, Numa
Facilitators
Maciej Wróbel, Ph.D., Atty., Centre for Women’s Rights in Poznań
– Centrum Praw Kobiet w Poznaniu –
Partners
Centre of Women’s Rights in Poznań, Poland
– Centrum Praw Kobiet w Poznaniu –
Participants
Employees and volunteers at the Centre for Women’s Rights
March 18, 2022
“HOW TO STAY ON TRACK WITH STUDIES: DEALING WITH ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN THE CONTEXT OF WAR IN UKRAINE” – a seminar co-organized with the University of Fine Arts in Poznań, Poland
Presenter
Alicja Brownstein, Ph. D., Numa, Inc.
Facilitators
Prof. Izabela Kowalczyk Dean of Artistic Education and Curatorial Studies
Prof. Sonia Rammer, University of Fine Arts in Poznan, Poland
Partners
Dean of Artistic Education and Curatorial Studies, University of Fine Arts in Poznań, Poland
– Dziekan Wydziału Edukacji Artystycznej i Kuratorstwa, Uniwersytet Artystyczny im. Magdaleny Abakanowicz w Poznaniu –
Participants
Students of the University of Fine Arts in Poznań, Poland
March 11, 2022
“TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACHES IN TEACHING, IN THE RESPONSE TO THE RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN WAR” – a seminar co-organized with the University of Fine Arts in Poznań, Poland
Presenter
Alicja Brownstein, Ph. D., Numa, Inc.
Facilitators
Prof. Izabela Kowalczyk Dean of Artistic Education and Curatorial Studies
Prof. Sonia Rammer, University of Fine Arts in Poznan, Poland
Partners
Dean of Artistic Education and Curatorial Studies, University of Fine Arts in Poznań, Poland
– Dziekan Wydziału Edukacji Artystycznej i Kuratorstwa, Uniwersytet Artystyczny im. Magdaleny Abakanowicz w Poznaniu –
Participants
The faculty of the University of Fine Arts in Poznań, Poland
March 3, 2022
“OUR EMOTIONAL REACTIONS TO THE WAR IN UKRAINE: WHAT WE FEEL, HOW TO DEAL WITH OUR REACTIONS, AND HOW TO SUPPORT PEOPLE AFFECTED BY TRAUMA, CHRONIC STRESS, ANXIETY, AND GRIEF” – a seminar co-organized with the University of Fine Arts in Poznań, Poland
Presenter
Alicja Brownstein, Ph. D., Numa, Inc.
Facilitators
Prof. Izabela Kowalczyk Dean of Artistic Education and Curatorial Studies
Prof. Sonia Rammer, University of Fine Arts in Poznan, Poland
Partners
Dean of Artistic Education and Curatorial Studies, University of Fine Arts in Poznań, Poland
– Dziekan Wydziału Edukacji Artystycznej i Kuratorstwa, Uniwersytet Artystyczny im. Magdaleny Abakanowicz w Poznaniu –
Participants
The community of the University of Fine Arts in Poznań, Poland, including students, faculty, staff, the associated persons
March 3, 2022
“OUR EMOTIONAL REACTIONS TO THE WAR IN UKRAINE: WHAT WE FEEL, HOW TO DEAL WITH OUR REACTIONS, AND HOW TO SUPPORT PEOPLE AFFECTED BY TRAUMA, CHRONIC STRESS, ANXIETY, AND GRIEF” – a seminar co-organized with the University of Fine Arts in Poznań, Poland
Presenter
Alicja Brownstein, Ph. D., Numa, Inc.
Facilitators
Prof. Izabela Kowalczyk Dean of Artistic Education and Curatorial Studies
Prof. Sonia Rammer, University of Fine Arts in Poznan, Poland
Partners
Dean of Artistic Education and Curatorial Studies, University of Fine Arts in Poznań, Poland
– Dziekan Wydziału Edukacji Artystycznej i Kuratorstwa, Uniwersytet Artystyczny im. Magdaleny Abakanowicz w Poznaniu –
Participants
The community of the University of Fine Arts in Poznań, Poland, including students, faculty, staff, the associated persons
February 25, 2022
“TRANSGENERATIONAL TRAUMA, IDENTITY AND VIOLENCE” – an invited talk in the series “Diversity Dialogues” at Parkview Health, Fort Wayne, IN, USA
Presenter
Alicja Brownstein, Ph. D., Numa, Inc.
Facilitators
Diana Jackson-Davis, Ph.D., Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Parkview Health
Partners
Department of Diversity and Inclusion, Parkview Health
Participants
Open to the employees of Parkview Health