Liora Somer, M.A.

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Psychotherapist and expressive arts therapist.

Areas of Expertise:

Anxiety treatment
Depression treatment
Treatment of childhood trauma (psychological, physical, sexual) in adults and adolescents
Combined therapy with psychotherapists for special cases
Leading support groups for incest survivors
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
Art therapy

Education:

2002: Advanced studies in integrative psychotherapy, specializing in CBT, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
1987: M.A. in Art Therapy, Lesley College, USA
1985: Diploma in Art Therapy, Mount Mary College, USA
1980: B.A. in Psychology and Special Education, University of Haifa

Recognition and Professional Affiliations:

Certified by the Ministry of Health as an expressive and creative arts therapist (Registration No. 24507)
Member of ISSTD (2001-2019)
Member of Israeli Association for Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (2004-2021)
Chairperson of Trauma and Dissociation Israel (2006-2017)
Member of European Society for Trauma and Dissociation (2008-2019)
Member of International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (2008-2016)

Professional Involvement:

Former Chairperson, Trauma and Dissociation Israel
Former Individual and Group Therapist and Supervisor, Multidisciplinary Center for Sexual Assault Victims, Bnai Zion Hospital, Haifa
Former Field Instructor for Practicum in Art Therapy, University of Haifa
Former Therapist at the Rape Crisis Center, Haifa

Publications and Conference Presentations:

Somer, L. (2019, October). Maladaptive daydreamingand dissociative identity disorder: Artistic representations of th self and the psychological condition. Paper presented at the 7th bi-anual conference of the European Society for Trauma and Dissociation, Rome, Italy (with Somer, E. and Halpern, N.).

Somer, E. Somer, L. & Jopp, S.D. (2016). Childhood Antecedents and Maintaining Factors in Maladaptive Daydreaming. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000000507

Somer, E. Somer, L. & Jopp, S.D. (2016). Parallel Lives: A Phenomenological Study of the Lived Experience of Maladaptive Daydreaming. Journal of Trauma and Dissociation doi: 10.1080/15299732.2016.1160463

Somer, L. (2015). The use of art therapy with women sexually abused during childhood, Keynote speaker, First conference of ESTD in Romania, Timisoara, Romania.

Somer, L. (2015). Working through traumatic memories with DID patients using art therapy, Keynote speaker, First conference of ESTD in Romania, Timisoara, Romania.

Somer, L. (2014). Reflection, transparency and mirroring: Glass as material in art therapy with a DID patient. Paper presented at the bi-annual conference of the European Society for Trauma and Dissociation, Copenhagen, Denmark, March 27-29.

Somer, L. (2012). Art therapy with survivors of child sexual abuse. Guest lecture, South Africa Association of Jungian Analysts, Cape Town, South Africa, September 18.

Somer, L. (2010). From silence to verbal expression through Art in therapy with a CSA survivor. Paper presented in the Second Bi-annual conference of the European Society for Trauma and Dissociation, Belfast, Northern Ireland, April 8-10.

Somer, L. (November, 2007). Enforced continuous work on the same artwork facilitates the articulation of a dissociated narrative: A suggested technique. Paper presented at The 24th Annual ISSTD Conference, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Somer, L. (November, 2003). A concrete representation of projective identification in art therapy with a DID patient. Paper presented at The 20th Annual ISSD Conference, Chicago. IL, USA.

Somer, L., & Somer, E. (2000). Perspectives on the use of glass in art therapy. American Journal of Art Therapy, 38(3), 75-80.

Somer, L., & Somer, E. (1997). Phenomenological and psychoanalytic perspectives on a spontaneous artistic process during psychotherapy for dissociative identity disorder. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 24(5), .419-430.