Julia Byers, Ph.D.
Professor Emerita, Lesley University | Distinguished Senior Fellow, Global Resilience Institute
Boston, MA, UNITED STATES
Dr. Byers has worked in over 25 countries providing humanitarian aid through expressive art/play therapies and mental health counseling
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Biography
Dr. Julia Byers, LMHC, ATR-BC, Professor Emerita, Lesley University has been working in over 25 countries providing humanitarian aid through expressive art/play therapies and mental health counseling. Julia has worked with many communities, individuals and families who experienced traumatic events, situational stress, and ongoing stress in response to natural disasters, military or violent related circumstances or unexpected or situational personal bereavement and loss. Having been trained in family systems theories, Julia utilizes an eclectic and existential approach to PTSD within a resilience strength-based framework.
Professor Byers received her doctorate from the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in the Department of Adult Education, Counseling Psychology and Community Development in 1996, having already been a tenured professor within the Faculty of Arts, at Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada for 16 years. She earned her clinical Master’s degree from I.M.C. and U.C.L.A. Los Angeles, California, and her Bachelor’s degree at McGill University. She also went to Vanier College, St. Laurent, Quebec for an initial diploma in Arts and Social Sciences.
While at Concordia University, Julia established the first internationally approved Graduate Art Therapy program from the American Art Therapy Association. After being hired at Lesley University in 1996, in part to develop the first Expressive Therapy PhD program in the states, Dr. Byers was the Expressive Therapy Division Director for 12 years and the first PhD director for five years. She also co-established the Lesley Extension MA program in Expressive Therapy in Netanya, Israel overseeing a total of 500 graduate students. Professor Byers taught the PhD Interdisciplinary studies course for the school of Education and the Graduate Studies in Arts and Social Sciences for 17 years, emphasizing how many different disciplines can work together for research, supervision and leadership.
Areas of Expertise (5)
Group Therapy
Psychology
Art Therapy
Psychotherapy
Mental Health Counseling
Education (3)
University of Toronto: Ph.D.
I.M.C. and U.C.L.A. Los Angeles: Clinical Master's Degree
McGill University: B.S.
Affiliations (3)
- Lesley University : Professor and PhD Senior Advisor in EXTH and Ed. Interdisciplinary Studies
- American Art Therapy Association : Committee Member in Continuing Education
- Community Legal Services and Counseling Center : Board Member
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