Dr. Shari Cognitive Therapy ExpertDr. Shari Shamsavari has over 30 years of volunteer and professional experience in teaching her societal changing methods.

Biography

Doctor Shari was born in Syracuse, New York and was educated in England, Iran, and the United States. She has served on many national boards that represent her diverse volunteer interests; from establishing a runaway shelter for girls in New York City, acting as Northern California representative for the Northern California Art Therapy Association to serving as a past President of the American Association of University Women. Dr. Shari is the past President of the Child and Adolescent Health Section of the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB).

Her professional experience includes extensive work with children, establishing internships for MA-BA Psychology students, workshops with all levels of teachers, physicians / hospital staff, technology workers and many diverse non-profit organizations.

Community Projects & Awards

  • 2020: Launching self-regulation in the schools in the state of Jalisco, Mexico and in the state of California, USA
  • 2020: Training Mexican professionals on Thought Technology GSR 2
  • 2020: Kitchen Garden project launched, Gujarat, India
  • 2019, April- May 5: 22nd international book fair in Dominican Republic
  • 2019, January: Dominican Republic Secretary of Culture book presentation Alcanzando Niños en las Fonteras
  • 2018: Inducted to the Legacy Circle of AAUW National
  • 2018: Kitchen Garden: Pilot program for blind children in India in association with National Association For The Blind (NAB)
  • 2017-18: President, American Association of University Women (AAUW), Novato Branch
  • 2016: Honorary Advisory Board Position​, Latino Service Providers Sonoma County
  • 2016: President-Elect, American Association of University Women (AAUW)
  • 2016: Contributing Author, The Encyclopedia of Theories in Counseling and Psychotherapy AAPB American Psychological Association from Sage Publications
  • 2016 Presenter, Book Alcanzando Ninos en las Fronteras – The Politics of Social Reform, Society of Geography and Statistics, Mexico
  • 2015: Board, World Community Service Rotary International – Rotary Santa Rosa Inc.
  • 2015: Recipient of the Vicente E. Caballo International Award for Valuable Work in Biofeedback and Art Therapy in Health Education with children on National & State level in Mexico.
  • 2014: Medical Art Therapy Laboratory established at the University of Guadalajara, University Center of Psychology and Health Sciences (CENTRO UNIVERSITARIO DE CIENCIAS DE LA SALUD). The Laboratory for Cognitive Therapy and Research will train psychology and pre-medical students in required course material for art therapy, somatic education, biofeedback and autogenic breathing to be applied in their field internships.
  • 2013-Present: Alcanzando Niños en Las Fronteras (Reaching Children at the Borders) Program. Trained hundreds of health professionals and educators in art therapy, biofeedback, somatic education and autogenic breathing. The Certified professionals are working with thousands of at-risk children in the Mexico border states techniques to help the children release stress caused by their challenging environment. By utilizing these techniques, the professionals can identify problem areas of violence, sexual abuse and family breakdowns which often create a difficult situation for these children. 5 states are currently certified in the program.
  • 2012:  Distinguished Alumni Award Sonoma State University, California. Chair of the Child & Adolescent Section of the AAPB ( Association of  Applied psychophysiology & Biofeedback)
  • 2011: Nomination by Secretary of Education, State of Jalisco, to receive “Premio Nacional de Accion Voluntaria y Solidaria 2011.”
  • Honor Dedication award for outstanding leadership and selfless contributions in organizing the cultural exchange program for the symphony of the children between Mexico and California /Sonoma State University.
  • 2011: Recognition by El Club Rotario de Guadalajara, A. C., for dedication to the children of Mexico, in particular the Orquesta Sinfonia Infantil y Juvenil Lomas del Paraiso
  • 2011: Awarded Certificate of Honor by the Board of Supervisors of Sonoma County, California, in recognition of contribution to organizing the cultural exchange between the Rotary Clubs of Guadalajara, Mexico, and Santa Rosa, California, culminating in the performance of the Orquesta Infantil y Juvenil Lomas del Paraiso on June 11, 2011 at Sonoma State University
  • 2011: Appointed as Ambassador for the Children of Jalisco, Mexico, in the project Suenos por un Identidad.
  • 2010: Dissertation chosen to be included in Union Institute’s publication Measures of Enduring Excellence: Journeys toward Greater Leadership and Service published in 2010.
  • 2010: Appointed to Union Institute Board of Trustees.
  • 2010 AAPB proposal: Children’s Section and Section Chair of the association.
  • 2009 Children’s Symphony of Lomas del Paraiso (program under the secretary of culture in which children are taught to play instruments (planning began 2008; performance scheduled 2011 at SSU Green Music Center – an international program promoting cultural exchange) – Symphony of the children performing Arts Program Children of Lomas del Paraiso State of Jalisco 2011 Secretary of Culture Arq. Alejandro Cravioto Lebrija
  • 2005-2006 school program of art therapy and biofeedback in the schools, State of Jalisco Escuela de Carnacion de Las Rosas Zona 99 Government Jalsico School Program with 387 children 2006
  • 2005 established clinic Centro Rehabilitation Dif Jalisco Biofeedback Clinic 2005 For Governor’s wife Seniora Maria Verdusco La Paz President DIF
  • 2004 Art Therapy in Jalisco Program 2004 for DIF Program Governor’s wife President Joana Cardenas President DIF Jalisco (orphans and refugees)
  • 2002 Conference at Universidad Autonoma, Jalisco, on biofeedback
  • 2001 Art therapy conference Universidad de Guadalajara
  • 2001 Diversity Day State of California proclamation (planned in 1997)
  • 2000 Presented a course at Universidad de Guadalajara, Department of Social Sciences, working with gifted children in art therapy
  • 1995-1997 Marin County Art Therapy in the Schools Program
  • 1993 Community University Action Project 1993, Sonoma State University
  • 1993 Internship in with Community University Action Project, doing art therapy with a welfare recipient seeking to regain custody of her two children
  • 1993-1995 Novato Youth Center, treating multicultural families and children with art therapy, on referral from probation department, Hispanic, Persian, Chinese, Vietnamese, African-American, Haitian.
  • 1992 worked at Community School in Marin County with juvenile delinquents who had been expelled from their school in San Rafael Unified School district, via the Marin County Superintendent’s Office, Mary Jane Burke, in an academic support program
  • 1990 Yulupa Elementary School, Sunshine program after-school care, art therapy after-school program – self esteem program.

National Board Positions

  • 2018 Western Association of Biofeedback & Neuroscience
  • 2017 appointed Sonoma State University Alumni Association
  • 2017 AAUW American Association of University Women, President
  • Affiliate Scholar Center for Women on Research and Development, The Union Institute, Washington DC
  • 2000-2001 President of the American Association of University Women – Novato and State of California Diversity Chair
  • 1998 National Psychology Advisory Association; Board Member for International Student Programs and Recruitments
  • 1995-1997 American Association of University Women Washington D.C. Diversity Consultant: International Federation of University Women
  • 1995-1996 Northern California Art Therapy Association Area Representative (Marin/Sonoma)
  • 1993-1995 American Association of University Women: Public Policy and Program
  • 1987-1993 Mental Health Association of Marin County, CA Community Relations / Fund Raiser
  • 1980-1983 Nassau Children’s House in New York City: Established Walk About Runaway Shelter for Girls

Education

  • Ph.D. Philosophy and Social Sciences: Persian Women / Comparative Studies, The Union Institute, Cincinnati, OH
  • Certification in Neurobiofeedback
  • Art Therapy Registration, American Art Therapy Association
  • M.A Psychology, Art Therapy Concentration, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA
  • Rudolf Schaeffer School of Design, San Francisco, CA
  • Triangle College, London, England
  • Quatrieme Degree, Institute Francais de Teheran

Books

  • 2021: The Art of Portraiture: Family Art Therapy
  • 2020: Biofeedback for Children & Adolescents: A Study of Evidence Based Outcomes
  • 2018: Reaching Children at the US/Mexico Border: The Politics of Social Reform Published in English by Naughton & Gunn, Saline, MI
  • 2016: Reaching Children at the US/Mexico Border: The Politics of Social Reform Published in Spanish by Ediciones de La Noche, Guadalajara, Jalisco
  • 2015: Contributing Author The Sage Encyclopedia of Theory in Counseling and Psychotherapy
  • 2010: Symptoms, Stories, and the Evolving Child
  • 2010: Contributing Author Measures of Enduring Excellence – Journeys Toward Greater Leadership & Service Special Edition 45th Anniversary of Union University
  • 2006: Encuentro con los Niños en las Escuelas
  • 2003: Por Qué el Déficit de Atención en los Niños
  • 1999: My Flowers Poetry of Three Generations of Gajar Women