Welcome to Middlepeace Website: This website is an individual work by Poran Poregbal, MA., RSW., RCC, founded and originated early 2007.
The Initial idea about Middlepeace:
I am a woman, mother, wife, and at the same time a therapist, a social worker, an activist, a dreamer, an artist, and a co-worker. Along with that, i come from a multi-disciplinary background allowing me to draw strength from many different perspective and experiences.
The word “Middlepeace” relates to a dream many of us have. The Middle East is in need of peace now more than ever, along with all of us who dream about peace for that region and for everyone around the world.
When Dr. Martin Luther King made his historical “I have a dream” speech about equality and justice, he passed on the notion of having such dreams to millions of people, to all of us. I know that many of us have the same desire. I believe in the possibility of working for peace, for creating a peaceful dialogue, and for encouraging peace.
”Middlepeace” came to my mind because I wanted to relate this possibility for peace to the part of the world we come from as Iranians. The lack of peace in the Middle East affects all of us: our families and our friends in Iran and abroad. It also affects our dreams about having harmony, happiness, and congruency in our home country again, having that entire region free from conflicts, and seeing peace establishing more and more in our world.
We gain a lot by having peace among us, between us, with us, around us, for us, and by us.
We all win by working toward peace, by letting go of egos for the sake of peace, by educating our children about this vast need, and by helping our future generations to live better lives than we are living!
We cannot afford more conflicts, more harm, and more hate. We must create peace in our hearts first in order to generate it amongst our communities, and pass it down to our children.
Let’s envision that: a world with peace!
Why Middlepeace?
Many people may wonder why it is important to read or write about “the Iranian way of thinking.” I would say, it is important to learn about groups and communities through the lens of their perception of culture, traditions, customs, and life style. Now that I have the chance, i would like to examine my perception of how our Iranian way of thinking, processing, and feeling, would be enough for a happier and healthier life.
I consider the importance of education and support for building safer communities. I believe in our Iranian culture we need to understand Psychology with new eyes and also learn to apply it in our everyday life.
I guess there is no co-incidence for being where we are in life, each one of us has a map to follow, the foot steps of our previous generations and role models.
My writing is about examining the cultural, traditional, and environmental basis for mental health and dysfunction in our Iranian culture. At the same time it is a constant work to explore the intersection of mental health with stronger family bonds, independent individuals, and peaceful communities. My work is about creating new avenues toward promotion of parenting skills, healthy couple relationships, and wholeness of the individual.
My counselling experiences and my specialized interests afford me the ability to work with clients who suffer from migration related issues, depression, anxiety, sexual abuse, childhood abuse, domestic violence, and trauma.
My background is in Social Work and studies in the fields of Anthropology, Ethnology, Rehabilitation, and Victim Services. I completed my undergraduate Degree in Social Science in 1994 in Stockholm, Sweden.
For about ten years, I have had the opportunities to work with victims of crime and trauma.
I come from a multicultural and multi-disciplinary world with life experiences that go back to having lived in four countries, on three continents, so far. I speak three languages and I am an artist, activist, and writer. I concentrate to contextualize on many hidden areas of our Iranian life, because I believe our next generations need to know.
Certainly, writing is part of my upbringing and I would like to add to the common knowledge around us.
Poran Poregbal, MA., RSW., RCC
pporegbal@hotmail.com
Editor Professional Background & Qualifications
Founder / Executive Director at the Iranian Educators Society for Families, a non profit society that offers clinical and psycho-educational programs to all Farsi-speaking individuals and families residing in the Lower Mainland, 2009 – Present.
Clinical Practice of Individual Counselling
• Associate Therapist with BC Society for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse, 2010- Present.
• Trauma Counsellor at the Family Services of the North shore, Aug 2011- Present.
• Clinical Supervisor / Therapist at Iranian Educators Society for Families, 2009- Present.
Clinical Practice of Individual Counselling
• Over 700 hours of supervised Clinical practicum in the Cross-Cultural Clinic, Outpatient
Psychiatry, Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver General Hospital, Jan – Dec 2008.
• Family Therapist / Counsellor at the Family Services of the North Shore, 2005-2006.
Past Professional Work Experiences
• Victim Support Worker, BC Society for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse, 2004-2011.
• Associate Counselling Therapist for Balance & Support Consulting Inc., Counselling Services. 2009-2010.
• Child-Protection Worker, North Vancouver Ministry of Children and Family Development, 2000-2001.
• Clinical Social Worker, practised in Stockholm-Sweden, Ministry of Social Services, Kungsholmen, 1994-1998.
• Clinical Rehabilitation and investigation, at the Immigration- Rehabilitation Co, a Multicultural Assessment Services in Stockholm-Sweden, 1996-1998.
Academic Background
• M.A. in Clinical Counselling/ Adler School of Professional Psychology, Feb 2009.
• Studies in Ethnological Science completed 25 credits, University of Umea, Sweden, 1996-1998.
• Master level Courses in Anthropology, Simon Fraser University, 2001-2002.
• BA in Social Science, University of Stockholm, Sweden, 1991-1994.
Professional Affiliations
• BCACC: BC Association of Clinical Counsellors, Reg # 3411
• BCCSW: BC College of Social Workers, Reg # 4404
• NASAP: North American Society for Adlerian Psychology 2008-2010
• Registered Therapist with Crime victim Assistance Program.
Professional Development
• Psychodynamic Psychotherapy: How Do You Actually Do It? Two days of Training offered by Residential Historic Abuse Program(RHAP) & Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH): Presented by Dr. Allan Frankland, Feb-April 10.
• The Creative Clinician: Making Breakthroughs in our Clients’ Lives and our Own, A Clinical Training offered by RHAP in conjunction with the Vancouver Coastal Health: Dr. Jeffrey Kot-tler, November 2010.
• Enjoying Couples Counselling Using Adlerian Theory & Practical Tools; by Mavis Lloyd, a to-tal of 6 hours of Continuing Education credits, October 2, 2010.
• Narrative Therapy: “The Craft of Narrative Therapy Questions,” by Dr Stephan Maddigan. October 2010.
• Integration of Cognitive-Behavioural, Relational and Mindfulness Approaches ADVANCES IN TRAUMA THERAPY. Training offered by RHAP & VCH, A Clinical Training with Dr. John Briere, March 2009.
• Dreams and Dream Interpretation in Counselling and Psychotherapy. Certification in Dream Work, 12 credits toward a license in Adlerian Psychology. Offered by Adlerian Psychology As-sociation of British Columbia, The Alfred Adler Institute, 2008.
• Micro Skill Workshop, Adler School of Professional Psychology, Fall 2008.
• Personality and Psychotherapy: Understanding How Personality Affects Treatment; Training offered by RHAP & VCH. Dr. Nancy McWilliams, March 2008.
• Facilitator Skills Training; being prepared, Being present and being skilled, Canadian Red Cross Training; Training in Action, 2006.
• Treat Assessment and Risk Management; six days conference offered by Vancouver Police & Victim Services, 2006.
• Iranian Studies; Simon Fraser University, Dr Milani Foundation, 2005.
• Victim Services Training, over 150 hours of in class training and over 14 hours of core course required for a Victim Services licensee. Justice Institute of B.C., 2004-2007.
• University woman’s Club; Islam and Woman’s Issues, March 2005.
• Critical Incident Management Training, Justice Institute of B.C., 2005.
• Violence and Abuse Prevention Training Program, Canadian Red Cross, Respect ED 2005.
• Preventing Youth Relationship Violence, Canadian Red Cross, Respect, ED 2005.
• Skills and Arts for International Peace keeping, by Dr Hossein Danesh, Justice Institute of B.C. 2004.
• Building Collaborative Communities, A three day workshop offered by BC Cancer Society, 2004.
• Alzheimer disease & living with Grief seminar, by Salvation Army, hospice foundation of America, 2004.
• Issues for male survivors of sexual abuse; 2 day training at B.C. Society for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse, 2004.
• Chronic Disease Self Management, Leadership Training, provided by University of Victoria, Center for Aging, 2004.
• Duties and Responsibilities of Victim Service Workers, 2003.
• The power of knowledge, Stress and Stress Management for victim service workers, building public safety, by Delta police Victim Service, 2003.
• Copying with Public Tragedy Workshop: Living with Grief, by Hospice foundation of America, Salvation Army, Burnaby, and B.C. 2003.
• Abuse of Elderly People, by the Public Guardian & Trustee Office in Vancouver B.C. 2003
• Adults & High Risk Clients; to respond to cases of adult abuse, neglect and self neglect, by the Public Guardian & Trustee Office in Vancouver, B.C. 2003.
• Introduction to Family Justice Services in B.C.; Negotiation; Mediation; Conflict resolution. Over 60 hours of in class training, towards a certificate program in family mediation at the Jus-tice Institute of B.C. 2003- 2004.
• Child Protection Worker Training, Justice Institute of B.C., 2000-2001.
• License in TESL teacher; Teaching English as a Second Language, Burnaby College, B.C. 1998-1999.
• Rehabilitation & Assessment, Immigrant Rehabilitation Program (IR) Stockholm, Sweden, 1995-1998.
• Clinical training in Family System Work, Stockholm, Sweden, 1997.
Academic/Teaching Experience
• Online- Tutoring, have taught over 100 hours / 18 students, the Module I, Introduction to Victim Services, a program for newly hired victim service workers across B.C., Justice, 2005-2008.
Acknowledgement for Scholarly Activities
• Research Assistant Work: Religion and Spirituality in Psychotherapy: An Individual Psychology Perspective By Thor Johansen, PSY. D. JOHANSEN (2009).
• Research Assistant Responsibilities; Facilitation of focus groups, over 70 hours of individual interviews, field research, translation, transcription, etc. Work with Professor Parin Dossa, SFU, Department of Anthropology and Sociology, 2002-Ongoing.
• Co-Investigator on a Research project funded by UBC, School of Social Work and Family studies: Outcomes of Violence in the Lives of Iranian Women, 2003-2004.
Honours and Awards
• Our Society won the BCACC Professional Care Award for 2010-2011.
Recognized Work
• Certificate of Recognition from Victim Services and Crime Prevention Division of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, British Columbia for dedicating 5 years of service to victims of crime in the community of Vancouver through the provision of high quality of services, 2009.
• One year Milestone Award from Canadian Red Cross, for the Volunteer work in the Respect ED Program, 2009.
Community Services
• Board Member for Rooyesh Cultural Society. 2006-2009.
• Editor and Author for http://emapthy.blogspot.com/, in Persian
• Editor and Author for www.middlepeace.com/ In English, Acknowledged by the North American Society of Adlerian Psychology, NASAP News letter May-June 2008, Vol. 41, N.3.
• Multiple Grief and Loss presentations for Handsworth Secondary school, through People’s Law School, 2000-2001.
• Volunteered for about 650 hours for the West Vancouver Police Department; Victim Services, 2000-2005.
• Facilitation of Child Abuse and Relationship Violence Prevention Program on Behalf of Canadian Red Cross; Respect Ed Program; Guest speaker in about 50 schools in Greater Vancouver, 2004-2006.
• Community Service Practicum for the Canadian Mental Health organization, Branch of North and West Vancouver, developed a pilot project: “Strengthening Families and Youth voices Project,” a psycho-educational group program for Iranian parents to explore challenges with parenting in migration and cultural adjustments. This program was awarded by the Soma Ganesan, Spirit of Hope Award, 2007.
