ACADEMIA

Miri Bar-Halpern

Psychologist

Dr. Miri Bar-Halpern is a clinical psychologist and trauma researcher whose work focuses on Traumatic Invalidation in the Jewish community, the psychological harm that can occur when individuals’ experiences of trauma are dismissed or minimized. In the aftermath of October 7, she applied this framework to the Jewish experience, helping to articulate and give language to a phenomenon many Jews were struggling to describe as expressions of grief, fear, and vulnerability were often denied or politicized. Her widely circulated article on this topic helped bring the concept into broader clinical and public discourse and has been used by clinicians, educators, community organizations, and legal professionals seeking evidence-based ways to understand and respond to the psychological impact of antisemitism and identity-based trauma. In addition to her academic work, she has been active in public advocacy, including providing testimony at the state and local level on the mental health impact of antisemitism and the importance of trauma-informed responses in schools and communities. She also serves in a leadership role with Parents for Peace, where she works at the intersection of trauma, prevention, and disengagement from violent extremism, helping develop trauma-informed approaches for families, communities, and professionals.