Alaa Shareef received her MA in Clinical Psychology and Ed.M in Mental Health Counseling from the Teachers College at Columbia University. She holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and additional certifications in Childhood & Adolescence Studies and Cultures & Communities Studies. She is formally trained in Arabic from Al Qasid Institute in Amman, Jordan. Alaa is also a researcher and community educator with the Family and Youth Institute focusing on Muslim mental health curriculum development, advocacy, and literacy. In the past she has served on the Islamic Society of Milwaukee’s Education Board as well as the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition as a Curriculum Developer. She currently provides mental health counseling in NY to clients of diverse backgrounds and ages dealing with issues such as anxiety, depression, divorce, trauma, and family discord. At Cornerstone, Alaa serves as an Arabic Interventionist & Presenter and Refugee Resilience Trainer.