Alaa Shareef received her M.A. in Clinical Psychology and Ed.M. in Mental Health Counseling from Teachers College, Columbia University. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, along with certifications in Childhood & Adolescence Studies and Cultures & Communities Studies. She also completed formal Arabic language training at the Al Qasid Institute in Amman, Jordan. She recently received her Master’s in Islamic Psychology from Cambridge University in the UK. In addition to being a part of Cornerstone’s Arabic-speaking team, Alaa is a researcher and community educator with the Family and Youth Institute, where she focuses on Muslim mental health through curriculum development, advocacy, and literacy initiatives. She has previously served on the Education Board of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee and as a Curriculum Developer with the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition.
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Currently, Alaa provides mental health counseling in New York to clients of diverse ages and backgrounds, addressing concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma, divorce, and family discord. At Cornerstone, she contributes her expertise as an Arabic Interventionist & Presenter and as a Refugee Resilience Trainer, supporting Arabic-speaking migrants and promoting culturally grounded approaches to mental and emotional wellness.