Dr. Hala Alyan

Biography

Hala Nafez Alyan is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Psychology at New York University Steinhardt. She is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in the assessment and treatment of trauma, substance abuse, anxiety, mood disorders, relationship concerns, and cross-cultural issues. Alyan's professional experience spans various settings, including forensic, inpatient, and school-based counseling centers. She is particularly interested in the intersection of healing and the creative arts, and runs workshops that incorporate narrative therapy with incarcerated communities and survivors of torture, including refugees from the United States and the Middle East. In addition to her clinical work, Alyan is an accomplished author, with novels such as Salt Houses, which won the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, and Arsonists’ City, which was shortlisted for the Aspen Words Literary Prize. Her writing has appeared in notable publications like The New Yorker and Guernica. She has received training in numerous therapeutic modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Exposure Response Prevention, Narrative Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. Alyan teaches graduate coursework that combines clinical training to prepare students for a career as professional clinical counselors and offers a program for School Counseling, where students receive education and training to become professional pre-K–12 school counselors, working in schools, colleges, and community agencies.

Research Interests