Marilyn Luber, Clinical Psychologist, EMDR Consultant, EMDR Certified Practitioner, LGB 1967
Marilyn Luber
La Grande Boissière, 1967
Clinical Psychologist, EMDR Consultant, EMDR Certified Practitioner
USA
Find more about me:
My experience at Ecolint has been central to my work as a clinical psychologist and EMDR therapy therapist
I was married late in life and live with my husband and dog, Henry, in Philadelphia, PA in the United States. I have two adult stepchildren and four grandchildren. I continue to work as a clinical psychologist three days a week and am engaged in many Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy projects and associations. With my husband, we have been active in political causes. Also, we have my family’s Japanese art gallery that we continue to run online. At the moment, life is uncertain as we move into an uncertain political era in the United States.
My first choice of career was to become a Special Education Teacher so that I could return to Europe and teach at Ecolint; with that in mind, I went off to Columbia University, earned my MA and started to teach in NYC and then in Philadelphia. Originally, I came back to Philadelphia to open my family’s Japanese Art Gallery. While back in Philadelphia, I decided to become a clinical psychologist and so I went to Bryn Mawr College and was awarded my PhD in Human Development. My experience at Ecolint has been central to my work as a clinical psychologist and EMDR therapy therapist. In 1992, I learned EMDR therapy and, because of my international sensibilities fostered during my schooling at Ecolint, Dr. Francine Shapiro (founder of EMDR therapy and the EMDR Institute), later asked me to be the liaison between the International EMDR community and her EMDR Institute. I gladly took up her offer and have been involved with bringing together the whole EMDR International Community since the early 1990s. First, I was a founding board member of the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) charged with engaging our international membership. Then, I continued connecting with my EMDR colleagues through trainings for the Institute, volunteering for Trauma/Recovery HAP through trainings overseas, facilitator trainings, donating the proceeds from my “Handbook for EMDR Clients” to the humanitarian associations, editing books (the EMDR Scripted Protocols series of 7 books) with authors from all over the world, and writing the “Around the World” and “In the Spotlight” columns featuring members of the world-wide community in newsletters for EMDRIA, then Germany and the EMDR Global Alliance. Currently, I am a co-facilitator of the Board Secretariat for the EMDR Global Alliance and continue working in other international endeavours. In the summer of 2024, I was honoured with 2 awards celebrating the work that I have done internationally: the Special Award for the 25th Anniversary of EMDR Europe for Outstanding Contribution to EMDR Therapy in Europe by the EMDR Europe Association; and the International World Changer Award for honouring a volunteer who has made a significant global impact by Trauma Recovery/EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Programs.
There are so many Ecolint memories over a period of seven years. The earliest was on my first day of 6th grade meeting Mr. Forbes, the headmaster, and telling him how everything worked at my school in Philadelphia, PA. He listened patiently and then kindly welcomed me to my new school.
One of my favourite classes was History with Mr. Leach. He was an excellent teacher and piqued my interest in history and always kept me on the edge of my seat for his next words of wisdom. I was in the first International Baccalaureate class at Ecolint and my project was to write about “The Significance of the Absurd in Modern Art,” and the effect of the First World War on people and culture. In fact, my conclusion at the time still holds meaning for us today: “What is the significance of the absurd? It is the overruling sentiment of our era, the force by which we are surrounded. We no longer have the basic truths to rest upon. We are alone! We must believe in ourselves.”
And, of course, my friends and my teachers who continue to inspire me.
One of my favourite classes was History with Mr. Leach. He was an excellent teacher and piqued my interest in history and always kept me on the edge of my seat for his next words of wisdom.
If I had to do it all over again, I would have stayed at Ecolint for 5th form, rather than going back to the US and then returning to graduate.
My words of wisdom to current students: we live in a world that is becoming more divided again and consumed with turning those who are different into the enemy. As members of an international community that is successful in showing how people from different cultures, religions and nations can work, play and grow together respectfully, it is incumbent on us to bring this message beyond Ecolint and to foster respect and understanding for those different from ourselves and teach it to those around us.
As a legacy, I would like to have helped create light where there was darkness and joy where there was sorrow.
As members of an international community that is successful in showing how people from different cultures, religions and nations can work, play and grow together respectfully, it is incumbent on us to bring this message beyond Ecolint and to foster respect and understanding for those different from ourselves and teach it to those around us.