Gina Ross, MFCC, is founder and president of International Trauma-Healing Institutes in the United States and in Israel and the co-founder of the Israeli Trauma Center at Herzog Hospital in Jerusalem. An internationally known expert on the impact of trauma in conflict between groups or nations, Gina has specialized in cutting-edge healing methods that can be brought to the public. Also a pioneer in understanding collective trauma, Gina has integrated her wide expertise in cross–cultural issues and relationships and is currently working with Israeli and Palestinian societies and other groups to bring an understanding of the role of trauma in conflicts between groups or nations, how this role and cross –cultural misunderstandings relate specifically to politics in the Middle East. She has developed The Ross Model, applying the new healing paradigms to heal collective trauma at national and international levels in order to create a collective emotional foundation for peace. Gina and her institutes work diligently to place the issue of trauma healing on the global agenda, developing resources and collaborating with organizations to further healing at the community, national, and international levels.
Gina is a senior faculty member and teacher/trainer in Somatic Experiencing (SE) for the Foundation for Human Enrichment and has conducted hundreds of trainings and workshops, including providing emotional first aid after bombings in the Middle East and conducting peace workshops. Being on the frontlines of conflict and violence, she understood the need for research to introduce a very powerful tool into big bureaucracies like the US and Israeli Militaries, hospitals and Foreign ministries.
She is the creator of EFAST (Emotional First Aid for Stress and Trauma), an innovative technique that can be used as a self- help tool and which allows the recovery of our sense of control. EFAST helps us release on the spot, anywhere, anytime, any tension occurring from stress or traumatic events, allowing the adrenaline to drain from our body and protect us from developing post traumatic symptoms. EFAST brings the wisdom of body and instincts into releasing stress and healing trauma. It helps us increase our resiliency against future threats, especially if we are living through difficult times or situations of chronic stress. EFAST is a gentle, simple, organic and compassionate technique. It helps us focus on our deepest resources and to connect with our innate ability to heal (healing vortex). It offers a common and universal language which helps transcend cultural and political barriers touching the heart and the common ground of suffering.
She is the author of many articles and a series of books entitled Beyond the Trauma Vortex Into the Healing Vortex, guides addressed to the various social sectors that can exacerbate or heal trauma or both (the fields of medicine, psychology, education, the media, diplomats and NGOs, clergy, the judiciary and a special guide for the public in English, Hebrew and Arabic. The books are currently being translated into other languages.
In addition to Somatic Experiencing® (SE), Gina is certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Thought Field Therapy (TFT), and Traumatic Incident Reduction (TIR). She chaired the Cross-Cultural Committee of the Los Angeles, California Association of Marriage, Family, and Child Therapists (MFCT) for seven years. She continues to serve a multi-cultural clientele of 50 different cultures in her private practice in seven languages. She is an international guest lecturer at conferences including the United Nations and various professional associations. She has been a guest commentator on many television and radio shows.