About Kathleen O'Hara
Bio/Presentations/Articles
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About Kathleen O'Hara
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Bio | About Kathleen | Workshops and Speaking Engagements
“A reluctant expert” is what friends call Kathleen O' Hara. Although true, it is a distinction Kathleen never wanted. In 1999, she was a mother of three children, a psychotherapist, with an optimistic viewpoint of the world and life. Then an event happened that would change her life forever. On Memorial Day, 1999, her oldest son Aaron and his roommate Brian were abducted from their off-campus home, beaten, tortured, taken to the woods in nearby Pennsylvania and shot to death. They were left there until the search party found them five days later. Two young men, Terrell Yarbrough and Nathan Herring were apprehended and convicted of murder. The last seven years have been a journey of grief and recovery. Kathleen has written about these experiences and because of her experience as a psychotherapist, was able to develop a seven stage model that will help guide readers through their journey. She has transformed a devastating experience into something that will help others not only survive trauma, but find a new life. She has been asked to give retreats, keynote talks, write articles and help individuals in her private practice. She has given presentations on her new trauma model to groups of Catholic Charities caregivers with excellent results. She has been a guest on National Public Radio, Catholic Family Radio and been interviewed by Fox news, (national and local), KYW3 and NBC. She continues to expand her work in private practice, media, writing and public presentations and speaking engagements. Last December, the Supreme Court of Ohio overturned the guilty verdict for Terrell Yarbrough who was on death row. The court ruled that the trial should have taken place in Pennsylvania were the bodies of Aaron and Brian were found. Because of their ruling, the Kathleen and her family will have to endure another trial, which will take place sometime in the next year. This turn of events made her even more determined to write this book and give something to the world in Aaron's name. Kathleen O'Hara received her BA in psychology from Antioch University in San Francisco , California and her graduate degree in Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies, also in San Francisco . She studied with Marion Rosen at the RosenMethod Bodywork Institute learning how our bodies hold the experiences of trauma. She is a member of the Women's Regional Business Council in Philadelphia , which helps women succeed in business and give back to the community. She is a member of PWIPP, Pennsylvania Women Impacting Public Policy, a political advocacy group promoting awareness of women's issues in politics. She belongs to OGN, a women's network in Philadelphia and New Jersey , which promotes women owned businesses. Kathleen is also working to create “A day for our daughters” based on a published article she wrote about her daughter Anna, after the death of her brother Aaron. You can find the article, along with others in the appendix of this proposal. The goal is to create a day to celebrate and honor our daughters as they face the challenges in our changing world. She is in the planning process now and will have the first “Daughter's day” in June of 2006, in Philadelphia . Kathleen has many ties in Philadelphia and New Jersey , both familial and professional. She is a tireless public speaker and characterized as a natural, humorous, intelligent and competent presenter. Extroverted in nature, she enjoys meeting and talking with people, networking and bringing people together. She was born in Philadelphia , where her mother's Italian family has been part of the community since 1890 and her father's family emigrated from Ireland in the early part of the twentieth century. She has studied human nature and comparative religions since 1971, when she lived in London , England . Interested in archeology, she has traveled to many important sites in the world, such as the pyramids in Egypt , where she attended a conference on world population. She has visited Macchu Picchu , Peru , The Acropolis in Greece and Stonehenge , England as well as Mt. Kilimanjaro in Kenya , Africa . She has been involved in the al-anon and AA twelve step community since 1982, applying their principles to her life and work. She has been actively involved in different forms of mediation for the past 23 years and in 2003, recorded a CD called Modern Meditation, which teaches people a simple. secular method of relaxation. She teaches this method today to groups and individuals. Kathleen enjoys life today, despite the grief and tragedy she has experienced. She finds hope in the possibilities of a new world after trauma. As a reluctant expert, she hopes A Grief Like No Other will help others make theirs through loss and trauma and find a new life ahead. Workshops and Speaking Engagements National Organization for Victims Assistance: Forum speaker, National Victims Rights Week, Washington DC . April 2006 The Seven Stage Journey through Grief: Catholic Charities, Long Island , New York , 2005 The Seven Stages of Grief: NJAHPERD, The New Jersey Association for Health, physical education, recreation and Dance, New Jersey , 2004 Learning how to Cope with Stress: Panasonic , New Jersey 2004 Voices in the Family National Public Radio, Exploring Menopause, 2004 Voices in the Family; National Public Radio, Grief and Loss, 2002 Guest Speaker at a Mass of Remembrance, May, 2003 Autumn Equinox Celebration, bringing in the harvest 2003, Mt. Laurel , New Jersey Guided Meditation, celebrating our past generations, 2003 Mt. Laurel , New Jersey An Evening for Autumn Women 2002 Merchantville , New Jersey Keynote Speaker A Day of Spiritual Renewal, Downingtown , PA March 2001 Keynote Speaker A Day of Spiritual Renewal, Montgomery County , PA September 2001 Keynote Speaker A Day of Spiritual Renewal, Bucks County , PA November 2001 American Holistic Nurses' Association Understanding Your Dreams March, 2001 Taking Care of Yourself at a Most Difficult Time Gift of Life Donor Program, June 2001 Lenten Retreat, Pittsburg , PA March 2002 Body Image Development for Professional Women Denver, CO 1996 The Body and Performance Evergreen, CO 1995 Life of The Body Women's Group Evergreen, CO 1995 Soul Journey, the Powerful Passage Evergreen, CO 1995 Body Image and Adolescence, middle schools in Denver , CO 1996 & 1997 Dreams and the Journey of Transformation Colorado , Pennsylvania , New Jersey Kathleen's new book is available at the following retailers:
© Kathleen O'Hara 2007 |
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