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Staff
Lark Eshleman, PhD
 Lark
Eshleman is child and adolescent psychotherapist whose
expertise is working with children who have experienced
early trauma, attachment difficulties or abuse. She became a
Certified School Psychologist in Pennsylvania in 1994, is
Board Certified in Domestic Violence by the American Academy
of Experts in Traumatic Stress, and has also had successful
careers as an elementary school principal and a children's
librarian.
Dr. Eshleman is the founder of the Institute for Children
and Families (ICF) in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. ICF is a
leading center for treating children who suffer from the
lasting effects of early trauma, or from serious and
destructive breaks in the bonding or attachment process
between child and parent. Most recently, she was elected to
the Board of Directors of the international organization
ATTACh (Association for the Treatment and Training in the
Attachment of Children).
Dr. Eshleman's work has brought her into therapeutic contact
with children from around the world who have suffered the
fearful , painful and neurologically damaging effects of war
and other forms of organized violence. Since 1997, she has
spent over eight months in Croatia working with mental
health relief organizations there, and was instrumental in
securing over $450,000 in grants from Rotary International,
and the Rotary Club of Lancaster, PA for implementing
services and professional training to expand a children's
emotional relief effort. (The Clinic in Croatia)
Among her publications is a community-based response
program, Healing Emotional Trauma: Treating the Wounded
Child, 2nd ed. (2000), specifically for children who have
been effected by war and other community trauma, and a
video, RAD: Solving the Puzzle (2001), which received a
national award in the science and medicine division of the
Telly Awards. Dr. Eshleman's new book, Becoming a Family:
Promoting Healthy Attachments with Your Adopted Child
(Taylor Publishing Company) was published in December of
2003 to excellent reviews. (Info on the Book) (Read the
Review)
In spring of 1999, the Office of the Deputy Attorney
General, Attorney General Janet Reno and Human Services
Secretary Donna Shalala, invited Dr. Eshleman to be a member
of the Safe from the Start Task Force in Washington, D.C.,
to collaborate on issues of children exposed to violence.
Dr. Eshleman maintains a busy practice while promoting
violence prevention through public forums and training
sessions.
Dr. Eshleman grew up in Utica, New York, an area in which
many members of her large and supportive family still live.
For the past 30 years, she has made her home with her family
and friends in South central and Southeast Pennsylvania. |
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