Ofra Ayalon, Ph.D., is a psychologist and family therapist. She has worked for 35 years in Israel, at the University of Haifa as professor in psychology. During that time, she became an international trauma expert for mental health organizations. Her central contributions have been the building of intervention programs and the training of mental health practitioners to help traumatized communities and families. She is especially committed to helping children living in dangerous circumstances (from war violence to family violence).

Dr Ayalon's teaching is based on her holistic intervention program COSTI -Creatively Oriented Stress & Trauma Intervention. Ofra Ayalon believes in inherited coping mechanisms that each human being possesses and seeks keys to opening hidden resources. Her books and seminars are like treasure boxes, full of ideas for using creative methods for thetapeutical purposes. Special methods for translating suffering into challenge for growth include verbal and non-verbal storytelling, play, drama, and the use of guided imagery.

Two books authored by Dr Ayalon have been translated into Finnish: Selviydyn! (C.O.P.E.) and Chain Reaction (Ketjureaktio).

Acting as a work supervisor and trainer. Dr Ofra Ayalon has helped the center in many ways to develop the trauma framework and working methods. She worked as a trainer at the following workshops organized by the center: Helping the Helpers, in 1995; Facing Death and Perseverance of the Crisis Group, in 1996; and Family Violence and Helping Children, in 1997.