Rivka Bertisch Meir

Rivka Bertisch Meir was an American psychologist, licensed mental health counselor and psychotherapist. She is known for the creation of personal development programs in the United States, Israel, and Argentina in the 1970s and 1980s and for establishing global partnerships in international psychology.

Meir was a Chairperson and International Liaison of International Psychology (Division 52) of the American Psychological Association from 2005 to 2012.^[1] As International Liaison, she recruited international psychologists to establish partnerships with the American Psychological Association.^[2][3] Meir was founder of the APA "Adopt a Psychologist" initiative which established international alliances between psychologists.^[4] Meir was co-founder of the APA National Speakers Network, a directory of psychologists willing to share their expertise with others.^[5]

Background and education^[6]

Rivka Bertisch was born in Argentina to European Jewish parents. Most of her relatives were killed by the Nazis in Poland during World War II.^[6] She attended the University of Hawaii where she received dual bachelor's degrees in Communications and Psychology and a Masters in Public Health.^[6] Meir pursued and completed all but one graduate level course at the University of Hawaii and then received a PhD from the University for Humanistic Studies (presently Alliant International University). Her dissertation centered on: Life Pattern Counseling—Theory and Practice. Her dissertation work used cell memory techniques to access and modify traumatic memories.^[7]

In the 1970s, Meir was a program planner and researcher at the School of Community Medicine of the Hadassah Medical Center at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel, and then at the Jerusalem Municipality, Department of Public Health where Rivka (as Rivka Danziger) co-directed Project KIDUM in which she developed clinic and community-based programs in counseling and how to improve cognitive and intelligence development, implementing it in the 30 Well Baby Clinics in Jerusalem, Israel (Tipat Chalav).^[8] Meir also introduced and directed "EST" (Erhard Seminar Training—Landmark Education) to Israel from 1977 to 1979. In 1986, she moved back to Argentina, where she pioneered using large group formats to teach human development and the Integrative Rivka’s Method^[9] that she developed, which included relationship improvement skills, developed under the auspices of the R. Bertisch Foundation from 1990 to 1996.^[10] This is an approach to therapy that integrates body-mind connection, health promotion, spiritual and psychological techniques, including firewalking (mind over matter).

In 1996, she moved to the New York City area.^[6] Her work has continued at the corporate level centering on organizational productivity, life and business management coaching, team building and serving as a consultant, trainer, and resource person for top executives, staff, individuals, and groups.

In 2004, Meir founded the APA "Adopt a Psychologist" initiative, a mentoring program to foster alliances between psychologists worldwide.^[4]

Academic positions

• 2005–2012 – Visiting Professor of Health Sciences, TCI College of Technology, New York^[11]
• 2011 – Visiting Professor of Psychology, Ariel University, Samaria, Israel
• 2011 – Visiting Professor of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Israel
• 2011 – Visiting Professor of Public Health, Ben Gurion University, Beersheva, Israel
• 2011 – Visiting Professor of Social Work, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
• 2008–2009 – Adjunct Professor of Social Work, Fordham University, New York^[12][13]
• 2007–2009 – Adjunct Professor of Psychology, Lehman College, CUNY, New York<^[14]
• 2007 – Adjunct Professor of Psychology, Pace University, New York^[15]
• 2005–2007 – Adjunct Professor of Psychology, Hunter College, CUNY, New York^[16]
• 2005–2006 – Adjunct Professor of Social Science, BMCC – CUNY, New York^[17]
• 2006 – Adjunct Professor of Psychology, Fordham University, New York
• 2003 – Visiting Professor of Psychology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
• 1998–2001 – Adjunct Professor of Psychology and Health Sciences, Touro College, New York
• 1992 – Professor in the School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
• 1977–1980 Visiting Professor in the Schools of Social Work, Educational Psychology, and Occupational Therapy, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
• 1976–1977 Researcher and Program Planner, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel^[18]
• 1976 – Instructor of Psychology, Leeward Community College, Honolulu, Hawaii
• 1974–1976 Adjunct Instructor of Psychology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii

Selected publications

• Bertisch Meir, R. (2006). Trauma in Childhood. In Warren Prince, M. From Trauma to Transformation. Crown House Publishing Ltd. UK^[19]
• Bertisch Meir, R. (2005). Adopt a Psychologist. American Psychological Association. International Psychology Reporter. Washington, DC.^[20]
• Bertisch-Meir, R. (2005). Changing One’s Life Story: A retrospective multiple case study. Doctoral Dissertation. Pro-Quest. Ann Arbor, MI.^[7]
• Bertisch Meir, R. (2005). Stop beliefs that stop your life. Bloomington, IL.^[21]
• Bertisch Meir, R. (2005). El poder de tus pensamientos [The power of your thoughts]. Bloomington, IL. Forward written by Dr. Raymond Corsini.^[22]
• Bertisch Meir, R., & Meir, M. (2004). Re-creating your life. Philadelphia, PA: Xlibris. Forward written by Dr. Stanley Krippner.^[23]
• Bertisch, R., & Mordkowski, F. (1993). Autotransformacion y longevidad [Self-transformation and success]. Buenos Aires, Argentina: Synergistics International. Forward written by Dr. Stanley Krippner.^[24]
• Bertisch Danziger, R. (1979) “The Production of Educational Material for Developing Countries,” Cycle, a Ford Foundation-sponsored periodical. Also available (mimeo) from East-West Center Communication Institute, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii.
• Bertisch Meir, R. (2004).Achieve Success : Get What You Really Want. Half hour CD. Self Mastery Systems. NY.^[25]

References