Bio

“The heart is the center for peace. Finding a peaceful heart is living a peaceful life.” Ellie Zarrabian, Ph.D. Founder

ellie_pic1Background

A third generation Shamanic healer, I was born and raised in a Jewish family in my native country of Iran. In 1979, at the age of nine, my family and I escaped Iran in order to avoid war and persecution of religious minorities. We fled to England and lived in London for four years only to witness and encounter great deal of racism and acts of violence towards people of Middle Eastern origin. In 1983, we immigrated again and finally settled in the United States where I pursued my educational and spiritual aspirations in Psychology and Spirituality with an emphasis in Sufism and Sufi healing practices. Because of my own early experiences with war and trauma, I have devoted my life to helping build lives and communities based on values and practices that promote peaceful co-existence. My vision and the mission of Centerpeace is to engender peace through resolving conflict in individuals, families and communities.

Education

Doctoral degree in Psychology from Saybrook University, San Francisco, CA, 2010 (pre-licensed); Master of Arts degree in Transpersonal Psychology from John F. Kennedy University, Orinda, CA, 1997; Bachelor of Science degree in Psychobiology from University of California, Los Angeles, 1992.

Professional Memberships:

  • American Psychological Association
  • Los Angeles County Psychological Association
  • Iranian American Psychological Association
  • Society for Shamanic Practitioners
  • Association for Transpersonal Psychology