Dalia llera
Professional Title: Associate Professo of Counseling and Psychology; Director of School Programs
Areas of Academic Focus and Expertise:
Counseling Psychology, community counseling and interventions; Multicultural, feminist, developmental and ecological theories
Area of Work and Concentration at Lesley: Counseling Psychology
School Counseling
Representative List of Recent Courses Taught:
* Orientation to Professional Psychology
* The Psychology of Culture and Identity: Power, Privilege and
Oppression
* Counseling Adolescents
* Group Dynamics for Counselors and Consultants Children and
Adolescents
* Clinical Skills and the Counseling Process
* Advanced Professional Seminar
* Professional Integrative Seminar
Education: Ed.D., Counseling and Psychology, Harvard University
Dr. Llera, Professor, holds an Ed.D. in Counseling and Consulting
Psychology from Harvard University. She is a licensed psychologist and
has taught in the Division of Counseling and Psychology at Lesley
University since 1992. Dr. Llera has worked in a variety of school and
community settings for over 30 years. Her work as teacher and clinician
is informed by multicultural, feminist, developmental and ecological
theories. Her doctoral research with sexually abused high school Latinas
and her postdoctoral training with abused children, adolescents and their
families has given her a unique perspective on sexual violence; one that
considers its interface with issues of power and oppression prevalent in
society. The integration of theory, practice and personal experience has
influenced her belief in peoples¹ ability to heal and thrive. As a
result she practices and teaches a strength-based approach that
encourages and nurtures resilience.
Dr. Llera is the Coordinator of School and Community Programs in the
Division of Counseling and Psychology. In this role she mentors future
school counselors and community focused clinicians. She inspires her
students to recognize the importance of working in urban settings and
teaches them to regard schools as ideal places to promote growth, healing
and social change. Moved by these objectives, she has been creating
collaborations between urban public schools and the Division of
Counseling and Psychology at Lesley.
Dr. Llera defines herself as an activist scholar and devotes consulting
and training time to issues of social justice. Her university service is
largely devoted to issues of diversity and social justice. She has
co-chaired the University Diversity Council and chaired the GSASS
Diversity Committee. Dr. Llera is co-editor of the book Crossing
borders, making homes: Stories of resilient women and of several articles
relevant to counselor training. Her present research is focused on
undocumented youth. She presents her work regionally, nationally and
internationally. Dr. Llera enjoys the freedom that creativity affords
and benefits spiritually from writing short stories, from music and
dancing. She finds great satisfaction in her relationships with family,
friends, colleagues and students, and considers it essential to enjoy
life and maintain a sense of humor. She is inspired by Paulo Freire¹s
work and finds hope in his assertion that it is important to participate
in the creation of a world where it is easier to love.