Always, Ilene’s Smile—and Commitment to Arts, Healing, and Post-Traumatic Growth

This tribute begins with Dr. Serlin’s smile, presence, engagement, a group in motion, and a YouTube video. Ilene Serlin was a visionary clinician, dance/movement therapist, advocate for higher human potential, and for global paradigm shift honoring universal interconnection. Her areas of activity are interwoven with awards and distinctions, including “whole person” hospital work in alternative healing, writings, editorial work, teaching, and advocacy for causes in humanistic psychology (featuring history, inclusion of diverse groups, and an open multicultural future). Work to help heal trauma through movement/dance therapy enters as a larger second area, including Dr. Serlin’s early travels and exposures, ancestral history—inspiring and at times horrific in the maelstrom of WWII—the philosophical context that sustained her, including Maslow’s views of higher human nature, and appreciation of individual and collective potential within the world. We see promise of healing/growth in activity, exchanges, research, connections with people from Turkey, China, Syria, Palestine, Israel, Jordan, and more, ending with a San Francisco event drawing globally around Post-Traumatic Growth. Conclusions highlight a demanding life quest to heal and to give, and to connect, teach, and expand our vision despite conflict—a Hero’s Journey. She gave from the heart, bringing new hope to our world and, always, her dazzling smile.