Dr. Gameela Samarasinghe is a Clinical Psychologist by training and an Associate Professor in Psychology in the Department of Sociology, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. She has been a member of various advisory groups developing strategies for post-conflict trauma in Sri Lanka as well as internationally, working with colleagues from across the globe. Based in Colombo, Gameela has been the recipient of numerous research grants including the Fulbright- Hays Senior Research Scholar Award (2004-2005) at Boston University and the Fulbright Advanced Research Award (2013 – 2014) at Columbia University’s School of Public Health. She is co-editor, with Laurie L Charlés, of Family Systems and Global Humanitarian Mental Health: Approaches in the Field (2019) and Family Therapy in Global Humanitarian Contexts: Voices and Issues in the Field (2016).
Dr. Laurie L Charlés is a licensed marriage and family therapist and qualitative researcher whose scholarship and consultation practice is focused on scaling up family therapy practices for host country nationals in fragile, conflict and violence affected states. Her work focuses on how to enhance family systems focused public mental health initiatives with vulnerable and at-risk populations, particularly in conflict-affected regions. Her most recent projects were as 2017-2018 Fulbright Global Scholar Program Fellow; as a consultant for in a project to create a grassroots toolkit for practitioners engaged in Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Initiatives; and as an international consultant/trainer for the United Nations Office in Vienna, working to deliver a UNODC Treatnet Family Therapy package to practitioners from 15 countries in South, Central, and Southeast Asia. She holds a PhD in Family Therapy from Nova Southeastern University and MA in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. She is author of International Family Therapy: A Guide for Multilateral Systemic Practice in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (2021, Routledge).