A story of freshness

Dr. Hall has also served as a professor, advisor to international students, academic program director, and academic dean in higher education (Stanford University, Norwich University, Goddard College; New College of California); a French-English interpreter for African refugees (Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program); a published writer, editor, translator, storyteller; and more. He is fluent in French and has a working knowledge of Spanish. 

 

He is a member of two scholarly associations, the Task Force on Indigenous Psychology and the Nonkilling Psychology Research Committee and has coauthored book chapters in these fields.

 

Dr. Hall's publications have included reviews, papers on peace psychology, nonviolence, holistic health and wellness, children’s rights, booklets, a coauthored book, edited books (psychology, health, spirituality, poetry), translations, and more. He is working on a volume of his own poetry.

 

The Indian Board of Alternative Medicines, located in Kolkata, honored Mitch with a PhD (h.c.) in Alternative Medicines.  His master’s degree in Sociology is from the University of Chicago, and his bachelor’s in Religion is from Columbia University. 

 

Among many professional speaking engagements, Dr. Hall was twice an invited speaker at the professional summit conferences, "National Leaders in Nonviolence and the Child," three times a speaker in peace psychology symposiums at annual meetings of the American Psychological Association, and presented at the 12th International Conference on Violence, Abuse, and Trauma. For five years, he was a speaker in the San Francisco State University Season of Nonviolence Series. He spoke at Dorland Health’s 6th annual Care Coordination conference about his wellness counseling work and was the first author of a published paper on the clinical outcomes of this work for PsycHealth, Ltd.: “Holistic Practice Enhances Care Integration and Patient Self-Management” (Case in Point 12 (1) January, 2014).

 

He has taken continuing education training in the neurosequential model of therapeutics (Bruce D. Perry, MD, PhD), holistic trauma treatment (Bessel van der Kolk, MD), self-care to prevent vicarious traumatization for healthcare providers (Joyce Dorado, PhD), and more.

 

As a teacher and writer, he has received grants and awards from Haymarket People’s Fund; Rosenberg Fund for Children; Teaching Peace Foundation; Williams Teaching Award; GE Star Teacher Award.

 

He has been a longtime, nonviolent activist for human rights, peace, and the environment, and was a whistle-blower on a few occasions.

​

With an interest from a young age in spirituality, Dr. Hall chose an undergraduate major in the study of religion at Columbia University in NYC to gain historical perspective, a comparative overview, and critical thinking skills. Over the ensuing years, he has continued to explore spiritual traditions through both study and years of sustained practice with teachers from Yogic, Buddhist, Jain, Taoist traditions. He had periods of residency at three ashrams (Ananda Ashram, Sivananda Yoga Ranch, Siddhachalam).

 

He is known for his gentleness, empathy, warmth, humor, humility, knowledge, care for students and clients, respect, advocacy of self-acceptance, and the soothing effects of his voice, chanting, and harmonic steel drum playing. What inspires him to be personally dedicated to wellness and spirituality has been witnessing and experiencing the suffering that arises, individually and collectively, from misguided and harmful traditions, relationships, behaviors, lifestyles, beliefs, attitudes, and practices as well as witnessing and experiencing the benefits of sincere, patient, intelligent dedication to wellness and spirituality. 

 

Since early childhood, Dr. Hall pondered many questions that led him on a lifelong dedication to explore how the world’s philosophical and spiritual traditions address these questions and to seek practices that can enhance awareness, harmony, and inner peace. 

​

​