My specializations
Experience-based therapy
The process I offer is based on experiencing the moment, and expanding awareness through various means. As important as conversation is, the premise of my work is that for most people, it is not enough alone to spark substantial change. Like Eugene Gendlin, the father of the theory of focus, whom I am influenced by, I believe that the structure of our psyche is shaped, among other things, by new experiences we create in the room during our shared journey. Connecting with ourselves while exploring with a lot of curiosity and acceptance are the pillars of the process I offer. Inside the room there are always two equal people going through a common process, and the process is a co-creation in constant formation and change.
Complex trauma
"Complex Trauma-Focused Therapy" (CPTSD) - An ongoing injury that appears in early stages of development, and is usually of a different nature than trauma based on an event that occurs in adulthood such as an accident or war. The diagnosis is much more elusive, and the treatment is also very different. It is usually an accumulation of a collection of events or a permanent state rather than a single event. My professional compass sees almost every mental difficulty that comes to us as a result of this type of injury, with varying levels of intensity depending on life circumstances of course. Also called developmental trauma and is treated with tools from the world of neurobiology, psychology, and working with physical-emotional memories.
Physical psychotherapy
Integrating the physical experience during treatment is an essential need in cases where speech alone is not sufficient. Tools from the field of movement, touch, and awareness of somatic body sensations are integrated into the process that I offer as an integral part of our shared journey. It is not suitable for everyone, and we constantly gently examine what is right and what is not. Of course, we maintain respectful boundaries and do not involve sexuality. Our body holds vulnerability even in situations where narrative memory is blurred, and here there is an opportunity to do work in additional channels within the ethical rules of psychotherapy.
Addictions
The approach I bring to one of the most challenging phenomena in the world of therapy sees symptoms of harmful substance use, destructive behaviors and patterns as just part of the coping mechanism of survival as a result of early damage from lack of care and love. If you will, a desperate attempt to "close the hole" that opened up somewhere in childhood. In the spirit of Gabor Mata and the motivational approach, we try to look at these habits with a heart full of compassion and are not satisfied with a behavioral approach alone in order to walk towards the light.
Mindfulness
Using awareness and connecting with ourselves during the therapeutic process is, in my opinion, a power multiplier, and a wonderful ability to create new connections in the brain. Many studies highlight the benefits of using mindfulness as part of mental work for psychological development, and I suggest experimenting with it in the clinic. The techniques are not suitable for all mental states, but an integral part of the process is also studying the different approaches in this field and experiencing mindfulness as a leading technique in the treatment room. One of the main approaches in which I am certified, Hakumi, was developed by several pioneers in this field in the 1960s, and over the years has been greatly refined so that we now have many tools for combined experience with awareness of experience in the moment without judgment.
Consciousness-altering substances
Although this is not a magic solution as is sometimes marketed in the press and media, many people today are aware of the benefits of integrating experiences with tools from the worlds of psychedelics into therapeutic work. If necessary, as part of the process I propose, the patient is prepared for this type of work and deals with the integration of extreme experiences. Although the use of these substances is currently illegal in Israel, there are a number of experiments that can be referred to with the approval of the Ministry of Health, as well as ketamine clinics spread throughout the country. I provide advice and knowledge on the subject and have formal training and research experience in the field.
Depression and anxiety
Much has been said about the "epidemic" of the modern era, and we all suffer from it to one degree or another. The uniqueness of the process I propose is working in depth with the difficulty that presents itself on the surface, and clarifying the reasons that caused the depression, whether it is repressed rage, acquired helplessness, or a temporary retreat to a safe inner place. We look at anxiety and depression with great compassion, as defense mechanisms designed to protect our psyche in difficult external circumstances. Often, within the clinic, the world is defined as the patient, not the patient, and this is a very important distinction. We try to gently remove the system of concealment and shame from the distress and get down to the psychological roots of the symptoms. We also discuss chemical help in certain cases, but this is not the focus of the treatment, but rather as a temporary crutch if necessary.
Attachment theory
The psychological and biological infrastructure of all of us is based on belonging. Being part of a tribe, family, or society has been the greatest advantage of human society throughout millions of years of evolution. The treatment I offer in the clinic integrates, as an integral part, advanced theories and treatment approaches for working with early developmental wounds. Trusting relationships that were damaged in the initial stages of life can be restored even in old age. Although this type of treatment takes quite a bit of time because the brain has a certain flexibility, and readiness for the process must be ensured, even in cases that sometimes seem hopeless, it is possible to start the healing chain and create a safe connection within which you can rest.
Systemic work
"It didn't start with you" is one of the central principles I work with in the healing process. The treatment I offer makes room for intergenerational trauma and the fact that we were born as part of something bigger than ourselves. We are just one link in the chain of generations and the family constellation sometimes determines our mental state no less than the internal structure or organization that belongs to us personally. I believe that "no man is an island" and that there is a decisive influence on the environment and the multidimensional inheritance of the collection of "emotional legacies" we received from our ancestors. Throughout our joint journey, we observe this system, and often manage to untangle the tangle. Along with taking responsibility and creating change, there is also recognition of wounds that originate in childhood, in generations or even in previous incarnations.
Working with dreams
Listening and studying together the world of dreams and its connection to experience can greatly advance us in directions that are sometimes difficult to create in any other way. The uniqueness of the treatment I offer combines the dream and the experience and delves into it using playful techniques of role-changing and Gestalt-style part work. Working with dreams is always interesting, sometimes exciting, and opens us to worlds that are "beyond the known." Many patients love working with dreams and find it a fascinating and enjoyable way to develop surprisingly.
Training from an integrative position
I also accompany beginning therapists with an integrated approach that makes room for all dimensions of existence and the mental, physical, and spiritual levels by adapting to where the therapist is currently located. I emphasize the inner world of the client, while strengthening and empowering boundaries and maintaining a safe and inclusive space.
Psycho-oncology
Illness, injury, or accompanying a family member who is affected requires special skill and knowledge. Based on my training and personal experience, I offer to accompany patients with cancer and serious illnesses, as well as supporting family members in a crisis that may also be a significant turning point and give rise to great love despite the difficulty. Sometimes, when you lose everything, you also gain everything.