TYPES OF THERAPY OFFERED

PSYCHODYNAMIC THERAPY

Psychodynamic therapy is the leading genre of therapy here is Israel and formed my initial training. Psychodynamic therapy is based on the belief that in order to treat current problems, their roots and subconscious processes formed in early experiences and relationships must be uncovered. Through deep exploration, unconscious conflicts and desires are brought to the surface in the hope their awareness will free psychological stuckness or difficulties. I never use purely psychodynamic therapy in my practice but I find it incredibly useful in working with clients who come with no clear difficulties, rather a sense of a loss of meaning, general low mood or difficulties in relationships.

COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY (CBT)

The principles of CBT are based on the theory that what we think affects how we feel, which affects how we behave (and vice versa). Human beings are creatures of habit and we often form strong links between events and associated interpretations (thoughts), responses (behaviours) and feelings without being consciously aware of them. These cycles or loops can be useful and stop us needing to reanalyze and interpret each new situation but they can also be incredibly harmful. CBT is an active therapy, designed for motivated clients to reassess their ‘loops’ and move towards behavioural change. Sometimes CBT can focus more on the cognitive side of the difficulty but for other issues, the work can be very behavioural using experiments and challenges during and between sessions to practice new behaviours.  For difficulties such as phobias and anxiety I will generally use a CBT approach though in many cases I will combine with other third wave treatments which followed the path which CBT paved.

ACCEPTANCE AND COMMITMENT THERAPY (ACT)

ACT is one of the ‘third wave’ CBT treatments which most influences my work. Based on the belief that attempting to control or suppress our emotions or difficult experiences causes more suffering, the purpose of ACT is thus to increase the ability to move towards chosen or valued actions. We do this by increasing psychological flexibility, mindful awareness, understanding of our values and by learning to handle difficult thoughts and feelings effectively. I love ACT because I have learned to use ACT principles daily and I find them beneficial. Like with any successful therapy, I truly believe that we have to practice what we preach and I especially use ACT, DBT and SE techniques in my day-to-day life.

DIALECTICAL BEHAVIOUR THERAPY (DBT)

DBT was created by an incredibly dynamic woman, Marsha Linehan, who herself suffered from emotion regulation difficulties. Again, another ‘third wave’ treatment, but focuses heavily in giving the client the skills to begin to regulate their emotional experiences. For my clients who suffer greatly from the tidal waves of emotion dysregulation (often arriving at my door with a label of borderline personality disorder or complex trauma), I find DBT to be invaluable in structuring therapy to find balance and calm the storm. Indeed, the word “dialectical” is central to the therapy, and refers to the practice of balancing opposites and finding ways to hold two seemingly antithetical positions.

SOMATIC EXPERIENCING

Having spent years working with trauma, predominantly using a Trauma Focused CBT approach, I was looking for a way to increase the work with the body within trauma treatment. Based on the understanding that trauma causes physiological changes brought upon by a perpetual arousal, somatic experiencing uses the bodily sensations to slowly release the client from “stuck” fight, flight or freeze responses. I have now started using SE in trauma work and also integrating into treatments for depression, anxiety and other somatic difficulties.

NEUROFEEDBACK AND BIOFEEDBACK

While I don’t offer this currently in my private practice, I am trained in neurofeedback and use for PTSD and ADHD treatment in my Jerusalem office.