Teaching team
Dr. Ran Almog
Clinical psychologist and Doctor of Sociology. Uses ACT as the central therapeutic orientation in his work and writes about ACT. He lectures in CBT training programs and in front of therapeutic teams and leads the ACT study program within the framework of the Interpreters Institute. One of the founders of the Israeli branch of ACBS (the global organization of ACT). Owns a private clinic for psychological therapy. He acquired his training in the ACT approach in workshops with senior ACT instructors in the world, including Stephen Hayes, Kelly Wilson, Russ Harris and more.
Ran is an academic director and lecturer at the institute as part of
The program teaches advanced acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).
Dr. Esther Bamberger
Expert clinical psychologist and instructor, Ivcher School of Psychology Clinic, Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, lecturer and instructor on child-parent therapy (CPP), trauma-based therapy and parenting therapy at the Haruv Institute, a private clinic in Modi'in.
Esther is an instructor and lecturer at the institute as part of the Anchor in Courses program - Fundamentals of Psychotherapy Integration in Children, Youth and Parenting.
and parenting treatment with an integrative approach.
Dr. Lihi Hamal-Balson
Expert clinical psychologist, clinical director of the "Sdot-Yaed Chen" Institute for psychological services. Member and instructor of the "Sich Group - Institute for Relational Psychotherapy". Graduate of cognitive-behavioral training in children and adults at the "Ramat-Chen" clinic. Engages in models of integration between dynamic therapy and CBT, writes, teaches and instructs on the subject. Treats youth and adults in a private clinic in Tel Aviv. Lihi is an instructor and lecturer at the institute as part of the Ogen program in the course Fundamentals of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - Integrative Applications.
Dr. Yifat Cohen
Dr. Yifat Cohen, MD, a specialist in child and adolescent psychiatry (Geha Hospital, 1991) and psychotherapist (Department of Psychotherapy, Tel Aviv University, New England Psychoanalytic Institute). Director of the Mental Health Clinic of the Ministry of Health (1996-2006). Founder and director of the Ofek Institute – a center for DBT study and treatment since 2007. Lecturer and instructor in dynamic therapy for children and adolescents in various departments within the framework of continuing education at Tel Aviv University (1994-2018), lecturer in the Israeli Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Program of ITA, lecturer in the Narashim and Ogen programs at the Tel Aviv-Yafo Academic College. Teaches and instructors in the DBT approach at the Ofek Institute and in academic, public and private settings.
Dr. Odelia Elkana
Clinical neuropsychologist and expert rehabilitation psychologist. Head of the Rehabilitation Neuropsychology Department, Tel Aviv-Yafo Academic. Senior lecturer, clinician and researcher in the fields of thinking functions, neuropsychological diagnosis, brain plasticity and cognitive reserves. Ph.D. from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and specialization in neuropsychiatry (psychiatric department) and neuropsychology (memory clinic) at Ichilov Hospital. Specializes in the diagnosis and psychological treatment of older people (age-related decline, MCI, dementia, etc.) including systemic work with spouses and families. Specializes in neuropsychological diagnosis in a forensic context, and writes expert opinions on behalf of and for courts. Odelia coordinates and lectures at the institute on the course
The brain and psychotherapy
Dr. Sharon Ziv Beiman
Clinical psychologist, faculty member at Tel Aviv-Yafo University, director of the Interpretive Institute for Psychotherapy Research. Founding co-director of "Sich Group - Institute for Relational Psychotherapy", director of the Sadot Institute for Psychological Services, board member of the International Association for Psychoanalysis and Relational Psychotherapy, former chairman of the Israeli Forum for Psychoanalysis and Relational Psychotherapy, co-founder of the Israeli Association for Focused Psychotherapy, private practice with adults and couples. Sharon leads the adult psychotherapy curriculum, instructs and lectures at the institute as part of the Anchor program in courses on the foundations of psychotherapy integration, current mapping, the psychodynamic approach, and short-term integrative therapy. She also teaches the course Principles of the Relational Approach at the institute.
Or Perry
Clinical psychologist, receiving in a private clinic in Tel Aviv and Ra'anana. In addition to my main work as a therapist, I teach courses in various psychotherapy study frameworks. I was introduced to ACT during my internship, and the feeling of connection to the model and the theoretical and philosophical principles on which it is based was immediate. Later, I was also exposed to its clinical and applied benefits, and I use it as my basic way of looking at people who come to me for treatment. Since then, I have expanded my studies and research around the model and its clinical and practical applications. I make sure to regularly attend various workshops, read up-to-date literature on the subject, and take part in various think tanks that deal with the model and its developments. ACT-thinking also accompanies me in my daily life, has contributed and continues to contribute to me every day.
Or lectures at the institute as part of an advanced study program in the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy approach - ACT and a basic online ACT course.
Dr. Daniel (Danny) Kahn
Deputy Director of the Institute and certified as an EMDR trainer, instructor, and therapist. Dr. Danny Kahn is the Deputy Director of the Israeli EMDR Institute. He has worked as a psychologist for about 30 years. He studied at Yeshiva University in New York and received his master's and doctoral degrees from the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. After immigrating to Israel in 1995, he worked in the education system and opened a private clinic. Dr. Kahn works with adults and adolescents. He specializes in trauma and complex trauma and dissociation, stress and coping, anxiety, depression, behavioral difficulties, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, parenting difficulties, and social and interpersonal difficulties. Dr. Kahn taught psychology at Bar-Ilan University for 20 years. Today, he teaches EMDR in a variety of settings, including at the Israeli EMDR Institute, at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and at the Ministry of Defense's Combat Response Unit. Dr. Kahn is a board member of the EMDR-Israel Association. Dr. Kahn is a lecturer and instructor at the institute in the course - the complete basic EMDR training.
Dr. Ruth Messer Koitzky
(Ph.D) is a specialist clinical psychologist. An experienced therapist, instructor, and lecturer in many workshops and lectures in Israel and around the world. She began her professional career by studying clinical psychology at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, where she delved into dynamic approaches/depth psychology. After completing her studies, she returned to Israel to specialize in clinical psychology. During her specialization, she turned to the world of CBT, in its various waves. Later, she traveled for periods of activity in centers of the greats in the field of cognitive-behavioral therapy in Britain and the USA (Prof. Marks, Prof. Beck, Prof. Foa). Upon her return to Israel, about 25 years ago, while working in public and private service, she received a license to practice hypnosis and was certified to practice focusing, which she incorporates into her therapeutic activity. The peak in building her therapeutic-integrative language includes an intensive integration of the focusing technique and vigorous activity in this field in various treatment and training frameworks. Ruth lectures at the Institute on a course
Focusing
Jonathan Elkins
MSW, certified EMDR therapist and instructor, trauma and addiction specialist. In the background, he served for 5 years as a field officer in the IDF in field units with extensive experience in treating combat reactions immediately after the event and interventions in other acute trauma situations and related traumas. He currently owns a private clinic and is a therapist and instructor in the Ministry of Defense's Combat Response Unit. During his work as a field officer in the IDF, he developed with Thuli a method of EMDR work with acute and severe trauma and with complex trauma (FN-RTEP). Since his release, he has been extensively involved in addictions and complex traumas and, together with Thuli, developed a treatment method called BLSteps for treating complex addictions by combining EMDR and 12 steps. In addition to his clinical work, he lectures and conducts workshops in Israel and internationally in the field of acute trauma treatment and addiction treatment with EMDR. He was certified by Dr. Gary Quinn as an ISP (Immediate Field Intervention Protocol for Acute Stress Reactions) trainer and as an R-TEP (for ASD stages and beyond) trainer by Ilan Shapiro.
Jonathan is a lecturer and instructor at the institute in the EMDR full basic training course.
Dr. Anders Konieczky
Senior clinical and medical psychologist. He completed a master's degree in clinical psychology at Tel Aviv University. After completing his clinical internship, he established a cognitive-behavioral psychology unit in the counseling services at Tel Aviv University and later founded and managed the psychosomatic clinic at Schneider Medical Center. During the past 6 years, he served as the chief psychologist of the child and adolescent psychiatry clinic at Tel Hashomer Hospital and later served as the director of the psychological service at the Edmond and Lili Safra Children's Hospital in Tel Hashomer. Anders has been involved in several research projects on anxiety in children and has published articles in the fields of biofeedback, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and hypnosis. He was a faculty member at Beit Berl College in the art therapy program, a member of the Forum for Lachanian Psychoanalysis in Tel Aviv and the Midrasha for Advanced Studies in Educational Psychology. For the past 8 years, he has been a lecturer at the academic college as part of the master's degree studies in medical and clinical psychology. CEO of TLM - a nationwide network for psychological treatment.
Anders Academic Director of the Teaching Unit
Mindfulness and mindfulness in psychotherapy, and lecturer in the course
Mindfulness and self-states
Dr. Einat Yahna
Clinical neuropsychologist and rehabilitation psychologist-instructor. Faculty member in the rehabilitation neuropsychology program at the Tel Aviv-Yafo Academic College, and therapist in a private clinic. For about a decade, she worked as a senior psychologist and clinical instructor in the pediatric rehabilitation department at the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer. Upon completing her doctoral studies at Ben-Gurion University, she specialized for several years in methods of neuropsychological-integrative rehabilitation, individual and group, at the New York University Medical Center (NYUMC). She has many years of experience in therapeutic work with adults, children, and families in situations of crisis, loss, and change processes. She also trains therapists, provides counseling, and provides training for various organizations. Her research focuses on the psychological mechanisms that influence perception and adaptation to loss following life events.
Einat lectures at the institute on a course in psychotherapy for physical trauma and loss in children.
Dr. Ron Nissim
A clinical psychologist and certified couple and family therapist. Lecturer and instructor at the Mifrasim Institute for Psychotherapy Research and Teaching at the Tel Aviv-Yafo Academic College and at the Barkai Institute for Couple and Family Therapy. In the past, he coordinated the field of couple and family therapy at the Latem Center for the Treatment of Sexual Trauma at the Psychiatric Clinic at Ichilov Hospital and was a member of the founding team of the Couple Therapy Clinic for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder at Bar-Ilan University. Ron completed a doctorate in the Department of Psychology at Bar-Ilan in the field of psychotherapy research and a variety of his writings have been published in leading journals worldwide. His areas of interest include theoretical integration in psychotherapy, relational psychoanalysis, narrative psychotherapy, treatment of victims of sexual trauma, and couple and family therapy. He treats individuals and couples and is involved in training and teaching therapists in a private setting and at the Ackerman Institute for Family Therapy in New York.
Adi Cohen
Specialist medical psychologist, team member at the "Psychological Clinic" - a center for treatment, training and specialization in medical psychology. Trained in focus-oriented therapy, and after studying in the three-year East-West Integrative Psychotherapy program. Experienced in therapeutic work with people dealing with illnesses, injuries, losses, pain and physical symptoms. Works according to a model of integrative therapy while paying attention to the space between words and the body in mental therapy. Draws inspiration from Buddhism, Daoism and poetry. Practices mindfulness and focus in everyday life.
Adi lectures at the institute in the course Therapeutic Presence and Physicality in the Treatment Room
Dr. Avital Gershfeld-Litoin
פסיכולוגית רפואית מומחית-מדריכה, בעלת PhD מאוניברסיטת תל אביב. עבודת הדוקטורט התמקדה במחקר איכותני על התמודדות עם אובדן שד מפרספקטיבה של אובדן ואבל.עובדת כפסיכולוגית במחלקה לשיקום נוירולוגי בבית חולים תל השומר, מטפלת גם בקליניקה פרטית באנשים המתמודדים עם חולי, נכות, אובדן ואבל. מלמדת סטודנטים לפסיכולוגיה במכללה האקדמית תל אביב יפו וכן צוותים פרא-רפואיים בתל השומר.
אביטל מנהלת אקדמית של יחידת ההוראה פסיכותרפיה במצבי אובדן ואבל, ומרצה בקורסים מבוא ללימודי אובדן ושכול ו- פסיכותרפיה במצבי אובדן הריון.
Lior Gilad
Clinical psychologist. Therapist at a clinic in Jerusalem. Therapist, instructor and gives workshops in ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy). Member of the Israeli branch of ACBS. One of the founders of the ACT training program at the Mifarashim Institute. Lior lectures at the institute as part of the Advanced Learning Program in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - ACT.
Lior Biran
A clinical psychologist guides, thinks, learns and works mainly from the worldview and thinking of ACT and behaviorism. In parallel with a private clinic, he works as a responsible psychologist in the adult clinic at the Shalvata Mental Health Center. In addition to teaching at the Mifarashim Institute, he teaches in the clinical psychology department at Tel Aviv University, at Ogen and in private settings.
Talia Appelbaum Peled
Clinical psychologist. Lecturer and instructor in the Psychotherapy Program, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University. Founding co-director of the Sheach Group - Institute for Relational Psychotherapy. One of the founders of the Israeli branch of the Forum for Relational Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis. Private clinic, Tel Aviv. Talia lectures at the Institute as part of the Anchor Program in the Principles of the Relational Approach course.
Dana Spector
(MSW). Clinical social worker. Engages in the treatment of children, adolescents and adults. Parent coach. Teaches and coaches professionals in the field of psychotherapy and education. Facilitates groups to learn DBT skills for patients and professionals. Teaches and coaches in the DBT method at the Ofek Institute and in public and private settings.
Dana lectures at the institute on DBT Fundamentals - Dialectical Behavioral Therapy courses, for the treatment of borderline personality disorder and other emotional regulation disorders, and a DBT skills training workshop.
Dr. Oren Segal
Neuropsychologist, expert rehabilitation psychologist and instructor. Interned at the National Institute for Head Injury Rehabilitation and in the Department of Pediatric Rehabilitation at Safra Children's Hospital in Tel Hashomer. In recent years, instructor of students and interns in rehabilitation psychology, lecturer in the rehabilitation neuropsychology program at the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Academic College, and also works in a private clinic. Center and lecturer at the institute in the Brain and Psychotherapy course
Dr. Daphne Ginio Dolberg
Clinical and developmental psychologist, head of the clinical psychology department at the Tel Aviv-Yafo Academic. Specializes in treating children of various ages and adults, in therapeutic work with parents and in parent-child therapy. Integrates dynamic theories, developmental and systemic thinking, as well as cognitive-behavioral techniques in her therapeutic work. Researches the development of the parent-child bond, parenting processes, and emotional-social development in normative populations as well as at-risk populations. Lectures and instructs psychologists in a variety of specialties as well as emotional therapists on issues of development, psychopathology, and treatment.
Dafna lectures at the institute on a course on integrative therapeutic work with parents.
Flint trays
MSW, Clinical Social Worker, PhD student in the Department of Criminology, Bar-Ilan University. Expert in the field of treatment and prevention of post-traumatic stress disorder and addictions. EMDR instructor for over 9 years, certified couple and family therapist, certified Somatic Experiencing, narrative therapist, Bio-Feedback and group facilitator and therapist, and skilled in relational approach therapy. Owns a private clinic in Tel Aviv and works with the Family Division and Rehabilitation Division at the Ministry of Health. Treats, facilitates and teaches in various organizations in Israel and abroad. Combines various therapeutic approaches from the field of prevention and treatment of PTSD and addictions to substances and behaviors.
Thuli is a lecturer and instructor at the institute in the EMDR full basic training course.
Racheli Siegel
Clinical social worker and family and couple therapist. Expert in individual and systemic treatment of addicts and their families and in sexual abuse and harassment. Has a master's degree in social work with a specialization in family therapy from the University of Haifa. In the past, she was part of the addiction treatment team in the "Ilanot" community, and managed the hostel for the community's graduates. Individual and group therapist for the addict population and director of the addiction treatment unit in Kiryat Ono. Led the unit in the field of family, couple and dyadic treatment for addicts and their families. Owns a private clinic in the Sharon area for individual treatment and couple, family and dyadic treatment that also deals with addiction, trauma and sexual abuse. Racheli is an academic director and lecturer at the institute as part of the course "Integrative Treatment of Addictions"
Dr. Shira Sobol (Goldberg)
Former director of the Kiryat Ono Addiction Treatment Department (a regional department that provides a response to all types of addictions in the Ono Valley communities). Lecturer in the Department of Social Work for undergraduate and graduate degrees at Bar Ilan University. Teaches clinical courses on individual and group therapy, and addiction courses. In addition, she owns a private clinic in the center of the country for the treatment of youth and adults with various emotional problems. She is involved in facilitating groups of teenagers, parents, and teachers throughout the country on the topics of adolescence, sexual abuse, and violent courtship. In addition, she is an expert in the treatment of anxiety and obesity and the author of the books: "Conquering Fear" and "Parents of Children Without Borders." Furthermore, she has written articles on obesity that have been published in international journals.
Shira lectures at the institute as part of the course Integrative Treatment of Addictions
Mark Sherman
, District Medical Psychologist, Northern District, Meuhedet Health Fund. For a decade, she has specialized in treating heart patients, diabetics, and a variety of patients with chronic diseases. She specialized in treating pain and unexplained somatic symptoms in a multidisciplinary clinic. She practices psycho-oncology and palliative care in the community and in private clinics in Haifa and Zichron Yaakov. In the past, she was a member of the palliative team at Rambam Hospital in Haifa and a lecturer in a palliative course on behalf of Rambam. She lectured on the subject of palliative care and treatment of chronic diseases in Israel and abroad as part of the Knowledge Exchange Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She is an expert in trauma treatment and the connection between childhood trauma and physical illnesses. She leads bereavement groups and groups for patients in the framework of the Israel Cancer Society. She is a member of the board of directors of the Refuah Shlomo Association. She lectures on a course in psychotherapy in palliative situations.
Dr. Shirley Alon
Medical psychologist, instructor, director of the psychological department at the "Meir" Medical Center, Kfar Saba. Gerontologist and doctoral student at Ben Gurion University, Faculty of Health Sciences. Researches the effects of narrative therapy through life review at the end of life. Main areas of practice: psycho-oncology, end-of-life care (palliative), aging and coping with loss. Integrates an existential and narrative approach in treatment. Owns a private clinic in Tel Aviv. Shirley lectures at the Institute in the Transpersonal Psychology course
Dr. Daniel Feingold
Rehabilitation psychologist, specialist, deputy director of the addiction clinic at Lev Hasharon Medical Center. Specializes in treatment and research in the field of alcohol, drug and prescription drug addiction. Doctorate in psychology from Bar-Ilan University, internship and postdoctoral program in the field of addiction at Sheba Medical Center. Researches the relationship between the use of various substances, mainly cannabis (marijuana), and mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. Daniel lectures at the institute as part of the course Integrative Treatment of Addictions
Tomer Haran
Psychologist, yoga teacher and mindfulness workshop facilitator, with experience working with diverse populations, including the mentally ill, prisoners, terminally ill, anxiety and depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Teaches and researches self-compassion. Has practiced and studied Buddhism for over 10 years, including extended periods of practice in Israel and abroad. Tomer lectures at the institute on mindfulness courses in the light of Buddhist psychology (frontal and online tracks).
Nurit Shahar
Nurit Shahar, clinical psychologist, instructor in psychotherapy. Therapist at a clinic in Kfar Saba, expert in the field of treating children, adolescents and parent training. DBT therapist at the Ofek Institute, facilitator of groups to learn DBT skills for patients, parents and professionals. Nurit lectures at the institute as part of the DBT Fundamentals course - Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, for the treatment of emotional regulation disorders among children, adolescents and their parents.
Naama Greenwald
Clinical psychologist, treating children and adults. Engaged in organizational consulting at the Tzafnat Institute, and lectures at the Hebrew University in the clinical child program and in the programs for administrators at the School of Public Policy and Government. Naama lectures at the institute in the courses MBT - Mentalization-Based Therapy : Theory, Therapeutic Technique and Applications and From Klein to Benjamin: The Journey from Object Relations to Intersubjective Relations
Abigail Segal Ben Ami
Clinical psychologist. Certified by the ITA as a therapist and instructor in a cognitive-behavioral approach. Clinical director at the Hosen-Etzion Center, a center that provides emergency response and short-term treatments after exposure to a traumatic event. Lecturer at ACT in training programs for CBT and therapeutic teams. Therapist and instructor at a clinic in Jerusalem.
Osnat Cohen Ganor
Clinical psychologist, certified therapist in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT) and certified instructor by the ICEEFT in the method. Pioneer of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy in Israel and one of its founders. Academic director of the teaching unit for Emotionally Focused Therapy at the Mifarashim Institute, Tel Aviv-Yafo Academic College. Osnat lectures in the Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy - EFT course and coordinates the course Techniques for Working with Emotion
Orit Kovacs
Specialist medical psychologist (MA), therapist at Sheba Medical Center. Engaged in communication guidance and training of medical and paramedical teams at the National Center for Medical Simulations, in hospitals and clinics. Member of the International Motivational Approach Instructors Association (MINT). Orit lectures at the Institute on the Motivational Approach course.
Dr. Aluma Rice
Specialist clinical psychologist, PhD in psychology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Experienced therapist in the public sector and in private clinics. Integrative therapist, combining psychodynamic therapy with various contemporary treatment methods, and facilitator of therapeutic groups. Mediator for over twenty years in a variety of areas of mediation - family, legal, community and organizational. Facilitator of mediation certification courses, divorce mediation certification courses, and the practicum program for guided experience in mediation. Instructor in the assistance unit of the family courts in Jerusalem. Lecturer in the master's degree program in conflict resolution, Bar Ilan University. Aluma lectures at the institute in courses - psychotherapy and parent guidance in separation and divorce processes and mediational thinking in psychotherapy.
Hamutal Arbel
Art therapist (MA) and instructor, EMDR therapist. Graduate of Bezalel, certified by Lesley University. Graduate of the first cycle of the "Ogen" program for integration-based psychotherapy at the Mifrashim Institute. Since 2010, she has been treating parents, girls and boys in a therapeutic unit for families at risk. Treats adults and adolescents and instructs parents in a private clinic in Pardes Hanna.
Reut Ben Kimhi
Medical psychologist-instructor. Treats people who are dealing with emotional difficulties surrounding acute and chronic physical conditions. Specializes in events related to the fertility cycle, including coping with fertility difficulties, miscarriages and abortions, premature births, anxiety during pregnancy, and postpartum depression. During her work, she has accompanied many women and couples on their challenging path to parenthood. She is trained in focused dynamic psychotherapy and trauma-focused therapy (EMDR). She currently works as a psychologist in charge of the Gynecology and Obstetrics Department at the Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba, and is the founder and director of the 'Benfeshach' Institute, a psychological institute for the treatment of women. Lecturer in the course - Psychotherapy in Pregnancy Loss Situations
