Verified
Aviva Luden
Verified
Credentials
Clinical Social Worker
MSW
Finances
500-550 NIS NIS
N/A
N/A
ABOUT THE THERAPIST
Life is not easy. We have responsibilities, goals, and challenges. Each of these generate within us thoughts, feelings and sensation, many of which are positive and some that are painful. We expend much energy trying to keep painful thoughts, feelings, and sensations out of our awareness. But this energy can be the source of adverse symptoms. Paradoxically, by being exquisitely present to thoughts, feelings and sensations, we heal past traumas, change deep-rooted patterns, disarm defenses and build resilience. This is where I step in to work with clients. As an olah, I understand the challenges of transition. I had these challenges in mind as I received my professional life coach certification through the prestigious Coaches Training Institute. I then worked with people who were navigating the challenges of their own transitions. A year later I continued with studies in trauma work, training with Gina Ross, one of the senior educators in the Somatic Experiencing (SE) world and founder of the International Trauma-Healing Institute in Israel. Following certification as an SE Practitioner, I served the Institute as Director of Emotional First Aid Training. SE’s mind/body approach to healing trauma enabled me to successfully help people suffering from anxiety, phobias, chronic pain, and depression. While continuing to build my practice, I earned a Master’s degree in Social Work. My counseling practice is driven by weaving together these three modalities. My approach to healing is gentle yet powerful, and allows my clients to embrace and work with their pain and suffering. As we build new awareness, we break detrimental patterns of thought and behavior, and ultimately move toward a life of productivity, meaning, aliveness…and ease.
QUALIFICATIONS
MSW
Yeshiva University
2015
Degree
MSWEducation
Yeshiva UniversityYear of Graduation
2015Years in Practice
14
LICENSED IN ISRAEL
Registered Social Worker in Israel
32792
ADDITIONAL CREDENTIALS
Somatic Experiencing Practitioner - 2014
Life Coach - 2010
DISTANCE COUNSELING
None
PRIMARY SPECIALTIES
Anxiety / Panic
Depression
Phobias
Stress Management
Trauma / Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD
ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES
Grief
Life Transitions
Sexual Abuse / Rape
CLIENT FOCUS
Population
Adolescents
Adults
Men
Women
Languages
Hebrew
English
TREATMENT APPROACH
Psychodynamic TherapyPsychodynamic therapy is a form of therapy that focuses on the unconscious mind and how it affects behavior. It works to help people understand and work through past experiences and feelings that may be causing difficulties in the present. This type of therapy encourages individuals to explore their emotions, relationships, and behaviors in order to gain insight into their current difficulties. It can help individuals better understand themselves and their motivations, and gain insight into how past events have impacted their current lives. People tend to develop defense mechanisms when faced with challenges in life. Defense mechanisms may keep painful feelings, memories, and experiences in the unconscious. A few common defense mechanisms include: denial, repression, and rationalization. Psychodynamic therapists encourage people to speak freely about their emotions, desires, and fears. Being open may help uncover vulnerable feelings that have been pushed out of conscious awareness. According to psychodynamic theory, behavior is influenced by unconscious thought. Once painful feelings are brought forth and processed, the defense mechanisms are no longer needed and a person in treatment can start changing unhelpful patterns when coping with life’s challenges.
Somatic Experiencing (SE)Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a body-oriented approach to the healing of trauma and other physical and psychological stresses. It is based on the idea that the body is a powerful source of healing and that unresolved trauma can be resolved through the process of bringing awareness and attention to the physical sensations of the body. By gradually and gently guiding individuals through the sensations associated with their traumatic experience, SE can help to restore balance and well-being more quickly and effectively than traditional psychotherapy. SE utilizes the body’s natural ability to regulate and heal itself and supports individuals in developing more resilience and self-regulation. Somatic Experiencing aims to help people move past the place where they might be “stuck” in processing a traumatic event. SE is often used to treat symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.
SERVICES OFFERED
Individual Therapy
