David Akva
Verified
Clinical Social Worker
350-500 NIS
None
Sliding Scale | Free Consultation | Student Discount
Trauma focused therapy for men and couples ready to feel calmer, more connected, and at home in themselves and their relationships.
Stress and past experiences don't just live in your mind. They show up in your body too. Tight chest, short fuse, shutting down, checking out.
In our work together, you get space to be real. Talk it out, think it out, feel it out, or move it through your body.
I'll help you slow down and tune in to what's actually happening inside you, so instead of just reacting, you start understanding why and responding differently. Over time, that means feeling more in control, more connected, and more like yourself.
Men's therapy- If you're stressed, stuck, or just not feeling like yourself, and thinking harder about it isn't helping, this is for you. A lot of the guys I work with are dealing with past experiences, relationship struggles, or the same patterns showing up again and again, no matter what they try.
Couples- I work with partners who feel disconnected, stuck in the same fights, or just want something to actually change. I'm currently training in Terry Real's Relational Life Therapy and offering an introductory rate because of it. Reach out and ask.
I show up with you and don’t just sit back and nod. I’ll be direct when something needs to be said, especially if you’re stuck in patterns that aren’t working, but I’m not here to push you past your limit. I pay close attention and help bring out what’s already there, so the change feels real and comes from you, not something forced. We go at a pace you can actually handle so the work leads to lasting change, not just pressure.
Sessions are in English and Hebrew, for men and couples. My approach is practical and focused on real change. I work in a private office in central Jerusalem with easy access to transportation.
If you're not sure this is the right fit, reach out and we'll figure it out together.
LCSW
University of Maryland School of Social Work
2018
8
48747
EMDR Level 1 - TITI - 2022
Online Therapy
Anxiety / Panic
Depression
Holistic
Mood Disorders
Trauma / Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD
Abuse
Academic
Anger Management
Child Abuse
Couples / Relationship / Marriage Counseling
Domestic Violence
Family Issues
Self-Esteem
Self-Harm / Suicide
Sexual Abuse / Rape
Spiritual Concerns
Stress Management
Adolescents
Adults
Couples
Families
Men
English
Hebrew
English
Body PsychotherapyBody psychotherapy is an integrative psychotherapy approach that combines psychodynamic, humanistic, and somatic approaches with the goal of treating psychological and physical distress. It emphasizes the connection between body and mind, and works to increase awareness of physical sensations and emotions. Body psychotherapy practitioners may use a variety of techniques, including mindfulness, body postures, breath work, relaxation, and sensory awareness, to help clients become more aware of their bodies and to learn how to use this awareness to improve their overall wellbeing.
Body-Mind PsychotherapyBody-mind psychotherapy is an integrative approach to psychological treatment that draws from both psychotherapeutic and somatic/body-based approaches. It emphasizes the interconnection between physical, emotional, cognitive and spiritual aspects of being. This approach seeks to help individuals explore how physical sensations, emotions, thoughts and beliefs influence their behavior and well-being. Through this exploration, individuals can gain insight into how the body and mind interact to create patterns of behavior, and how those patterns can be changed to promote healing and wellness.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on how one's thoughts, feelings and behaviors are connected and can be changed. It is based on the idea that how we think (cognition) and how we feel (emotion) can influence how we behave. CBT helps people identify and challenge distorted thinking and replace it with more balanced thinking, leading to improved mood and behavior. ‘Homework’, usually containing practical writing exercises, is often completed by the client between sessions to reinforce the therapy. Examples of tools that practitioners often use are journaling, challenging beliefs, and mindfulness.
Dance / Movement Therapy (DMT)Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) is a psychotherapeutic approach that uses movement as a medium for self-expression, exploration, and healing. It is based on the belief that the body and mind are interconnected, and that the body is a source of knowledge and wisdom. Through the practice of DMT, individuals are encouraged to explore movement in order to gain insight into their emotional state and gain insight into the underlying causes of their difficulties. The goal of DMT is to help individuals identify, process, and integrate their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in order to improve their overall well-being.
Drama TherapyDrama therapy encourages clients to express their feelings and solve problems through storytelling, puppetry, role-playing, games, scripts, improvisation, and performance. Through role playing, improvisation, and creative expression, clients can practice scenarios like being in a relationship, or rehearse new skills that they would like to incorporate into their daily lives. Through these activities, the client can explore feelings, gain insight, and increase self-awareness. In addition, the client can gain new perspectives, develop communication skills, and practice problem-solving strategies. Drama therapy can also help build self-confidence and foster resilience.
Existential PsychotherapyExistential psychotherapy is a form of psychotherapy that emphasizes an individual’s subjective experience of existence. It is a philosophical approach to psychotherapy that views the individual as ultimately responsible for creating a meaningful life. This form of psychotherapy helps individuals explore their subjective experiences, understand their personal values and beliefs, find ways to live more authentically, and make meaningful choices. The ultimate goal is to help the individual reach a greater sense of self-awareness and personal fulfillment.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy treatment that was originally designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories. It uses a structured approach to address the past events that may be causing current distress, and uses bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, to activate different neural networks in the brain in order to reduce symptoms of trauma. EMDR has been found to be effective for a wide range of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
Family Systems TherapyFamily Systems Therapy is an approach to psychotherapy that emphasizes the importance of understanding how the family functions as a whole, and how individual family members interact and affect one another. It focuses on how family dynamics, such as communication patterns, roles, and power dynamics, shape behavior, and how changing these dynamics can lead to positive change. Family Systems Therapy is a collaborative approach, where the therapist works with the family as a whole to identify and address areas of conflict and distress.
Holistic PsychotherapyHolistic psychotherapy emphasizes the individual's interconnectedness between the individual's physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects and views them as inseparable components of a single holistic system. Holistic psychotherapy focuses on understanding how these components interact and affect a person’s wellbeing. The goal of holistic psychotherapy is to create a sense of wholeness and harmony within the individual, and to foster self-awareness and self-care. Holistic practitioners use a variety of approaches, including traditional talk therapy, mindfulness practices, and body-based therapies like movement therapy. They also may incorporate nutrition, physical activity, and other lifestyle factors into treatment plans.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)Internal Family Systems (IFS) is an evidence-based psychotherapy that uses the metaphor of an internal family of parts to help people gain awareness of how different parts of themselves can interact in healthy and unhealthy ways. IFS encourages people to become curious about their different parts, with the goal of helping them gain access to their true Self or core. Through this process, people can learn to recognize and care for the different parts of themselves, as well as develop compassionate understanding for the origins of their parts. A key principle of IFS is that each part within the person has its own positive intention and is trying to protect the person in some way. By understanding the positive intention of each part, the practitioner and client can work together to help the parts feel heard and understood, and to find more adaptive ways of meeting their needs. IFS has been found to be an effective treatment for a variety of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, trauma, and relationship issues.
Jungian PsychotherapyJungian Psychotherapy is based on the theories of Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung. It focuses on helping individuals to understand and explore their inner self, and to discover the psychological dynamics that underlie their behaviors, thoughts, and feelings. This type of psychotherapy encourages individuals to become more aware of their own inner experience and how it affects their life and relationships. Jungian Psychotherapy also focuses on understanding the symbolic meanings of dreams, and how the unconscious mind influences behavior. Through exploring dreams, symbols, and other unconscious material, practitioners serve as guides to help clients identify patterns and themes that may be impacting their current behaviors and thoughts. It is an effective treatment for a variety of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and trauma.
Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian Therapy)Person-centered therapy, or Rogerian therapy, was developed by Carl Rogers in the 1940’s. It is a form of talk therapy that emphasizes the importance of providing psychological safety, unconditional positive regard, and empathic understanding to clients. This type of therapy is based on the belief that individuals have an innate capacity for self-actualization and self-understanding and that the therapist's role is to provide a supportive environment in which this process can take place. Through the use of active listening, open-ended questions, and non-judgmental reflection, the therapist helps the client to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a safe and accepting environment. By doing so, clients are able to gain insight into their issues, develop a greater understanding of themselves, and work towards personal growth.
PsychodramaPsychodrama is a form of experiential therapy that can help people gain insight into their own behavior and develop healthier coping strategies. It involves using role-playing and group dynamics to explore and act out different scenarios in a safe setting. Psychodrama is grounded in principles of creativity and spontaneity. It evokes cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses in those in treatment and helps them achieve new perspectives through better understanding of their roles in life and the ways that they interact with others.
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.
Relational PsychotherapyRelational psychotherapy is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on a person’s relationships with others and the dynamics between them. It emphasizes the importance of the therapeutic relationship between the client and the therapist, and it explores the meaning and purpose of relationships in the client’s life. Relational psychotherapy seeks to understand how the client’s past relationships shape their current experiences and how the client interacts with others. The goal is to help the person develop healthier relationships and better communication skills so they can become more emotionally connected to others.
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)Solution-focused therapy is a type of therapy that focuses on what is going right in a person’s life, as opposed to what is going wrong. It is based on the premise that when a person can identify what is working, they can build on it and make positive changes to the areas of their life that need improvement. A therapist using this approach will often ask questions designed to bring out a person’s strengths and resources, rather than focusing on problems or past issues. The aim of this type of therapy is to help people find solutions to their current problems, in order to build a better future. A solution-focused therapist encourages those in treatment to develop a vision of the future and offers support and guidance as they determine the skills, resources, and abilities needed to achieve that vision successfully.
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.
Individual Therapy
Clinical Supervision
Consultation
Couples Therapy
Family Therapy
Group Therapy
Workshops/Educating