Elan Karten, PhD

I am an American born and trained clinical psychologist who made Aliyah in the summer of 2007. My Jerusalem–based practice offers psychotherapy for children, adults, couples and families within a highly eclectic and personalized framework. Trained in dynamic, EMDR and CBT approaches, I believe that in successful therapy, creativity and flexibility are paramount. This is because different things work for different people. In this fast paced, technologically “advanced,” and often lonely world we occupy, the therapy room is sacred space. Oftentimes it is the only place in the world where someone can get in touch with his or her authentic inner self. Though offering psychotherapy is an honor, it is also a tremendous responsibility. This is why I actively participate in diverse peer supervisions and consultations in order to maximize my ability to best serve my clients. Although so many of us realize that we grow through challenge, we often avoid challenge based on past negative experiences and resulting self-judgements. True, we can’t erase the past, but these negative self-appraisals CAN be worked through! Personal and interpersonal conflicts are painful. As psychologists, sure, we try to minimize the intensity of these conflicts, but not to eradicate them. This is because we realize that conflicts are a healthy--albeit painful-- part of life, essential for personal growth. So the good news here is that we can succeed in living a victorious life in the midst of struggle. As your therapist, my role is to empower, not “solve” your problems for you. Here’s a quick example: Instead of assigning homework at the end of the session I favor you assigning yourself homework based on insights you’ve gained. So the kind of therapy I offer is interactive and goal-driven, where the client is active and engaged. If this speaks to you, please feel free to reach out to me. I’ll humbly offer you my listening ear and curiosity, as we partner together to help create the life you want.