ABOUT

Approach and Specialty: 

I work with individuals and couples. My passion is working with relationships and trauma. My work is an integration of East and West Psychology. I operate from the conviction that both modern psychology and the world’s spiritual traditions are right about human nature. My theoretical orientation is somatic, relational, experiential, and attachment-theory-based.

Having grown up in Israel, living eight years in San Francisco, and relocating back to Israel, I am aware of a multitude of cultural differences that may resonate with you.

How I work: 

I am curious about the inner stories that make people who they are. I became more in touch with my inner story after being pushed towards therapy by challenges I faced in my own life. Through therapy, I learned that old beliefs are like knots, and therapy can help you untangle them. 

The key to understanding my inner story was to pay attention to the wisdom of the body. Our bodies can communicate things our mind does not know; getting in touch with this knowledge helps us become aware of our emotions.

Once we start feeling the whole spectrum of our feelings, everything else becomes more meaningful. We accept more difficult emotions; we come out from the other side; we discover how truly happy we can be.

Besides my work with individuals, I am also passionate about working with couples, particularly those who are stuck in a negative cycle. I believe that underneath all the upset, there is a deep longing for connection. 

In our work together, we will expand the way you and your partner communicate with each other.  We will learn to speak the language of the heart. 

We usually have wounded areas due to past relationships. That is why relationships can also be a source of healing. Witnessing partners give each other new experiences and eventually rewiring each other’s brains is what makes this work so inspiring for me.

Degree and specialized training: 

I completed my master’s degree in Integral Counseling Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) in San Francisco. In addition to my graduate training, I pursued specialized training with leaders in the fields of Hakomi (mindfulness-centered somatic psychotherapy), EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy), and Somatic Experiencing (SE).

You can find more information about me here:

 https://www.ephratshapiropsychotherapy.com