Telehealth Available
Micki Lavin-Pell
Credentials
Type of Therapist:
Individual, Couples, and Family Therapist

Pre and Post Marital Relationships

Primary Degree(s):
MA, MFT, MSC
Finances
Average Cost Per Session:
325-550 NIS
Insurance:
Private Insurance
Discounts Available:
Sliding Scale | Free Consultation | Student Discount
Office
  • Chizkiyahu Hamelech 50
  • Katamon, Jerusalem
Telehealth Available

Micki Lavin-Pell Verified Verified

Credentials
Type of Therapist:

Individual, Couples, and Family Therapist

Pre and Post Marital Relationships

Primary Degree(s):

MA, MFT, MSC

Finances
Average Cost Per Session:

325-550 NIS

Insurance:

Private Insurance

Discounts Available:

Sliding Scale | Free Consultation | Student Discount

Office
  • Chizkiyahu Hamelech 50
  • Katamon, Jerusalem

ABOUT

Micki Lavin - Pell , MSC, MFT, MA is Couples and Family Therapist whose area of expertise is in working with singles and couples through relationship challenges and traumas that may be blocking the way to finding and keeping love. Micki identifies triggers that may be getting in the way.   The aim is for individuals and couples to feel confident and positive. Going deep beneath the core to identify the history of what is getting in the way, clearing away the blockages to create new pathways, is Micki’s unique  therapeutic  skill . Micki primarily works with singles looking for love, and young couples embarking on new beginnings. She specializes in working with engaged couples who are uncertain about whether they are with the “right” one and has 20+ years of experience working with couples to learn the skills to remain in a life-long loving relationship. 

"I know how challenging working on a relationship can feel when so many seem to do so effortlessly. The truth is, we all have challenges when it comes to relationships and marriage. Some of us have a harder time finding love, others have challenges that arise later. It is my greatest hope to get people into the best place possible to invite a really positive relationship and maintaining it!"

In addition to her private practice, Micki teaches Couples Therapy at Neve Yerushalayim Family Institute and is a marriage and family therapy supervisor candidate. “It is so enriching to be able to work with people to create a relationship that they can feel proud of. Laying a great foundation from the beginning paves the way towards being able to overcome common challenges that can plague any of us.”

Therapeutic modalities include: Psychodynamic, Narrative, Somatic Experience therapy for individuals and Family Systems approach, Emotionally Focused Couples therapy combined with Imago for couples and David Schnarsh's Differentiation along with Sex therapy.

For more info check out my website: www.lovingwisely.co.il 

 

QUALIFICATIONS

Degree
Education
Year of Graduation

MSC, MFT, MA

Alma Family Therapy

2004


Degree
MSC, MFT, MA

Education
Alma Family Therapy

Year of Graduation
2004
Years in Practice

21

Learn more about GHI's verification of therapists here.

ADDITIONAL CREDENTIALS

Masters in Nutrition and Public Health, 1999
Masters in Counselling, La Trobe University, 2002
Certificate in Marriage and Couples Therapy , Relationships Australia 2002
Diploma in Marriage and Family Therapy, Alma Family Therapy, 2007
Somatic Experience Therapy, Advacned level 2, 2018
Certified Member of the Israeli Association of Marriage and Family Therapy since 2008 #2782
EFT Couples Therapy Certificate 2016

DISTANCE COUNSELING

Online Therapy

BLOG POSTS

Can You Commit to Love Without All the Facts?

When we choose to marry, we often don't know everything. There are often things that are missing. After all, we haven’t seen how our partner behaves in a variety of circumstances, many of which they haven’t yet encountered. But more importantly we don’t always ...


My Unorthodox life: Exploring Differences of Opinion in Couplehood

When I work with couples through dealing with differences, whether it be religious or any other practice or want, I help the couple explore their deeper feelings around their differences of opinion and differences of practice. Couples deal with all kinds of differenc...


Re-Frame Rejection so You Can Successfully Move Forward in Relationships

I have been rejected more times than I can count. By friends, boys, jobs, my kids, you name it… One of my most memorable rejections happened while in 6th grade. My English teacher encouraged us to write a journal, which I kept "hidden" in my desk. In it, I wrote...


Is Anxiety Killing Your Chances of Finding Love?

Anna, a 35-year old, slim, petite and attractive brunette woman from Miami Beach had been…


What Makes Us Miss Relationship Red Flags?

Have you come out of a relationship recently where you feel like banging your head against a wall because yet again you’ve dated someone who turned out to be a bad apple? So you go into this mantra of telling yourself there must be no good people to date, because e...


Why Invest in Your Relationship Skills Before You Even Find Love?

No one wants to live with a feeling that disaster can strike at any time….


Why Staying Together for the Kids Isn’t Doing Anyone Any Favours

Micki Lavin-Pell, is a marriage and family therapist of 15+ years, married to Gaby Pell for nearly 18 years +4 kids.   She specializes in helping couples navigate challenges at different stages of their lives and deal with attachment issues that often plague relati...


Hope and Healing: From Warsaw to Jerusalem

It was amazing how the strength of the comradery of the women enabled them to shift their view of themselves and their experience of MRKH from one in which they were hard done by and less of a woman, to feeling special. They were able to explore the possibilities tha...


PRIMARY SPECIALTIES

Couples / Relationship / Marriage Counseling

Family Issues

Sexual Abuse / Rape

Sexual Issues

Trauma / Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD

ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES

Anxiety / Panic

Couples / Relationship / Marriage Counseling

Depression

Family Issues

LGBTQ

Life Transitions

Parenting Issues / Training

Postpartum Depression

Self-Esteem

Sex Therapy

Stress Management

communication, intimacy, infidenlity, sexual issues

CLIENT FOCUS

Population

Adults
Couples
Families
Men
Women

Languages

Hebrew
English

TREATMENT APPROACH

Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT)Attachment-based family therapy (ABFT) is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on the family's relationships and communication patterns. It is based on the theory that strong and secure attachments between family members are essential for emotional health and well-being. The goal of ABFT is to identify any problems in family relationships, enable family members to become more attuned to each other’s needs, and build a secure bond between them. It also helps family members to practice healthy communication skills, learn effective problem-solving strategies, and build trust within the family.

Emotion-Focused TherapyEmotion-focused therapy (EFT) is a type of psychotherapy that is based on the idea that emotions play a key role in a person’s mental health. EFT focuses on helping people to identify, accept, and manage their emotions in a healthy and productive way. The goal of EFT is to help people identify and express their emotions, understand how those emotions impact their behavior, and learn how to manage their emotions in a way that is adaptive and healthy. EFT is a research-based approach to psychotherapy that has been found to be effective in helping people manage a variety of mental health conditions. It has been used successfully in the treatment of individuals, couples, and families, as well as with groups. EFT is particularly beneficial for people who struggle with emotional regulation, mood disorders, anxiety, trauma, and relationship issues.

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.

Gottman MethodThe Gottman Method is an evidence-based approach to couples therapy that is designed to help couples strengthen their relationships and resolve conflicts. This method is based upon decades of research on thousands of couples and utilizes an approach that is both structured and collaborative. The method is designed to help couples increase respect, affection, and closeness, break through and resolve conflict, generate greater understanding, and to keep conflict discussions calm. It emphasizes the importance of self-regulation, constructive communication, and creating a safe environment for couples to talk and work through their issues. During sessions, couples work on skills such as active listening and expressing needs and feelings effectively. Couples are also given tools to identify and work through conflicts by using problem-solving techniques and developing strategies to manage emotions and reduce stress.

Imago Relationship Therapy (IRT)IRT focuses on helping couples identify and address their unconscious patterns of behavior that contribute to conflict and dissatisfaction in the relationship. IRT also emphasizes the importance of forgiveness and validation in healing past wounds and creating a more positive and fulfilling relationship. IRT helps couples develop communication skills and a deeper understanding of each other's needs and feelings.
Through Imago Therapy, couples will be able to explore their communication patterns, discover sources of conflict, and create new ways of connecting with each other that build empathy and understanding. The therapist will also work with the couple to create a vision for their relationship and set realistic goals for how to achieve it. This therapy helps couples to develop better communication, trust, and intimacy, as well as providing hope for the future of their relationship.

Narrative TherapyNarrative therapy is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on the stories, or narratives, of a person's life in order to help them gain insights into their situation and develop skills to make positive changes. It is based on the idea that people construct their own stories and meanings to make sense of their lives and experiences. It emphasizes the strengths, values, and skills of the person, while also exploring the influences of culture and context on their life. Narrative therapy seeks to empower individuals by helping them to identify and use their inner resources to overcome challenges and create positive change.

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.

Systems Theory / TherapySystems therapy is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on understanding how people's behavior is affected by their relationships with others. This form of therapy is based on the idea that the individual is embedded within a larger system, such as a family unit or work environment, and that changes to that system can cause changes in an individual's behavior. Systems therapy emphasizes the importance of understanding how these systems interact and how they can be changed to improve the individual's mental health. The therapist works to identify patterns of behavior in the system, identify areas of conflict or stress, and help the individuals develop strategies to make changes within the system that will lead to healthier outcomes.

SERVICES OFFERED

Individual Therapy
Couples Therapy
Family Therapy
Group Therapy
Workshops/Educating

BLOG POSTS

Can You Commit to Love Without All the Facts?

When we choose to marry, we often don't know everything. There are often things that are missing. After all, we haven’t seen how our partner behaves in a variety of circumstances, many of which they haven’t yet encountered. But more importantly we don’t always ...

My Unorthodox life: Exploring Differences of Opinion in Couplehood

When I work with couples through dealing with differences, whether it be religious or any other practice or want, I help the couple explore their deeper feelings around their differences of opinion and differences of practice. Couples deal with all kinds of differenc...

Re-Frame Rejection so You Can Successfully Move Forward in Relationships

I have been rejected more times than I can count. By friends, boys, jobs, my kids, you name it… One of my most memorable rejections happened while in 6th grade. My English teacher encouraged us to write a journal, which I kept "hidden" in my desk. In it, I wrote...

Is Anxiety Killing Your Chances of Finding Love?

Anna, a 35-year old, slim, petite and attractive brunette woman from Miami Beach had been…

What Makes Us Miss Relationship Red Flags?

Have you come out of a relationship recently where you feel like banging your head against a wall because yet again you’ve dated someone who turned out to be a bad apple? So you go into this mantra of telling yourself there must be no good people to date, because e...

Why Invest in Your Relationship Skills Before You Even Find Love?

No one wants to live with a feeling that disaster can strike at any time….

Why Staying Together for the Kids Isn’t Doing Anyone Any Favours

Micki Lavin-Pell, is a marriage and family therapist of 15+ years, married to Gaby Pell for nearly 18 years +4 kids.   She specializes in helping couples navigate challenges at different stages of their lives and deal with attachment issues that often plague relati...

Hope and Healing: From Warsaw to Jerusalem

It was amazing how the strength of the comradery of the women enabled them to shift their view of themselves and their experience of MRKH from one in which they were hard done by and less of a woman, to feeling special. They were able to explore the possibilities tha...