Sara Luikert-Thomas
Verified
Psychotherapist
MSW, MA
350-500 NIS
N/A
Free Consultation
As a trauma therapist, I believe therapy is about understanding and honoring the natural defenses your mind and body have developed to shield you from pain. Some of those defenses don't serve us anymore. That is when therapy can help.
My approach is warm, non-judgmental, and empathetic. I am an integrative and attachment focused therapist, specialising in EMDR. I use different modalities to support my clients, such as somatic therapy, DBT, relational therapy, and mindfulness. We will work together to help you regulate your nervous system, be more attuned to your emotions, and process painful past memories. My goal is to help my clients cultivate self-acceptance, build secure attachments with safe others, and foster healthy, fulfilling relationships in their lives.
My background includes working with individuals experiencing homelessness, addiction, and involved in sex work, most of whom were survivors of childhood sexual trauma. I have provided long-term therapy for men and women who survived sexual abuse. Through this work, I have learned to appreciate the true meaning of resilience. I deeply respect every step towards self-care my clients take, even if it is as simple as getting dressed in the morning.
I know not every therapist will fit your needs. For that reason, I offer a free consultation to give you the time and space to decide if I should be your therapist.
MSW
University of Haifa
2024
MA
Tel Aviv University
2019
6
53316
EMDR Level 1 and 2 - 2024
Online Therapy
Anxiety / Panic
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Sexual Abuse / Rape
Stress Management
Trauma / Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD
Addictions
Anger Management
Depression
Dissociative Disorders
Family Issues
Grief
Holistic
Life Transitions
Psychosomatic Disorders
Self-Esteem
Self-Harm / Suicide
Sexual Issues
Adolescents
Adults
Men
Women
LGBTQ
Hebrew
English
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.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy developed by Marsha Linehan to help people learn to better manage and cope with emotions and stress. It focuses on developing skills and strategies to help regulate emotions, improve relationships and communication, and reduce self-destructive behaviors. Through DBT, people learn to identify and modify unhealthy thoughts and behaviors, while also learning to accept and validate their own feelings. DBT teaches skills to help individuals become aware of and accept and regulate their emotions, tolerate distress, and improve interpersonal relationships.
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.
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.
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.
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