Photo of Zalman Nelson
Zalman Nelson , LCSW
Clinical Social Worker
Telehealth Available
Zalman Nelson
Credentials
Type of Therapist:
Clinical Social Worker
Primary Degree(s):
LCSW
Licensed in Israel
Licensed Abroad
Licensed in the USA, in the State of New York
Finances
Average Cost Per Session:
250-350 NIS
Insurance Accepted:
None
Discounts Available:
N/A
Office 1
  • Chatam Sofer 51
  • Tsfat
Office 2
  • Jerusalem
Telehealth Available
Zalman Nelson Verified
Credentials
Type of Therapist:

Clinical Social Worker

Primary Degree(s):

LCSW

Finances
Average Cost Per Session:

250-350 NIS

Insurance Accepted:

None

Discounts Available:

N/A

Licensed in Israel
Licensed Abroad
Licensed in the USA, in the State of New York
Office 1
  • Chatam Sofer 51
  • Tsfat
Office 2
  • Jerusalem

ABOUT THE THERAPIST

I help people who look calm on the outside but are exhausted by what's happening on the inside.

My Approach to Helping:

I've been doing this work for over fifteen years, and I've noticed something: most people who come to therapy don't need more insight. They already know why they do what they do. What they need is help in the moment it's actually happening. So my approach is practical and body-based. When you get triggered, your body reacts before your mind catches up. Tight chest, locked stomach, heat in your neck. We work on noticing what's happening in real time and learning to respond differently, rather than spending six days replaying a twenty-minute meeting.

I'm trained in CBT and CBT-I (a structured approach for sleep), I work with parts of the self (IFS), and I pay close attention to the body. For clients who want it, I also bring Torah and soulful ideas into the work, quietly and only when it serves you. Never pushed, never preached. But the tools matter less than the relationship. You need someone who actually tracks you, who remembers your story, and who tells you the truth in a way you can hear. Sessions are conversational and direct. No lying on a couch recounting your childhood for three years. We figure out what's running your reactions, we practice something different, and you start feeling steadier in your actual life, at work and at home.

Specific Issues I'm Skilled at Helping With:

  • Anxiety and panic, especially the kind that shows up at work before big meetings or difficult conversations.
  • Stress that won't shut off at night, including trouble sleeping.
  • Anger and triggers, snapping at people you care about or shutting down when criticized.
  • The aftermath of difficult bosses, clients, and coworkers.
  • Relationship and marriage struggles.
  • Self-esteem and the harsh inner critic.
  • Life transitions, including aliya and the adjustment years.
  • Spiritual struggles and questions about meaning.
  • Grief.

My Role as a Therapist:

Steady, grounded, and honest. I'm not a blank wall who nods and says hmm. I track you closely, I remember what you told me, and I reflect back what I see, even when it's uncomfortable, always with warmth. A big part of what we'll build is the relationship between you and your own inner kid: the grown-up learning to handle what the younger part of you never got help handling. My job is to help you build a better relationship with yourself so that eventually you don't need me. I'll never push you to stay in therapy longer than the work requires.

Additional Information About my Practice:

I'm an LCSW licensed in the US and Israel, living in Israel (Tsfat). Sessions are 300 shekels. I see clients in person in Jerusalem one day a week, and by phone or video the rest of the week, wherever you are in the country. Sessions are in English. I keep a limited number of weekly slots, so if you reach out, tell me a sentence or two about what you're looking for, and we'll see if I'm the right fit.

QUALIFICATIONS

Degree
Education
Year of Graduation

LCSW

Wurzeiler School of Social Work

2007

Degree
LCSW

Education
Wurzeiler School of Social Work

Year of Graduation
2007
Years in Practice

15

Learn more about GHI's verification of therapists here.
LICENSED IN ISRAEL
Registered Social Worker in Israel

27429

LICENSED IN THE USA
License Category
License Number / State / Active Until
Clinical Social Worker
090459-01 / New York / 31.03.2029
Category
Clinical Social Worker
Number
090459-01
State
New York
Active Until
31.03.2029

DISTANCE COUNSELING

Telephone Counseling, Online Therapy

PRIMARY SPECIALTIES

Anxiety / Panic

Depression

Executive / Career / Life Coaching

Life Transitions

Stress Management

ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES

Adjustments

Anger Management

Couples / Relationship / Marriage Counseling

Family Issues

Grief

Parenting Issues / Training

Psychosomatic Disorders

Self-Esteem

Sleep / Insomnia

Spiritual Concerns

CLIENT FOCUS

Population

Adolescents
Adults
Couples
Families
Men
Women

Languages Spoken

English
Hebrew

Native Language

English

TREATMENT APPROACH

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.

Emotional Freedom TechniqueEmotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is an alternative therapy for emotional and physical distress. It is based on the idea that the cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body's energy system. EFT is a form of psychological acupressure, in which a combination of physical tapping and verbal affirmations are used to help the body release the emotional and physical distress.

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.

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.

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.

SERVICES OFFERED

Individual Therapy