Telehealth Available
Lesley Benedikt
Credentials
Type of Therapist:
Clinical Social Worker, Couples and Family Therapist
Primary Degree(s):
MSW
Finances
Average Cost Per Session:
350-500 NIS
Insurance:
Private Insurance
Discounts Available:
N/A

Licensed in Israel

Office
  • 10 Yael St
  • Tel Aviv
Telehealth Available

Lesley Benedikt Verified Verified

Credentials
Type of Therapist:

Clinical Social Worker, Couples and Family Therapist

Primary Degree(s):

MSW

Finances
Average Cost Per Session:

350-500 NIS

Insurance:

Private Insurance

Discounts Available:

N/A

Licensed in Israel

Office
  • 10 Yael St
  • Tel Aviv

ABOUT

I'm a clinical social worker and a certified couples and family therapist, treating adults at my clinic in central Tel Aviv (with options for online sesions).  In my work with individuals, couples and families, it's especially important to me to create a warm and caring environment, where clients can feel safe to explore hardships in the present and past, their own strengths and changes they wish to make in their lives.  I believe that we all have challenges in life, from without and from within.  Therapy, in a safe and non judgemental space, can help us to understand better what is causing us pain and bring us relief, change and more fulfillment.  

In therapy, my approach is psychodynamic, incorporating tools from CBT, narrative therapy, imago techniques and compassion focused therapy.  

I have experience in different professional contexts, in Hebrew and in English, both in Israel and in the US.  My experience includes treating couples and families in crisis and in conflict - including infidelity, intimacy issues, parenting, communication and family transitions; women and men dealing with past trauma and current impact on trust, relationships and safety  - including issues of relationship violence; individuals facing questions of identity and self esteem, romantic and other relationships, depression and anxiety. 

QUALIFICATIONS

Degree
Education
Year of Graduation

MSW

Wurzweiler School of Social Work

1997


Degree
MSW

Education
Wurzweiler School of Social Work

Year of Graduation
1997
Years in Practice

17

LICENSED IN ISRAEL
Registered Social Worker in Israel

15077

Learn more about GHI's verification of therapists here.

ADDITIONAL CREDENTIALS

Certified Couples and Family Therapist, 2023

DISTANCE COUNSELING

Online Therapy

PRIMARY SPECIALTIES

Anxiety / Panic

Couples / Relationship / Marriage Counseling

Family Issues

Grief

Life Transitions

ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES

Adjustments

Anger Management

Cancer / Terminal Illness

Depression

Infertility

Parenting Issues / Training

Postpartum Depression

Sex Therapy

Trauma / Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD

CLIENT FOCUS

Population

Adults
Couples
Families
LGBTQ
Men
Women

Languages

Hebrew
English

TREATMENT APPROACH

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.

Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT)Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) is an integrative psychological approach that focuses on building compassion for oneself and others. It combines elements of cognitive behavioral therapy, evolutionary psychology, philosophy, and Eastern contemplative traditions. CFT is based on the concept that compassion is a fundamental human emotion that can be cultivated to promote psychological well-being. The goal of CFT is to help individuals understand and relate to their emotions in a compassionate and non-judgmental way. It encourages clients to develop a sense of self-compassion and understanding, and to use it to create healthier ways of living. CFT also emphasizes developing a compassionate relationship with others, and can help foster greater acceptance and understanding. The primary therapeutic technique of CFT is compassionate mind training (CMT). Some CMT tools that clients may participate in are appreciation exercises, mindfulness, and compassion-focused imagery exercises. These exercises promote compassionate motivation, sympathy, sensitivity, and distress tolerance within clients.

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.

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.

SERVICES OFFERED

Individual Therapy
Couples Therapy
Family Therapy
Hadrachat Horim