Shimon Schwab Verified
Individual and Couples Therapist
MA, PG Dip
350-500 NIS
None
N/A
I am an Adult and Couples Psychotherapist, based in Ramat Beit Shemesh. I have a private psychotherapy practice, where I see people both in person and remotely (on the phone or over Zoom/FaceTime), and I am also part of the Senior Management Team at Chana Charity, a London-based organisation devoted to helping Jewish people experiencing fertility difficulties.
In my work as a therapist, I have worked with people experiencing a wide range of difficulties, such as anxiety, depression, loss and trauma, and have special interests and extensive experience in working with neurodiverse populations, more complex mental health difficulties, and psychosexual dysfunction (difficulties with sexual functioning). I have also had the privilege to lecture on psychotherapy training courses, and to deliver many presentations on a more ad-hoc basis, on topics relating to mental health in various contexts.
Additionally, part of my role at Chana involves finding ways to bridge the complementary worlds of medicine and Halacha (Jewish law) in relation to fertility treatments, and help people find solutions to their difficulties that are compliant with both. I am also responsible for training for the Chana therapeutic team.
I am registered with the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and am an Accredited Member of the College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists (COSRT). I am available for psychotherapeutic assessments and treatments for adults and couples, as well as for consultations with organisations, lectures, presentations, workshops and training courses.
We all experience emotional difficulties in life, and sometimes these can leave us feeling overwhelmed, depressed, anxious or angry. Often, we do not even understand why we feel this way, and this can leave us feeling confused as well. Sometimes, we can also find ourselves reacting to things in our lives in ways that we know are unhelpful, but that we somehow find impossible to stop.
It is important to remember, though, that the way in which we each respond to our unique life circumstances is not random. There is a meaning for each one of us in the way we deal with events in our own lives, and we will feel best when we can understand the individual message that lies beneath our suffering.
Psychotherapy offers a safe, confidential space in which we can explore our feelings, and try to understand how and why they have come about. You will have the opportunity to talk and think freely about any area of your life that you would like to reflect upon, secure in the knowledge that you will be listened to, and taken seriously. We will think together about the things that you choose to bring to our sessions, and use our shared understanding to look at how you might best lead a more enriched and fulfilling life.
Our relationships with our intimate partners are the source of the greatest joy and comfort that we can experience. Sometimes, however, they can also be a source of great distress. Our life circumstances, and/or emotional difficulties, can leave us feeling more distant from our partners than we can bear, or alternatively, locked in a painful cycle of seemingly endless conflict, that neither one wants but that seems impossible to escape. Many couples also experience difficulties in their physical relationship, and these can feel deeply upsetting for both parties.
Couples in these circumstances can find themselves turning away from each other, in order to avoid the pain that they are experiencing. However, this also has the effect of increasing the distance between them, which then makes it even more difficult to find a way through their troubles. On the other hand, trying to sort things out can sometimes seem to make them even worse than before.
Couples therapy seeks to find a way through these situations, by providing a space to talk and think together that is outside the normal routine of day-to-day life, and is also facilitated by the presence of a therapist. In a similar way to individual therapy, couples therapy seeks to help a couple understand themselves, each other and the particular dynamics of their relationship, in order that they can then create a life of enriching happiness together.
Psychosexual therapy is a subset of couples therapy that looks to directly resolve difficulties that a couple may have with their physical relationship. It revolves around discussing these difficulties in therapy sessions, and thinking together about what they might try to do about these at home. While it can sometimes feel awkward to begin having these conversations, couples usually find that it is a relief to be able to discuss these subjects, and that it can be empowering to feel that these difficulties can be resolved with a little effort and patience.
MA
Prifysgol Cymru University of Wales
2017
PG Dip
Regents University London
2017
11
EMDR Part 1 - 2023
Level 1 Sensorimotor Psychotherapy for Trauma, The Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute, 2022
PGDip Forensic Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, The Portman Clinic, London 2018-2020
PGDip Psychosexual & Relationship Therapy, The London Diploma in Psychosexual & Relationship Therapy, London 2015-2017
Advanced Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy, Regent’s University London, 2015-2016
Telephone Counseling, Online Therapy
Couples / Relationship / Marriage Counseling
Developmental Disorders
Infertility
Personality Disorders
Sexual Issues
Abuse
Academic
Anxiety / Panic
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Autism Spectrum
Family Issues
Gender Identity Concerns
Holistic
LGBTQ
Sex Therapy
Spiritual Concerns
Trauma / Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD
Adolescents
Adults
Couples
LGBTQ
Men
English
Yiddish
Existential PsychotherapyExistential psychotherapy is a form of psychotherapy that emphasizes an individual’s subjective experience of existence. It is a philosophical approach to psychotherapy that views the individual as ultimately responsible for creating a meaningful life. This form of psychotherapy helps individuals explore their subjective experiences, understand their personal values and beliefs, find ways to live more authentically, and make meaningful choices. The ultimate goal is to help the individual reach a greater sense of self-awareness and personal fulfillment.
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.
Holistic PsychotherapyHolistic psychotherapy emphasizes the individual's interconnectedness between the individual's physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects and views them as inseparable components of a single holistic system. Holistic psychotherapy focuses on understanding how these components interact and affect a person’s wellbeing. The goal of holistic psychotherapy is to create a sense of wholeness and harmony within the individual, and to foster self-awareness and self-care. Holistic practitioners use a variety of approaches, including traditional talk therapy, mindfulness practices, and body-based therapies like movement therapy. They also may incorporate nutrition, physical activity, and other lifestyle factors into treatment plans.
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.
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.
Individual Therapy
Consultation
Couples Therapy
Hadrachat Horim
Workshops/Educating