Studies on Psychotherapy
Roni Adini

Clinical psychology graduate student at the Bar Ilan University. Roni is interested in understanding the role of mutuality and synchronicity in therapeutic processes and her doctorate-level dissertation is titled: “Synchronicity in Psychotherapy; its Role in establishing the Therapeutic Alliance and its Relationship to the Treatment Outcome.”
Sharon Shimshi
Clinical Psychology Intern at the Student’s Clinic at the Ben-Gurion University,her current research focuses on the relationships between innovative moments and TPA (Two-Person APES) and their contributions to outcome variables in psychodynamic psychotherapy. Sharon is interested in the study of therapeutic relationship, movement between self-states and the client's narrative and emotional change during successful treatments. Specifically, she is curious on how various narrative and emotional changes occur during successful psychodynamic treatments.
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Noa Melamud

PhD student, Bar Ilan
My research deals with moral judgment in the countertransference. The research aim is to conceptualize the phenomenon of moral judgment in the countertransference, while mapping its expressions, management strategies and implications.
The realm of morality and moral judgement, as well as that of countertransference, have been studied through many prisms. However, moral judgement within a therapeutic context has not been described or understood as a unique manifestation of countertransference (such as erotic countertransference, hate in the countertransference, etc.).
Because the filed has yet to be researched, and in order to allow for descriptive, theoretical and practical conclusions alike, the study is designed in mixed method, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches. We hope the results may be used for further research and to enrich the training of therapists.
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My research deals with moral judgment in the countertransference. The research aim is to conceptualize the phenomenon of moral judgment in the countertransference, while mapping its expressions, management strategies and implications.
The realm of morality and moral judgement, as well as that of countertransference, have been studied through many prisms. However, moral judgement within a therapeutic context has not been described or understood as a unique manifestation of countertransference (such as erotic countertransference, hate in the countertransference, etc.).
Because the filed has yet to be researched, and in order to allow for descriptive, theoretical and practical conclusions alike, the study is designed in mixed method, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches. We hope the results may be used for further research and to enrich the training of therapists.
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Studies on Stress, Grief and Trauma
Esti Vega

Program for Gender Studies, Bar-Ilan University, Ph.D.
My research deals with sexual abuse in the ultra-Orthodox community, from the perspective of mothers. The study includes aspects of education for protection and coping with the consequences of sexual abuse, on their personal and social life.
In recent years, in the ultra-Orthodox community, there has been a certain increase in awareness of the need for a significant reference to the phenomenon, both in terms of education for the protected and in terms of the treatment of casualties.
In order to learn about the phenomenon in-depth and its various aspects, I examine it from the perspective of motherhood both in relation to their parental role and in relation to their experiences as women and as subjects.
My research deals with sexual abuse in the ultra-Orthodox community, from the perspective of mothers. The study includes aspects of education for protection and coping with the consequences of sexual abuse, on their personal and social life.
In recent years, in the ultra-Orthodox community, there has been a certain increase in awareness of the need for a significant reference to the phenomenon, both in terms of education for the protected and in terms of the treatment of casualties.
In order to learn about the phenomenon in-depth and its various aspects, I examine it from the perspective of motherhood both in relation to their parental role and in relation to their experiences as women and as subjects.
Naomi (Jaffe) Eini
My study is entitled "Middle age people coping with the loss of their parents".
"Death is a natural part of life" is a common reaction framing the passing of elderly parents as a normal part of the life course. This conventional approach often conflicts with the loss experienced by the offspring, specifically by overlooking the impact on their physical and emotional functioning, and specifically on behavior and self-awareness. This study examines the intersection between two areas of the life cycle – parental loss and middle age. Qualitative and quantitative research is used to understand the experience of parental loss among adults in their middle ages – the consequences, approaches to mourning, and coping skills. The importance of the present study lies in focusing on the 'natural', more common loss experience and particularly through a developmental prism that is a potential platform for personal change and growth. |
Lika Hatzir
Ph.D. program, at the psychology department in Bar Ilan University. I'm conducting a study under the supervision of Dr. Tamar Zilberg and Prof. Rivka Toval.
I have been working as an educational psychologist more than 25 years, and as a family and couple therapist from 2014, both in public and private practice. My goal is to help children, adolescence, parents, and educators deal better with the difficulties of life and to facilitate well- being in educational and other organizational settings. My study focuses on the factors associated to the well-being of teenagers (12-18) that suffer from chronic illness (diabetes and life-threatening allergies). We will try to deal with dietary dependent chronic illness management, the mediating role of perceived parental support and type of motivation on adolescent's psychological and physiological well-being. the study will use combined method and will include questionnaires and in-depth interviews. |
Nira Shmueli

Ph.D, program for Gender Studies, Bar-Ilan University. my study entiteld: Familial thinking patters and mental adjustment to the IDF
This study is part of a broad study, that examines the adjustment of recruits and their parents to the family stage, the leaving home transition in order to enlist to the military service. The purpose of this study is to investigate three aspects during this transition: (1) Is there a mutual cognitive style (rational/irrational beliefs, Ellis, 1994) between family members (parents and their young adult/soldier) and how these mutual style maintains or changes in the process of leaving home and recruiting?; (2) How does family cognitive style is related to the emotional adjustment to the recruitment process of the three family members?; (3) Gender differences and/or similarities in thinking patterns and emotional adjustment to the recruiting phase.
The study expands our knowledge and gives a new understanding of the rational and irrational thinking processes within the family. Moreover, it reveals how these processes express at the time of leaving home for recruiting. Additionally, the study increases the knowledge about the emotional adjustment of parents and their adolescents in this process.
This study is part of a broad study, that examines the adjustment of recruits and their parents to the family stage, the leaving home transition in order to enlist to the military service. The purpose of this study is to investigate three aspects during this transition: (1) Is there a mutual cognitive style (rational/irrational beliefs, Ellis, 1994) between family members (parents and their young adult/soldier) and how these mutual style maintains or changes in the process of leaving home and recruiting?; (2) How does family cognitive style is related to the emotional adjustment to the recruitment process of the three family members?; (3) Gender differences and/or similarities in thinking patterns and emotional adjustment to the recruiting phase.
The study expands our knowledge and gives a new understanding of the rational and irrational thinking processes within the family. Moreover, it reveals how these processes express at the time of leaving home for recruiting. Additionally, the study increases the knowledge about the emotional adjustment of parents and their adolescents in this process.
Studies on Mental Health and Wellbeing among women
Dana Caspi

M.A student of the Clinical Psychology program, Bar Ilan University
My thesis will focus on therapists' experiences when treating patients with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) regarding the role of their gender in forming a theraputic alliance with patients.
Many researches have shown the positive effect of the theraputic alliance on commitment to and success of therapy. Treating AN has been shown to be very challenging, and little is known about the factors contributing to forming a strong alliance with AN patients. My research will focus on gender as one of the factors that might affect the theraputic alliance.
My thesis will focus on therapists' experiences when treating patients with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) regarding the role of their gender in forming a theraputic alliance with patients.
Many researches have shown the positive effect of the theraputic alliance on commitment to and success of therapy. Treating AN has been shown to be very challenging, and little is known about the factors contributing to forming a strong alliance with AN patients. My research will focus on gender as one of the factors that might affect the theraputic alliance.
Maia Yogev

M.A student of the Clinical Psychology program, Bar Ilan University
Patients with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) have long had a reputation as being difficult for clinicians to treat. It is assumed that among the factors that contribute to this difficulty is the challenge therapists face when trying to form a Theraputic Alliance (TA) with AN patients. Among the reasons that might contribute to this challenge is that AN patients are often diagnosed with comorbidity with one or more disorders (i.e Major Depression, OCD, Personality Disorders, etc.). Previous studies have shown that therapists often experience strong negative feelings when dealing with comorbidity among AN patients (specifically with personality disorders).
My thesis will focus on therapists' experiences and opinions reagarding the factors that affect forming a TA with patients who suffer from Anorexia Nervosa, specifically those who also suffer from comorbidity with one or more disorder.
Patients with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) have long had a reputation as being difficult for clinicians to treat. It is assumed that among the factors that contribute to this difficulty is the challenge therapists face when trying to form a Theraputic Alliance (TA) with AN patients. Among the reasons that might contribute to this challenge is that AN patients are often diagnosed with comorbidity with one or more disorders (i.e Major Depression, OCD, Personality Disorders, etc.). Previous studies have shown that therapists often experience strong negative feelings when dealing with comorbidity among AN patients (specifically with personality disorders).
My thesis will focus on therapists' experiences and opinions reagarding the factors that affect forming a TA with patients who suffer from Anorexia Nervosa, specifically those who also suffer from comorbidity with one or more disorder.
Hagar Lev Ari

Ph. D . An M.A student of the Clinical Psychology program,Bar Ilan University.
Studies reveal therapists face substantial difficulties forming therapeutic alliances (TA) with those suffering from Anorexia Nervosa (AN). While the TA is an established predictor of psychotherapy outcome and although AN therapy is associated with poor outcomes, little is known about the factors impacting the TA with patients with AN, and no dyadic or qualitative research in the subject exists. The current study aims to characterize the challenges in forming the alliance and to examine correlates of alliance development.
Studies reveal therapists face substantial difficulties forming therapeutic alliances (TA) with those suffering from Anorexia Nervosa (AN). While the TA is an established predictor of psychotherapy outcome and although AN therapy is associated with poor outcomes, little is known about the factors impacting the TA with patients with AN, and no dyadic or qualitative research in the subject exists. The current study aims to characterize the challenges in forming the alliance and to examine correlates of alliance development.
Efrat Shaked

Ph.D, Gender studies Program, Bar Ilan University
My research focuses on the perceived impact of a therapeutic running group on physical-mental experiences of women coping with incest. The study focuses on the changes in the web of relationships between the different parts of the self and the changes in the inner discourses in the context of the public discourse in Israel.
The rationale for the use of running groups as therapeutic intervention is that since the trauma occurs in the physical arena and continues to be preserved as physical symptoms, it is appropriate to treat it not only on the cognitive level as thoughts and emotions, and through emotional-verbal processing, but also through the body, and referring to physical aspects that allow rendering processes that are beyond the verbal.
My research focuses on the perceived impact of a therapeutic running group on physical-mental experiences of women coping with incest. The study focuses on the changes in the web of relationships between the different parts of the self and the changes in the inner discourses in the context of the public discourse in Israel.
The rationale for the use of running groups as therapeutic intervention is that since the trauma occurs in the physical arena and continues to be preserved as physical symptoms, it is appropriate to treat it not only on the cognitive level as thoughts and emotions, and through emotional-verbal processing, but also through the body, and referring to physical aspects that allow rendering processes that are beyond the verbal.