Dr. Dovid Lessin, PsyD, holds a doctorate in Clinical Psychology and is a certified psychotherapist with a private practice in Jerusalem and Modiin, Israel. He specializes in treating couples as well as adult men and adolescents. He lives in Sha'alvim with his wife, Adina, and their four children.

Education & Work Experience

Dovid earned a B.A. in Psychology from Yeshiva University. He holds an M.A. in Mental Health Counseling from Union Institute & University and a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from California Southern University. Dovid earned certification in Counseling and Family Therapy from The Family Institute in Jerusalem and also received intensive post-graduate training treating male perpetrators of abuse at The Family Institute's Domestic Violence Unit. He has completed Levels 1, 2 & 3 training in Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy.

After 4 years of clinical training at The Family Institute, Dovid joined the Kav L'Noar Center for Families and Young Adults, located in Jerusalem. As a therapist at Kav L'Noar, Dovid conducted intake interviews and served as a family therapist, working with male adolescents, their parents, and other family members when necessary.

Dovid served for 11 years as the Yo'etz Chinuchi, Guidance Counselor, at Yeshivat Shaalvim, where he provided individual and group counseling to overseas students ages 17 through 21, and offered a variety of personal-growth oriented lectures.

Therapeutic Approach

Dovid practices an integrated approach to psychotherapy drawn from several disciplines. Originally trained in the Family Systems Model of Murray Bowen, Dovid is interested in understanding the broader family context of each presenting issue. He believes that it is important to learn about where his clients come from, which relationships have been particularly influential in their lives, and what formative experiences have shaped the people they are today.

Dovid has trained extensively in the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model of psychotherapy. IFS principles help Dovid guide people through working with their own challenging parts, ultimately enabling them to embody more presence of Self in their lives. Clients discover a harmonious, tranquil inner presence that enables greater ability to understand and manage difficult emotions, feel calm and generally positive towards oneself and others, and to foster thriving, meaningful relationships with spouses, children, parents, and friends.

Dovid's work is also informed by Psychodynamic Theory, wherein the therapist-client relationship is viewed as an important vehicle for change, as well as for exploring issues that emerge in the here-and-now of the therapeutic process. Dovid works to provide his clients with a corrective emotional experience in the therapy, where they can be part of a connected relationship characterized by mutual respect, authenticity, healthy boundaries, accurate empathy, compassion, and collaboration. Through the strength of the therapeutic alliance, Dovid is able to help his clients deal with aspects of their lives that they have been unwilling or unable to approach previously. Dovid believes that the ability to "stay with" difficult thoughts, emotions, and sensations allows people to move through pain from the past into peace of mind in the present and optimism for the future.