L’Chol Nefesh
The Israeli Non-Profit Organization For the Advancement of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy in Public Mental Health Services
“…at some time or other the conscience of society will awake and remind it that the poor man should have just as much right to assistance for his mind as he now has to the life–saving help offered by surgery ; and that the neuroses threaten public health no less than tuberculosis…when this happens, institutions or out-patient clinics will be started , to which analytically–trained physicians will be appointed, so that men who would otherwise give way to drink, women who have nearly succumbed under their burden of privations, children for whom there is no choice but between running wild or neurosis , may be made capable , by analysis of resistance and of efficient work…”
(S. Freud in “Lines of advance in Psycho-analytic Therapy”, 1919, p. 167)
Thousands of individuals in Israel are suffering from severe mental distress.
Due to budget constraints and the growing impact of short-term therapeutic treatments, patients treated in the public health system usually receive medication as a temporary solution to relieving symptoms and a reduced number of psychotherapeutic sessions.
L’Chol Nefesh steps in to provide these people with intensive psychoanalytic psychotherapy which regards psychological breakdown and distress as an expression of psychic pain needing relief, whilst also providing an opportunity for growth and development.
Vision
L’Chol Nefesh aims to create a therapeutic reality of equal opportunity, which will provide the chance for thousands of people suffering from severe mental disturbances to return to a balanced and healthy lifestyle.
Goals
- Expand awareness of the unique value of psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic psychotherapy.
- Provide the opportunity to patients suffering from severe mental distress, and those receiving treatment from public mental health services, to receive psychoanalytic psychotherapy.
- Train psychotherapists to administer the aforementioned approach when treating patients with severe mental disturbances.
- Expand the therapeutic concept through highlighting the positive impact of psychoanalytic psychotherapy on patients’ quality of life, and show the long term financial benefits of the treatment.
Board of Administration
Dr. Ilan Amir – Chairman of L’Chol Nefesh – Trained as a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, Dr. Amir works both in private practice and at the Brill Center for Mental Health in Tel Aviv. He is a supervisor, teacher, and lecturer in different programs of psychoanalytic psychotherapy. Dr. Amir is a co-manager of the Lechol Nefesh Adult Psychotherapy Unit, located in the Yehuda Abarbanel Mental Health Center in Bat Yam, Israel.
Yael Samuel – Psychoanalyst, Clinical psychologist, specializing in psychosomatics. She worked 20 years in medical health centers in Belgium and in Israel. She works in private practice and teaches in different programs of psychoanalytical psychotherapy. Yael co-manages Lechol Nefesh’s Children and Youth Treatment Unit in the Yaffo Public health Community Center.
Talia Fruhauf – Clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst, Talia Fruhauf is a private practitioner, and in the past has also worked in a daycare unit for children with PDD. She supervises in the psychotherapy course of the Israeli Psychoanalytic Society. Talia is a co-manager of Lechol Nefesh’s Children and Youth Treatment Unit in the Yaffo Public health Community Center.
Pumpi Harel – Clinical psychologist and child and adult psychoanalyst. Has worked for many years in a daycare unit for children with PDD. Today works mainly in private practice and teaches and supervises at the HALFABA psychotherapy school. Pumpi is a co-manager of Lechol Nefesh’s Children and Youth Treatment Unit in the Yaffo Public health Community Center.
Naomi Miller – Clinical Psychologist and a Psychoanalyst. Worked in “Shalvata” mental health center with adolescents and children. She works in private practice and teaches and supervises in different programs for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. One of the coordinators of the “Hitkarvut” study program of the Israeli Psychoanalytic Society, whose purpose is to get public service staff workers involved in the psychoanalytic school of thought. Naomi is a co-manager of Lechol Nefesh’s Children and Youth Treatment Unit in the Yaffo Public health Community Center.
Board members
Dr. Natan Karni (R.I.P) – Psychiatrist, training psychoanalyst at the Israel Psychoanalytic Society. Head of the community and outpatient services at the BeerYaakov- NessZiona Mental Health Center.
Dr. Cynthia Klein – Child psychiatrist and psychoanalyst. She works in Gea Hospital like chief organizer, supervisor and teacher of psychoanalytic psychotherapy and in her private clinic. She is a teacher, supervisor and lecturer in different programs of psychoanalytic psychotherapy.
Dr. Yael Desheh– Clinical psychologist and a training psychoanalyst in the Israeli Psychoanalytic society. Worked as a senior psychologist at the South Jerusalem mental health center. Worked as a senior psychologist and later Chief Psychologist at “Orr Shalom”-A therapeutic organization for children at risk. Supervisor of staff at a therapeutic children home for young children at risk removed from their homes. Supervisor and teacher at the Israel Psychoanalytic institute. Currently, one of the organizing staff of Hidavrut- an advanced psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy course at the Israel psychoanalytic Institute. Working with survivors of trauma and sexual abuse.
Galia Peleg-Isbi – clinical psychologist and Psychoanalyst. Galia Peleg-Isbi worked in Petah-Tikva Mental Health Center, Lev-Hasharon Mental Health center and Nes-Ziona Mental Health center between1989-2000. Supervises in different programs for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy.
Hamutal Raz-Shiloach – Clinical psychologist for children and adults. Psychoanalyst and organization psychologist. She works in private practice, and as mother infant therapist in “Naamat” day care center in Hertzellya. She is a lecturer, teacher and supervisor in different programs of psychoanalytic psychotherapy.
Dr. Meir Steinbock – Trained as a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst. Founder and administrator of the Winnicott Center in Israel. Instructor in different programs for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Chana Wakstein- clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst. She worked 6 years in the “Beer Yaakov” hospital. She works in private practice and teaches in different programs of psychotherapy, such as The “Bar Ilan” university.
Dr. Eva Yakubov – Trained as a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst. Dr. Yakubov worked at the Lev Hasharon Mental Health public clinic until 2005 running together a private practice. Teaches and lectures on the subject of combining psychoanalysis with medication.
The founders and directors of L’Chol Nefesh are psychoanalysts, members of the Israel Psychoanalytic Society, among them psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers – all, with profound clinical experience. All the founders have worked in the framework of public mental health services for several years. L’Chol Nefesh was established as an initiative to provide intensive psychoanalytic psychotherapy to those who cannot otherwise afford this crucial, life-altering therapeutic method.