Find a Focusing Professional - Ofer Yifrach

I am a Faculty member at Ben-Gurion University in Israel. Research in my lab concerns the basic principles underlying electrical signaling in our brain and body and how this process encodes information about our internal and external worlds.  In particular, I study interoception, namely, the dynamic internal representation of our body in the brain and how this underlies our intuitive 'gut feeling' behaviors.

I am a cerified instructor of Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT®)-a system of contemplative practices to nurture compassion developed in Emory University. Recently, i have completed my certification in Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapy (Israel Trauma and Resiliency center-NATAL) as well as in Trauma-based Psychotherapy (Tel-Aviv University and NATAL) and in Somatic experiencing (NATAL, First stage). 

I currently run a small practice and conduct research on Focusing in my lab at the BenGurion University.

Alternative somatic approaches based on experience, like the 'Focusing' and its 'Somatic Experiencing' (SE®) daughter method are being slowly integrated to mainstream psychology, in particular for treating subjects who have experienced trauma. Relating to the patient's body sensations facilitates dealing with high/low arousal, intrusions and psychological stiffness symptoms resulting from trauma and facilitate moving from unexpected danger to security and confidence, from dissociation and fragmentation to memory integration and narrative consolidation, and from isolation to social engagement, steps all needed for the subject to 'live with' the traumatic experience. 'Focusing' helps an individual to establish a healthy relationship with all 'self' parts from a position whereby he/she is the 'house owner', noticing all emotions, naming and accepting them, giving them space to be, without being overwhelmed by them. In a nutshell, the practice helps expand a tramutic subject's 'window of tolerance'. It helps the ordinary person to remain steady in their zone of well-being and provides emotional resilience in facing the ups and downs of life.

Please do not hesitate to contact me for any question.  Ofer Yifrach