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Research Team

Our team brings together expertise in clinical psychology, psychotherapy research, artificial intelligence, and data science to better understand how therapeutic change unfolds and how mental health care can be tailored to individual needs.

Principal Investigator

Dana Atzil-Slonim

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Postdoc Fellows

Yael Bar-Shachar

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I am a post-doctoral fellow in the lab. I completed my PhD in the relationship and psychotherapy research lab (PI: Prof. Eran Bar-Kalifa). My research interests lie in merging clinical expertise with artificial intelligence to enhance our understanding of adaptive and maladaptive inter- and intrapersonal processes and the dynamics underpinning change throughout treatment. 

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Ph.D Students

Dan Sayda-Data Analyst

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I am a PhD student in the lab, holding a MA degree in clinical psychology and a BA degree in psychology and cognitive sciences. My research interests include the ability of the patient and therapist to flexibly move in and out of synchrony. I’m also interested in other in-session intrapersonal and interpersonal dynamics that are predictive of positive (or negative) therapeutic outcome. In my free time I enjoy traveling and taking photos.
 

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Aya Shamir- Lab Manager

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I am a Ph.D. candidate in the lab, holding an M.A. degree in clinical psychology and a B.A. degree in biology and psychology. My research interests include understanding depression as a dynamic condition and identifying adaptive and maladaptive self-states. I’m also interested in other in-session intrapersonal and interpersonal dynamics that are predictive of therapeutic outcomes and clinical change. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music and playing the double bass.

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Amir Eliassaf

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I am a doctoral student in the lab. I hold a B.A. in Psychology and Economics (with honors) and an M.A. in Clinical Psychology. My research interests include applying computational learning methods to therapeutic dialogue analysis. My work focuses on the coherence of the patient’s emotional experience and the diversity of the therapist’s techniques. In my free time, I enjoy playing chess.

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Lihi Cohen

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I am a doctoral student in the lab. I hold an M.A. in Rehabilitation Psychology from Bar-Ilan University, where my thesis examined affective flexibility using an affective voluntary task-switching paradigm. My research focuses on therapist flexibility and on developing a self-feedback tool to help therapists reflect on micro-processes and session dynamics. In my free time, I enjoy trekking in the mountains.

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M.Sc Students

Guy Dvir

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I am a master's student in the lab. I hold a BA in Psychology and Philosophy. My research interests include routine outcome monitoring and feedback, as well as the dynamics of self-states as presented in social media. In my free time i enjoy photography and hiking.

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Tomer Harrington

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I am a master's student in the lab. I hold a bachelor's degree in psychology and economics. My research interests include exploring various interpersonal and intrapersonal dynamics that occur during therapy and understanding the mechanisms that lead to change in psychotherapeutic treatment. My work focuses on studying the processes that drive therapeutic outcomes. In my free time I enjoy hiking.

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Ilay Spiegel

Research Assistants

Yuval Cohen- Lab Coordinator

Alumni

Ayal Klein

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I am a postdoctoral researcher in a collaborative project with Maria Liakata's lab at Queen Mary University of London. My PhD focused on natural language processing.  In my postdoctoral work, I am combining my passion for psychology with the expertise I gained in information science and AI. We are exploring how AI can contribute to a better understanding of the therapeutic space.

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Adar Paz

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Dana Stolowicz

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Roei Chen

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Hadar Fisher

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Liran Keren

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I am a Master's student in Clinical Psychology at Bar-Ilan University. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Psychology.  My research interests include exploring the intersection of technology and mental health.  My work focuses on the formulation of therapeutic meetings and investigating the contribution of AI to this conceptualization. In my free time, I enjoy hiking.

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