Ephrat Shapiro

My name is Ephrat, and I am a truth seeker. Like most people, I began therapy because there was a knock on my door. Since then, my life has not been the same. There was something missing for me in traditional psychotherapy, and I experienced further growth in spiritual traditions like Tibetan Buddhism and Vipassana meditation. Although I was drawn to each of the two worlds, the wisdom of Eastern traditions and modern Western psychotherapy, I found the duality between them problematic.The bridge between psychotherapy and spirituality is where I found my healing. Having trained in Eastern and Western psychotherapy, my approach is integral - meaning seeing the person as a whole: the mind, body, and the spirit.

Having grown up in Israel, I am also aware of a multitude of cultural differences that may resonate with you. I completed my undergraduate training in Psychology in 2013, at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, in Israel, where I studied with leading researchers in attachment theory.

Before pursuing my advanced degree in psychotherapy,  I took time to explore mindfulness and spirituality in India, where I sat numerous retreats. To integrate the two worlds, I followed my devotion and completed my master’s degree in Integral Counseling Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. 

In addition to my graduate training, I pursued specialized training with leaders in the fields of Hakomi mindfulness-centered somatic psychotherapy, EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy),  AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy), Somatic Experiencing and the Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy (PACT). I have had the privilege of learning directly from respected teachers including John Eisman and Rob Fisher (Hakomi), and Diana Fosha, the founder of AEDP. In the summer of 2020, I served as a teaching assistant for a couples therapy course at CIIS.

I have also completed formal training in MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD through the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). This groundbreaking, evidence-based approach integrates the therapeutic potential of MDMA with structured psychotherapy to support deep healing from trauma. While this modality is currently limited to approved research and expanded access settings, the principles of this work—compassion, presence, and deep respect for the healing process—are woven into my approach with all clients.