Dr Hugo Simkin

CBT Psychotherapist

“Associate Professor, University of Buenos Aires. Visiting Scholar, Tel Aviv University. Twelve years of experience with ex-pats as a clinical psychologist and professor in Israel, Argentina, and Germany. Over 50 papers authored. Expert in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.”

About Me

I guide ex-pats through the complexities of new cultures and life transitions. With twelve years as a clinical psychologist and professor across several countries, I deeply understand the unique pressures of living abroad. I integrate Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. We can explore thought patterns and align with your values. My rigorous, yet grounded, approach offers effective strategies for building resilience and stability, wherever you are.

Approach

Therapy here balances precise conceptual framing with down-to-earth, hands-on practice so you can test new habits between meetings. Sessions in Jerusalem or online, in English or Spanish, are focused, paced to your needs, and often include short mindfulness exercises, behaviour experiments and brief reflections to carry into daily life. I track changes with simple measures and use values-based commitments to anchor steps when anxiety or relocation pressures feel overwhelming. This way suits adults facing moves, career shifts or relationship strain who want clear, practical progress.

Contact Hugo

Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.

Basic Information

Jerusalem, Israel

In-person & Online

Services

Clinical psychologist with a cognitive-behavioral orientation, specializing in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I work with adults experiencing anxiety, stress, emotional difficulties, decision-making challenges, and distress related to life transitions and adjustment processes. My practice is grounded in evidence-based interventions, focusing on identifying maladaptive thought and behavior patterns, enhancing psychological flexibility, and supporting clients in building a meaningful life aligned with their personal values.

Services Offered:

ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy)
A form of therapy that teaches acceptance of difficult thoughts and feelings while guiding action aligned with personal values.
Learn more about ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy)
Mindfulness
The practice of paying deliberate attention to the present moment without judgement, used to reduce stress and increase awareness of automatic reactions.
Learn more about Mindfulness
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
A therapy combining mindfulness meditation with cognitive behavioural techniques, designed particularly to prevent relapse in depression.
Learn more about Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
Psych & Diagnostic Assessment
Formal psychological testing to identify conditions, understand cognitive and emotional functioning, and guide treatment planning.
Psychotherapy
In-depth therapeutic work that explores patterns in thoughts, emotions, and relationships to produce lasting psychological change.
Learn more about Psychotherapy
CBT
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, a structured, evidence-based approach that identifies and changes unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviours.
Learn more about CBT

Works With:

Adults
Elderly
Individuals

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

Life Transitions
Major life changes, such as relocation, retirement, parenthood, or career shifts, that disrupt routine and require psychological adjustment.
Learn more about Life Transitions
Anxiety
Persistent worry, nervousness, or fear that is disproportionate to the situation and interferes with daily functioning.
Learn more about Anxiety
Mood Disorder
A category of mental health conditions, including depression and bipolar disorder, in which a person's emotional state is significantly and persistently disrupted.
Learn more about Mood Disorder
Relocation / Expat
The psychological challenges of moving to a new country or city, including loneliness, culture shock, identity shifts, and loss of social support.
Learn more about Relocation / Expat
Family Issues
Difficulties within the family system, including conflict, communication breakdown, blended family tensions, or intergenerational patterns, that affect individual and collective well-being.
Personal Development
The ongoing process of self-awareness, self-improvement, and reaching one's potential, pursued not because something is wrong but to live more fully.
Online Therapy
Therapy sessions conducted over video call, phone, or secure messaging, using the same professional methods delivered remotely.
Learn more about Online Therapy
PTSD
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, a condition that develops after a traumatic event, causing flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, and emotional numbness.
Learn more about PTSD
Relationship Issues
Difficulties in romantic relationships, including communication problems, trust breakdowns, conflict patterns, or uncertainty about the relationship's future.
Learn more about Relationship Issues
Spiritual or Faith-Based Counseling
Counselling that integrates spiritual or religious beliefs into the therapeutic process for people who want faith to be part of their healing.

Professional Title:

CBT Psychotherapist
A psychotherapist specialising in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, an evidence-based approach that changes unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns.