TOP 100 MAGAZINE

Dr. Ayelet Schafir-Hirshfeld, PhD

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Dr. Ayelet Hirshfeld is a clinical psychologist and a Lacanian psychoanalyst, a traumatologist, and president of DiversItUS® Psychotherapy & Psychoanalysis Inc., who, surprisingly, is also the founder of tech and healthcare startup companies. Dr. Ayelet Hirshfeld drives innovation in mental healthcare and is an advisor of multiple organizations. This unique blend of disciplines forms the backbone of Dr. Hirshfeld’s innovative work at DiversItUS® Psychotherapy & Psychoanalysis Inc., a Los-Gatos, California-based practice she founded in 2009. For over 15 years, Ayelet has been transforming lives through a multidisciplinary approach that combines cutting-edge technology with deep psychological insight, particularly in the realm of trauma.

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Growing up in Israel, Dr. Ayelet Hirshfeld was immersed in a culture where trauma is often a shared experience. She served in the Israeli Defense Forces and is the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors. These experiences not only honed her resilience, but also gave her firsthand understanding of the profound impact of trauma and intergenerational transmission of trauma on the human psyche. These early experiences became the foundation & the backbone of her clinical focus, which encompasses trauma, traumatic stress reactions, critical incident stress, compassion fatigue, secondary traumatization, vicarious traumatization, and a wide spectrum of associated conditions, including anxiety, depression, dissociative disorders, and adjustment difficulties.

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Her credentials are as impressive as her life story. Dr. Ayelet Hirshfeld earned a BA from the University of Tel-Aviv, Israel (TAU), and a PhD from the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP/ AIU). She has completed  a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford’s Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) and training as a Lacanian psychoanalyst at the Lacan School of Psychoanalysis (LSP). She further holds certifications in Child Inclusive Mediation and Counseling (CIMC) and EMDR therapy. Her expertise has been recognized globally, with honors such as the Exceptional Licensed Clinical Psychologist Award from WorldWide Leaders in Healthcare and recognition as a Leading Physician by The Leading Physicians of the World.

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What sets Dr. Ayelet Hirshfeld apart is her ability to integrate her vast clinical expertise with her passion for technology. A self-described lover of startups, she has served as the founder of tech and mental healthcare companies and as an advisory board member for others. This dual focus allows her to craft innovative, AI-driven frameworks designed to facilitate deeper psychological discovery. “Most clinicians are not tech-savvy, and most tech founders don’t have a background in psychoanalysis or psychology,”  Dr. Ayelet Hirshfeld explains. “Bringing these two worlds together creates a niche that is incredibly rare and, I believe, impactful.”

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In her private practice, Dr. Ayelet Hirshfeld offers a comprehensive range of services, from Lacanian psychoanalysis and Individual psychotherapy to executive organizational consulting. Her work with clients is deeply personal, centered on listening intently to uncover the unconscious, while her tech-driven initiatives extend these insights into scalable solutions.

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Dr. Ayelet Hirshfeld’s unique approach is further enriched by her ongoing education. She is currently participating in a Healthcare Executive Program at the Global Business School for Health at University College London in the UK, as well as participates in an artificial intelligence driven leadership program at Stanford University, ensuring her skills remain at the forefront of both her fields.

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Her practice also serves as a hub for education. Dr. Hirshfeld has extensively researched the field of trauma, critical incident stress, PTSD & secondary traumatization at SF VA Medical Center. She has taught weekly Lacanian seminars for clinicians at her clinic and various organizations, where she delves into the theories and practices of Lacanian and Freudian psychoanalysis. “I’m deeply invested in advancing the field of trauma informed mental healthcare,” she says. “It’s about bringing together assessment, research, and practice in a way that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible.”

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For Dr. Ayelet Hirshfeld, the fusion of psychology, psychoanalysis and technology is more than a professional venture—it’s a calling. “I love the person-to-person interaction of clinical work,” she reflects, “and I love startups and technology. Integrating these areas allows me to craft something truly unique: a bridge between the human mind and the digital world, enabling healing and innovation to coexist.”

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Dr. Ayelet Schafir-Hirshfeld, PhD
President: DiversItUS® Psychotherapy & Psychoanalysis Inc.
Website: https://www.diversitus.org/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayelethirshfeldphd/