Hello

My interest in psychology began at age 16 when my mother was diagnosed with cancer. As a teenager, I was drawn to books like Freud's Interpretation of Dreams and Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning. Although I dropped out of high school for some time, I eventually returned to my studies with the help of Dr. Shabtai Lubel.

I completed my BA in Social Sciences at Bar-Ilan University in Israel. During my undergraduate years, I worked with Professor Itzhak Levin on dream research and we published a paper analyzing the dream content. During these I became fascinated by humanistic and existential theories, influenced by thinkers like Erich Fromm and Karen Horney.

After volunteering on a sexual assault hotline, I realized I wanted to help people recovering from trauma. I devoted 10 years of my career specializing in the treatment of PTSD with world leading experts like Edna Foa, Patricia Resick and Arieh Shalev. I am a Cognitive Processing therapy Trainer and a Prolonged Exposure supervisor. I co-authored a book with professor Patricia Resick "New Horizons in the treatment of PTSD". Currently, I am leading a national trauma therapy training program in Israel supported by the Gavin Farrell Foundation.

I completed my clinical internship at the Franz Brill Community Mental Health Center under Professor Danny Chamiel's mentorship. I then spent years working at Hadassah Hospital's Center for Trauma Research and Treatment, led by the brilliant Professor Arieh Shalev.

Based on the belief that psychological treatment should be evidence based and does not need to take years to be effective in 2006, I founded the Cognitica – The Israeli center for cognitive and behavioral therapies. The enter to provides short-term, focused CBT treatment for conditions like OCD, anxiety and PTSD.

In 2010 Professor Guy Doron and I identified ROCD as a subtype of OCD. Together we established the ROCD Research Unit.

Much of my clinical research and publication since has focused on relationship OCD (ROCD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Through the research unit, we have worked to better characterize ROCD and develop effective treatment strategies. We have published numerous academic papers and book chapters on various aspects of ROCD.

Together with colleagues, we have developed assessment tools to identify ROCD symptoms, relationship beliefs, and associated thought patterns. These include the ROCI, PROCSI, LBQ, RECATS, and PRS questionnaires.

Our research has explored how ROCD symptoms can become preoccupied with either relationship-centered doubts or perceived flaws in one's partner. We have also examined how ROCD relates to relationship satisfaction and sexual functioning.

Drawing on my expertise in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), we have tailored exposure, cognitive restructuring, and other CBT techniques specifically for ROCD treatment.

 In my psychotherapy practice, I specialize in OCD treatment using CBT methods like exposure and response prevention. I enjoy helping OCD patients regain control over their lives.

 Through my academic research and publications, I also contributed to the understanding of OCD subtypes like sensory over-responsivity and its relationship to OCD.

 I remain committed to advancing clinical research and making effective treatment more available for OCD and related conditions like ROCD.

 I have had the opportunity to teach CBT internationally, in Italy, Ethiopia, Albania and Ukraine. I am proud to have served as Chair of the Israel Association for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy where I worked to expand CBT dissemination and training.

My passion is making effective, research-based psychological treatment more accessible. I continue to advance research in areas like technology-enhanced treatment. I recently co-founded a Schol of Evidence Based and clinical excellence Psychotherapy.

I find great meaning in helping people overcome psychological distress and improve their lives through evidence-based treatment. My career has been dedicated to advancing research and expanding access to therapies like CBT.

 If you are struggling with conditions like ROCD, OCD, PTSD, anxiety, relationship issues, or other mental health concerns, I encourage you to reach out. I am committed to understanding your unique situation and goals, and developing a personalized treatment plan. With compassion and the right tools, healing and change are possible. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you think I may be able to help along your journey. I look forward to the opportunity to work together.

 

 

Publications

 

 

Podoly, T. Y., Derby, D. S., & Ben-Sasson, A. (2022). Sensory over-responsivity and obsessive-compulsive disorder: Measuring habituation and sensitivity through self-report, physiological and behavioral indices. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 149, 266-273.

Derby, D. S., Tibi, L., & Doron, G. (2021). Sexual dysfunction in relationship obsessive compulsive disorder. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 1-14.

Derby, D. Oren, E. Peretz-Bernstien, R. (2019) 'Cognitive Processing Therapy' in Lahav, Y. and Salomon, Z. From reliving to remembering  – Treatments for trauma. Israel, 83-118

Doron, G., Derby, D., & Szepsenwol, O. (2017). “I can’t stop thinking about my child's flaws”: An investigation of parental preoccupation with their children's perceived flaws. Journal of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, 14, 106-111.

Doron, G., & Derby, D. (2017). Assessment ans treatment of relationship – related OCD symptoms (ROCD): a modular approach. Handbook of Obsessive-Compulsive e Disorder across the Lifespan. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Derby, D. S., Peleg-Sagy, T., & Doron, G. (2016). Schema Therapy in Sex Therapy: A Theoretical Conceptualization. Journal of sex & marital therapy, 42(7), 648-658.‏

Doron, G., Derby, Szepsenwol. O., Nahaloni, E., & Moulding, R. (2016). Relationship obsessive compulsive disorder (ROCD): Interference, symptoms and maladaptive beliefs. Frontiers Psychiatry. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2016.00058.

Doron, G., Mizrahi, M., Szepsenwol, O., & Derby, D. (2014). Right or

Flawed: Relationships Obsessions and Sexual Satisfaction. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 11, 2218-2224

Doron, G., Derby, D., & Szepsenwol. O. (2014). Relationship obsessive

compulsive disorder (ROCD): A conceptual framework. Journal of ObsessiveCompulsive and Related Disorders, 3, 169-180

Doron, G., Szepsenwol, O., Derby, D., & Nahaloni, E. (2012). Relationship related obsessive-compulsive phenomena: The case of relationship-centered and partner-focused obsessive compulsive symptoms. Psicoterapia Cognitiva e Comportamentale, 18(3)

Doron, G., Derby, D., Szepsenwol. O., & Talmor. D. (2012). Flaws and All:

Exploring Partner-Focused Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms. Journal of

Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, 1, 234-243.

Doron, G., Talmor, D., Szepsenwol, O., & Derby, S. D. (2012). Relationship centered obsessive compulsive symptoms, Psicoterapia cognitiva e

comportamentale,18, 79-90.

Doron, G., Derby, D., Szepsenwol. O., & Talmor. D. (2012). Tainted Love:

exploring relationship-centered obsessive compulsive symptoms in two nonclinical cohorts. Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders,1, 16-24.

Resick P.A., Derby D. (2012). New Horizons – Cognitive Processing therapy

for PTSD and Related Disorders (extended treatment manual). Galil Press (In Hebrew.)

Derby D. (2011). Sex therapy. In Marom, S., Gilboa-Schechtman, E., Mor N.,Mayers, J., Cognitive behavioral therapy for adults: An integrative approach. Probook, Israel (In Hebrew)

Lewin I., Schlezinger D., Derby D., (1998) The Personality of R’ Nahman of Bratslav: Comparing Dream Content Analysis and Biography. Journal of Psychology and Judaism 22,1, 33-50.