Jewish Therapist
In Los Angeles
With Ali Behar, LCSW
I’m a Jewish therapist who has worked with the community throughout my career. I understand the culture, the humor, the expectations, and the nuances that shape daily life.
Are you carrying pressure from family or community?
Feeling pulled between tradition and independence?
Navigating questions around identity, relationships, or major life decisions?
For many of my clients, the stress isn’t just personal. It can also be generational, cultural, and layered with history and responsibility. And in moments when the world feels especially heavy, a therapist who understands creates a deeper sense of safety.
You don’t have to start therapy by explaining those things. We can start deeper.
Clients Come To Me When They Feel:
Family expectations or pressure
Anxiety about identity or belonging
Stress related to current events
Interfaith relationship dynamics
Burnout, overwork, and perfectionism
Self-doubt or uncertainty about life direction
Intergenerational patterns or trauma
There’s relief in working with a therapist who already has the context: family dynamics, cultural references, traditions, and the complicated ways identity can show up in everyday life.
Being Jewish can be a source of pride, meaning, and community. It can also come with responsibility, guilt, or fear. Both can exist at the same time.
How Therapy With Me Works
Therapy with me is warm, collaborative, and grounded in both cultural understanding and clinical depth. We explore your internal world while also addressing real-life pressures. I’m not a silent therapist; I offer direct feedback, thoughtful questions, and clear perspective when it can help move the work forward.
You won’t be handed religious advice or told what you should believe. Judaism may not come up directly at all. What I bring is cultural fluency and knowing how religion, family, and community shape identity. The foundation is let’s focus on your growth.
Many of my clients are insightful and capable people who are used to handling things on their own. Therapy becomes the place where they can finally slow down, gain perspective, and think more clearly about what comes next.
Modalities I Use
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Explores how family history, attachment, and generational patterns influence your anxiety, relationships, and sense of self.
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Identifies and shifts negative thought patterns, especially self-criticism and catastrophic thinking.
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Builds emotion regulation and boundary-setting skills when family dynamics feel overwhelming.
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Helps soften internalized guilt and harsh self-judgment.
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Identifies core strengths so you can build a life that feels aligned with your values, not just expectations.
“Together, we clarify what feels authentic to you and build the confidence to live it.”
Feel Grounded In Who You Are
“the best time to start therapy is as soon as you’re thinking about it”
After Therapy, My Clients Report:
Less anxiety
Stronger boundaries
Clearer decision making
More energy
Less guilt
Better relationships
Greater self trust
Renewed joy
About Ali Behar, LCSW
Clients often tell me, “you just get it.”
My therapy is designed for people who want depth, clarity, and real change. I combine cultural understanding with strong clinical training so you feel both seen and challenged in the right ways.
I earned my bachelor’s degree at the University of Pennsylvania and my Master’s in Social Work from New York University’s Silver School of Social Work. I have over a decade of experience in private practice and clinical roles at UCLA Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital.
Originally from Miami, I have lived in Los Angeles since 2014. I am a mom of two young kids and have a German Shepherd Husky mix named Moondog. I spend much of my free time outdoors with my family, often hiking around Los Angeles.
Availability: I work with clients in person in Los Angeles, and via Telehealth across California.
Education, Credentials, & Trainings
Licensed Clinical Social Worker LCSW
Master’s in Social Work, New York University Silver School of Social Work
Bachelor’s Degree, University of Pennsylvania
Clinical Experience, UCLA Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital
Over a decade in private practice and clinical settings
3 Steps To Get Started
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Fill out the contact form. I will personally respond and answer your initial questions.
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We will have a short call to see if it feels like a good fit and schedule your first session.
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We will clarify what is weighing on you and begin building a plan that supports both your identity and your well-being.