Hi, I'm Yaëlle
I work with individuals and couples, in person in Barcelona and online. Most of my work lives around emotions, relationships and trauma, and the quiet patterns that shape how we live day to day. However you arrive, and whatever you are carrying, my hope is that you leave feeling a little more at home within your own self.
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How do I work?
I'm a therapist in Barcelona specializing in trauma therapy, offering sessions tailored to your unique needs. I studied and certified in Sexology, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Wingwave (EMDR), Internal Family Systems level 1 (IFS), Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (more info here), Animal-Assisted Therapy and Emotional Kinesiology. I offer individual and couples therapy.
My expertise lies in supporting adults who have experienced childhood abuse and trauma (like wars, neglect, violence etc.). I also work with expats and the LGBTQI+ community, and I care deeply about creating a space where people feel genuinely safe and understood. Working across different cultures and religions, and unpacking the stigma that often surrounds mental health, is part of what I find most meaningful in this work.
Having lived, studied and worked in many countries has been one of my hardest yet most profound experiences. That journey through different cultural and religious landscapes gave me a unique perspective on navigating and resolving conflict, which I combine with my professional training for a compassionate, practical approach.
My approach focuses on identifying and understanding your patterns and traumas, exploring how they were formed, and addressing their impact on your present life.
One important thing to know: I see therapy as a collaborative process where you are actively engaged. My role is to give you tools and guidance, the work and growth come from your own efforts. I aim to empower you to manage difficulties and grow, supporting you on the journey toward your goals.
Meet Koane
Let me introduce you to Koane. She'll be in almost every session if you come to my office in Barcelona, we might even do some specific exercises with her, though she'll most likely greet you with a toy and then sleep through the rest of the session. If you're afraid of dogs, just let me know and we'll figure out together whether working in this setting feels right for you.
My studies and training
Originally from France, I earned a double Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Business from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, focusing on neuropsychology and biopsychology. Early on I had the chance to work with Holocaust survivors, an experience that exposed me to deep trauma and PTSD, and to volunteer with people living with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
I then pursued a Master's in Psychology at Université Laval in Canada, where I began a Doctorate in Research and Clinical Psychology; my research explored callous-unemotional traits in children and their relation to rejection and victimization at school. After a year, I left Canada to create the MISTAG project and moved to Barcelona, where I completed three Master's degrees, Clinical Psychology, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Sexology & Couples Therapy, at ISEP. I later became a certified WingWave coach, certified in Emotional Kinesiology, and trained in Family Constellations.
Because I'm passionate about everything related to trauma, I kept training. Since 2024 I am officially IFS-informed, and in 2025 I certified with IPI in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy, coaching for the preparation and integration of therapeutic psychedelic journeys.
This diverse educational and professional path deepened my understanding of how cultural differences and stigma shape therapy. I've had the privilege of meeting and working with people from all over the world, it keeps me aware of my own biases and always eager to learn more about each person's experience of life's challenges.
Today I work with clients globally, continually striving to understand both their personal experiences and the cultural context of their diagnoses. This holistic approach lets me offer the most adaptive, effective support possible for each person.
Break mental illness stigma
“We need to change the way we see mental illness, and anyone experiencing it. Only then can we change the way therapy is seen and done.”Yaëlle Halberstam
With MISTAG, I had a dream: to travel and interview people from all over the world to share their experience with mental illness. I did it, and I still hope to do so much more. I invite you to dive in and discover some amazing human beings.
Some have recovered, some have not, but all are committed to breaking the silence and stigma around mental illness. Our interviews show that it can affect anyone, regardless of nationality, religion, skin colour, gender or socioeconomic status.
I believe breaking the stigma means reaching both those who are familiar with living through mental illness and those who are not.
Each person interviewed brings a unique message and experience, often in their own language (all interviews are subtitled in English). The questions go beyond the illness itself, into who they are and what they love, because too often, conversations about mental health overlook the whole person.
The name MISTAG reflects this mission: derived from "stigma," it points to how a diagnosis can leave us labelled, "mistagged", while overlooking the beautiful complexity of each individual.