Leslie Shasha: A Scientific Vocation for Psychotherapy in Intercultural Relationships
Leslie Shasha, a clinical psychologist with a private practice in New York and over eighteen years of professional experience, exemplifies a deep vocation for understanding and intervening in human relational dynamics. Her work focuses on couples therapy and the complex nuances of intercultural relationships, applying empirically-based methodologies such as Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), rooted in Attachment Theory. She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Derner Institute at Adelphi University and a B.A. from Wesleyan University, having begun her academic journey at Colegio Tarbut in Buenos Aires. Her professional perspective integrates her bicultural Argentine-American background and is enriched by the influence of theorists like Sue Johnson and Salvador Minuchin, as well as supervision from leading experts such as Esther Perel.
Core Commitment: Evidence-Based Couples Therapy
Leslie Shasha’s nearly exclusive dedication to couples therapy forms the core of her professional identity. This focus, as she has noted, emerged from witnessing the profound transformative potential inherent in this therapeutic format when couples actively engage in the process. Her primary methodological tool is Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), a model co-developed by Sue Johnson with strong empirical validation. Grounded in the principles of Attachment Theory, EFT works with emotional responses and interactional patterns to restructure emotional bonds. As an advanced EFT therapist, she uses this model to address attachment needs and foster more secure bonds, considering relational communication and the therapeutic alliance as critical components. Her interactional approach emphasizes identifying and transforming relational patterns and maladaptive negative cycles.
Delving into Complexity: Studying Intercultural and Systemic Dynamics
An area of particular interest and specialization for Leslie Shasha is multicultural relationships. Her dual citizenship (Argentina–United States) and personal experience as an immigrant provide her with a unique lens to understand acculturation processes and their impact on couples and family dynamics—an aspect she regards as central to her practice. This understanding is complemented by a systemic perspective on human functioning, shaped by her training at New York’s Ackerman Institute for the Family (focused on systemic and relational approaches) and the influence of Salvador Minuchin and Structural Family Therapy concepts (further developed through study at the Minuchin Center for the Family), which analyze family organization in relation to well-being and trauma. Her previous experience leading parenting groups also contributes to her expertise in this area.
The Ongoing Pursuit of Clinical Excellence and Rigor
Leslie Shasha’s commitment to professional excellence is reflected in her ongoing engagement with clinical supervision. Regular consultations with internationally renowned specialists such as Esther Perel—an authority on contemporary couple dynamics—and Zoia Fraser, a leading expert in advanced EFT supervision, are essential for analyzing complex cases and staying current with scientific and clinical developments in psychotherapy. Her clinical style, as she describes it, is based on flexibility, active listening, and individualized application of theory, designing intervention plans collaboratively with her clients. Complementary training in Gestalt Therapy further expands her therapeutic toolkit.
A Broader Vocation: Community Contributions and Foundational Training
Leslie Shasha’s dedication also extends to community work through her involvement with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Jed Foundation. Her focus lies in family bonds within trauma contexts, suicide prevention, and stigma reduction. She supports educational seminars and maintains ties with the academic world, promoting integration between research and clinical practice. Her professional background includes work with Columbia University’s Head Start program. She currently practices in Brooklyn Heights, New York, and also offers remote sessions.
This solid career trajectory is grounded in her academic training. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Adelphi University’s Derner Institute—recognized for its clinical rigor and psychodynamic orientation—and her B.A. in Psychology from Wesleyan University, a prestigious liberal arts college. Her early education was completed at Colegio Tarbut in Olivos, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Through both clinical practice and community engagement, Leslie Shasha applies her expertise and dedication to fostering transformative processes and emotional well-being in human relationships.