A licensed clinical psychologist from the Ministry of Public Health in Lebanon, a member of The Lebanese Order of Psychologists (LOPSY), a psychotherapist, and a sworn psychology expert at the Lebanese courts, Dr. Lea Sawaya Wassaf follows the cognitive behavioral approach.

She holds a PhD in clinical psychology with high distinction from the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK). Dr. Lea also acquired a university degree in Cognitive and Behavioral Approaches of Mental Disorders from the Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University Beirut, Lebanon. An equally significant aspect of Dr. Lea’s education is her extensive training on numerous subjects: cognitive behavioral therapy for the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), clinical training for couples therapy, and relaxation techniques. Always adding to her knowledge, Dr. Lea has served more then 500 hours of clinical training in adult psychopathology, therapy, and assessment at the Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross, Lebanon.

Due to her qualifications, she got accepted as a trainee at one of the best psychiatric hospitals in Paris: Sainte Anne, in which she received thorough training in medico-psychological consultations in two units: Eating Disorders unit and the Addiction and Substance Abuse unit. In Sainte Anne Psychiatric Hospital, Dr. Lea participated in multidisciplinary team meetings and psychiatric interviews. Moreover, she engaged in therapeutic activities such as relaxation and group therapy. This training experience has led her to become qualified in psychopathology and clinical psychology. Other than working at her private clinic, many drug rehabilitations, and prevention centers in Lebanon, Dr. Lea has been a committed volunteer at various NGOs. Along with many other tasks, her focal work was assessing the mental health of children, adolescents, drug addicts, and others. Not only does she evaluate cases, she also follows up on patients and works in collaboration with the patients’ families for better outcomes. Likewise, Dr. Lea was a volunteer at I.D.R.A.A.C (Saint George Hospital) Beirut, Lebanon where she had received training in research. She is a member of the Lebanese Psychological Association (LPA), the Lebanese Association for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy (ALTCC).

Dr. Lea has also participated in international conferences such as “Regards Croisés” in Paris. She has discussed part of her thesis research at The Lebanese Association for the Advancement of Science (LAAS) conference in collaboration with the National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS), Lebanon and has won a medal for the best oral communication. Dr. Lea’s continuous research and career growth are a proof of her commitment to the field of clinical psychology. She never ceases to gain or share her knowledge which is shown by her diverse TV appearances, and her participation in conferences held by local universities and organizations since 2007. In 2016, Dr. Lea became a sworn psychology expert at the Lebanese courts, though few psychologists are given this title in Lebanon due to their important role in the final judgment in courts.

On a broader scale, Dr. Lea often travels to be part of constructive conferences and training workshops.