BIOGRAPHY
Transforming Trauma Treatment Through Integration
Dr. Rivka A. Edery, Psy.D., M.S.W., L.C.S.W., is a Doctor of Psychology, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and award-winning educator who has spent over 16 years working at the intersection of complex trauma, military psychology, and attachment theory. She is best known as the creator of The U-Model™, a proprietary clinical framework that seamlessly integrates the depth of Internal Family Systems (IFS) with the action-oriented processes of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Dr. Edery began her career noticing a critical gap in the field: therapists were often forced to choose between deep processing models and behavioral change models, leading to "patchwork" therapy. To close this gap, she developed The U-Model™ - a single, visual roadmap that guides clinicians from protective shutdown to psychological flexibility. This curriculum is built on a meta-review of over 54,000 outcome studies and has already been adopted by numerous clinicians across 3 countries.
Her contributions to the field were recognized globally in 2025 with two major honors: the Recognition of Excellence in Social Work from the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS) for her advancement of ACT, and the Outstanding Service Award from A Home Within for her dedication to training volunteer clinicians serving foster youth.
Beyond her curriculum design, Dr. Edery is a dedicated mentor. She serves as a Program Assistant for the IFS Institute, mentoring clinicians through Level 1 training, and is a Florida-approved Qualified LCSW Supervisor. Her scholarship includes the book Trauma and Transformation: A 12 Step Guide, over 10 peer-reviewed articles, and regular presentations for organizations like the NASW and the NATO/SHAPE Clinic Command.
Dr. Edery holds a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from California Southern University and an M.S.W. from Fordham University. When she isn’t training the next generation of trauma therapists, she serves as an Abstract Reviewer for the NASW National Conference, helping to shape the future of the profession.
