Psychotherapy • Professional Training • Consultation

Leah Soumerai, LICSW

Leah Soumerai, LICSW, brings over 10 years of experience at Cambridge Health Alliance, where she has serves as a clinician, clinical manager, and Harvard teaching associate. Her expertise encompasses a variety of clinical presentations, including acute and complex traumatic stress, anxiety, and mood disorders.

For six years, Leah provided individual and group therapy at the Victims of Violence Program. As a teaching associate at Harvard Medical School, she trains and consults on Trauma-Informed Care for students, primary care providers, clinics, and extended team members at CHA, as well as organizations globally. Additionally, she co-directs a trauma conference for Harvard Medical School and Cambridge Health Alliance.

My Services

Professional Training

I have offered customized training programs for healthcare organizations, medical schools, and clinics worldwide. My workshops combine evidence-based practices with interactive learning and real-world application. Participants learn concrete skills while building confidence through practice.

Training topics include:

  • Trauma-informed care

  • Trauma-focused care for mental health providers

  • Secondary trauma

  • Joy in work

  • Gender Affirming Care Readiness Evaluations

Psychotherapy

My clinical practice integrates various therapeutic modalities, including Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, Trauma-Focused psychotherapy, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

I developed my expertise in Trauma-Focused Psychotherapy while working at the Victims of Violence Program at Cambridge Health Alliance, a program created by Dr. Judith Herman.

I am a certified IFS therapist. I have received extensive training in Internal Family Systems therapy from its founder, Dr. Richard Schwartz, and from Dr. Martha Sweezy.

Consultation

I have consulted to individuals in a variety of settings, including NGOs, hospitals, healthcare clinics, work-force development programs, athletic gyms and schools, on how to make their organizations trauma-informed. This has included consulting on program design, policies, training and curriculum materials, and culture.

What training participants are saying

“Leah is an amazing presenter and teacher!  I found this very helpful and relatable to everyday practice. Honestly, I could use MANY MANY more of these workshops.”

— Primary Care Physician

“Expert facilitation by Leah. I appreciated the opportunities to share with and learn from my colleagues. From reviewing the basic definitions of empathy, trauma, PTSD, etc. to learning techniques to provide Trauma Informed Care, this workshop has been immensely helpful. It will help me provide better patient care.”

— Hospitalist

“I have more of a sense of ease at work just with acknowledging the trauma that we all face as providers on a day to day basis. I think I used to feel embarrassed, anxious, or like I was weak and wasn’t handling the job well, but I saw that everyone experiences these interactions and feelings while at work.”

— Hospitalist

Sample trainings

  • "Trauma Informed Care"
    Two-part training given to hospitalist Physician Assistants at Mass General Brigham, 2024, 2025

  • "Trauma Informed Care in times of crisis"
    Training given alongside Dr. Sadie Elisseou to health officials, medical students and medical providers from hospitals impacted by war in Ethiopia, 2022

  • "Trauma exposure in primary care: How does listening to trauma affect your own trauma?"
    Webinar for the Center for Primary Care at Harvard Medical School, given alongside Dr. Sadie Elliseou, 2020

  • “Joy in Work”

    Psychiatry Grand Rounds at Cambridge Health Alliance , 2020

  • "Trauma in primary care: Background, assessment and interventions"
    Training given to psychiatry residents at Cambridge Health Alliance alongside Dr. Kate Zona, 2020

  • "Team-based collaborative approach to the management of posttraumatic stress in primary care"
    Psychiatry Grand Rounds at Cambridge Health Alliance with Dr. Kate Zona, 2019

Contact Me

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