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About

Who I am, what I do, and why I do it

Once you see, you can't unsee

If you have recognized the workings of belief-based systems: how they weaponize humans' emotional needs to recruit followers and engineer their minds, you've acquired immunity to the illusion.

It would be dishonest to say that navigating reality without magical thinking is easy. In fact, you might find that those who rely on supernatural explanations and authoritarian blueprints may have it easier. They follow a pre-written script; you are stranded in an open, unvarnished reality. Whether you are actively untangling yourself from a belief-based system, carrying the heavy load of loved ones trapped inside one, or simply creating a meaningful secular life from scratch, the weight of facing reality on its own terms can be a lot.
Fortunately, you do not have to chart this territory alone. There are others, not in the same boat, but in the same storm. Moreover, some of us have made it our life's mission to support you.

Hi, I’m Malka; I’m pleased to meet you

I work at the intersection of science and subjective meaning. I am a certified (neuro)psychoanalyst with a PhD in evolutionary anthropology and an MSc in psychotherapy science. I rely on the biological realities of the human mind and use evidence-based frameworks to help you navigate the complexities of human existence.

What brought you here?

You may be a grounded freethinker who refuses to settle for a functional baseline and is continuously striving to become a better version of yourself. You may be navigating the disorienting exhaustion of leaving faith and healing from spiritual abuse. Or you may be carrying the emotional load of maintaining a relationship with a loved one trapped in an irrational belief system. 

How we can work together

In my practice, we use evolutionary and existential frameworks to outsmart your inherited defaults and gradually improve your everyday reality. For those leaving dogmatic environments, we work through the cognitive and emotional trauma, gradually loosen conditioned patterns, and develop your ture self. For those with entangled loved ones, we build the emotional containment and strategic communication skills necessary to sustain connection without compromising your own sanity. With seasoned atheists, we explore the endless possibilities for growth as autonomous, intelligent human beings. 

My practice is an inclusive space

I am an LGBTQ+ allying, kink-aware, sex-positive, childfree-affirming, weight-inclusive, and neurodivergent-informed psychoanalyst. Whoever you are, and however you navigate the world, you are warmly welcome.
Malka Ceh, PhD
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You like to read the fine print?

I appreciate that. Here’s the story behind how I got here. My background, my training, and the experiences that have shaped my approach.

My academic and clinical training

My preoccupation with the human mind first emerged while I was studying language and literature. In my undergraduate thesis, I explored conceptual metaphors of emotion in everyday language, and in my postgraduate thesis in marketing, I examined how human emotions influence purchase decisions. By then, I found myself increasingly curious, which led me to pivot toward psychological disciplines. I pursued another BSc and an MSc in psychotherapy science and entered psychoanalytical training. As my understanding of the biological foundations of the mental world expanded, I augmented my background with a PhD in evolutionary anthropology, later leading to a postdoc in human ethology. I am currently advancing my clinical training through the International Neuropsychoanalysis Society's program.

What my background means for our work

Rooted in a psychoanalytic orientation, I am trained in depth approaches that integrate unconscious processes, developmental dynamics, and relational theories. I don’t believe in shortcuts or instant solutions, and instead swear by the patient, deliberate work of structural change. My grounding in biology reassures me that nothing organic transforms overnight; shaping new mental patterns takes time, care, and repetition. Practicing in different therapeutic frameworks, especially psychoanalysis and existential inquiry, has provided me with a diverse set of tools for this mission. They allow me to tailor my approach to your uniqueness, always anchored in evidence-based practice.

Because knowledge alone is not enough

Of course, theoretical knowledge alone does not cultivate skill; experience does. Over the years, I honed mine through diverse clinical and research adventures, collaborating on national and international projects on mental health and well-being. In my private practice, I have had the privilege of sharing my time with a colorful spectrum of minds, from high-performing professionals to individuals seeking to rebuild their lives after profound challenges.

Why I chose to focus on ex-believer mental health

My professional trajectory was given its defining direction after a personal experience brought me into close contact with the dogmatic worldview of religion for the first time. Witnessing how thoroughly a belief-based system could distort reasoning, generate fear, suppress autonomy, and fracture human connection led me to study the psychology of faith and the realities of religious deconstruction. What began as an effort to understand one person eventually redirected my work toward supporting those harmed by dogmatic systems and those trying to build a life outside of them.

How understanding human nature matters

My approach remains deeply rooted in evolutionary theory and affective science. Drawing from evolutionary anthropology, evolutionary psychiatry, and cognitive neuroscience, I use these disciplines to build a clear, biological map of why we behave, believe, and bond the way we do. Whether we are healing after adverse experience in a dogmatic context, outsmarting inherited defaults to become a better version of yourself, or strategizing to maintain kinship across an ideological divide, this scientific foundation ensures our work is anchored in reality rather than comforting illusions.

Where are you on your secular journey?

I'm looking forward to learning more about how I can support you.


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