Dr. Dana Shai

Dana Shai, Ph.D., Associate Professor, a psychologist, Head of the Relational Lab, and faculty member at the Academic College Tel-Aviv — Yaffo. Dr. Shai studies the early relational matrix, with particular focus on parents’ verbal and embodied mentalizing and how these predict children’s developmental trajectory. In addition to her work on PEM, Dr. Shai’s research explores early interpersonal development, parenting, the transition to parenthood, co-parental relationships, and the social and emotional development of young children within the family context. Guided by a commitment to translational research, her empirical studies have shaped the development of teaching, training, and intervention programs aimed at supporting families and enhancing relational wellbeing.