Medicine and research
MD, PhD
Medical studies at Hadassah, Jerusalem, and a doctorate in experimental medicine.
Fosense CenterChildren · Adolescents · Parents
Dr. Olga Kovalchuk
Child and adolescent psychiatrist, founder and director
See the child. Understand the whole picture.
Psychiatric assessment, treatment, and follow-up for children and adolescents, with attention to the child, their parents, and everyday life.
Consultations in Hebrew, English, and Russian
The person behind the care
A personal understanding. A considered clinical approach.
Dr. Olga Kovalchuk is a specialist in child and adolescent psychiatry with a medical degree and a doctorate in experimental medicine. She is the founder and director of Fosense Center in Haifa.
Alongside medicine and research, her background includes psychotherapy training and work with families, schools, and therapeutic settings. Assessment begins with getting to know the child and their environment: development, relationships, strengths, and difficulties.
Full training and professional experienceWhat has a place in the conversation
- The story you bring
- Parents’ concerns and questions, what you have already tried, and what you hope to understand.
- Meeting your child
- An individual meeting adapted to their age and needs, as part of the clinical assessment.
- Life beyond the consulting room
- Information from home and school, to understand functioning across different settings.
Values that guide her work
- Professionalism
- Thoroughness
- Dedication
- Empathy
- A nonjudgmental approach
Medicine · Research · Psychotherapy
The professional foundation behind the conversation.
Medical and research training, specialization in child and adolescent psychiatry, and training in psychotherapy.
Clinical specialization
Child and adolescent psychiatry
Residency at the Maale HaCarmel Mental Health Center.
Therapeutic training
Psychotherapy
Three-year training in psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy and training in integrative cognitive behavioral therapy.
Full training and professional experience
- Medical school
- Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem
- Degrees
- Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy
- Specialization
- Specialization in child and adolescent psychiatry
- Licensure
- Medical license number 89224; specialist number 34-35875
- Experience
- 20 years as a physician, including 13 years as a psychiatrist
- Languages
- Hebrew, English, and Russian
- Clinical focus
- Mood and anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, behavioral disorders, ADHD, and ASD
- Professional membership
- Member of the Israeli Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Psychotherapy training
- Three-year training in psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy, and training in integrative cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
- Research
- A doctorate in experimental medicine and publications in international scientific journals.
- Clinical specialization
- Child and adolescent psychiatry residency completed at the Maale HaCarmel Mental Health Center.
- Educational and therapeutic settings
- Experience with the Ministry of Education, educational and therapeutic residential settings, post-hospital care, at-risk youth, and autistic children and young adults with disabilities. Her experience includes Nirim, Afik, Hod, Kivunim, and Renanim.
- Professional appointment
- Appointed as an examining physician on behalf of the District Psychiatrist.
Areas of care
Assessment and treatment
Assessment begins with the questions that matter to you. Dr. Kovalchuk’s work includes the assessment, treatment, and follow-up of emotional, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental difficulties.
Clinical areas include ADHD and autism spectrum conditions, mood and anxiety disorders, behavioral difficulties, OCD, tics, and Tourette syndrome.
Psychiatric assessmentUnderstanding emotions, development, and behavior
A comprehensive view of emotions, behavior, functioning, development, and environment. Recommendations may include psychological treatment, adjustments, guidance, or medication, depending on the findings.
Autism spectrum assessmentLooking at communication, development, and functioning
Clinical assessment of communication, development, and functioning, alongside consideration of other emotional and neurodevelopmental difficulties.
Attention and ADHDConsidering attention within the wider clinical picture
Exploration of attention and organization within the wider clinical picture, using questionnaires, home and school information, and further assessment where needed.
Treatment and psychiatric follow-upReviewing the care plan and next steps
Follow-up of emotional wellbeing, functioning, and the care plan, including medication when appropriate.
Psychiatric reportsBringing together clinical information for relevant bodies
Reports based on previous records and a current assessment, for bodies such as National Insurance, military services, or educational eligibility committees.
Knowing what to expect
Three meetings. Space to understand.
An initial assessment for children and adolescents usually takes place over three meetings. It considers development, life at home and school, strengths and difficulties, and what has already been tried.
Preparing for your appointmentA meeting with parents
Time to describe your concerns, share the developmental history, and bring previous information and reports.
Meeting your child
An individual meeting for clinical assessment, adapted to their age and needs.
A summary and recommendations
A discussion of the findings, what they mean, and options for treatment, support, or further assessment.
Before your visit
Before your first appointment.
Gather the records and information you already have. When arranging your appointment, the center’s team can explain which questionnaires and documents you will need.
- Medical records and previous assessment reports
- Treatment summaries and information from school
- A current medication list, if relevant
Arrange an appointment with Dr. Kovalchuk
Start by getting to know each other.
When you are concerned about your child, the next step may not feel clear. Contact the center’s team to arrange an appointment with Dr. Kovalchuk and learn about the assessment process and how to prepare.
04-6661311Sun–Thu9:00–16:00
appointments@fosense.clinicDirections to the center
134 Hanassi Blvd, Building B, Merkaz HaCarmel, Haifa
Safety information
Emergency and emotional support
Fosense Center is not an emergency service. In immediate danger, call Magen David Adom on 101. Emotional support is also available through the helplines below.