Judith Lebiger-Vogel

Prof. Dr. Judith Lebiger-Vogel is Professor of Clinical Developmental Psychology at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, Department 4: Social Work & Health. A licensed psychoanalyst (DPV, IPA) and psychological psychotherapist, she has directed several large-scale prevention and integration projects at the Sigmund-Freud-Institut and teaches in the Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Psychosocial Counselling & Law programmes.

Education and professional milestones

• 1997–2004: Psychology studies, Frankfurt am Main (Dipl.-Psych. 2004)
• 2007–2010: Doctoral scholarship, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung; PhD (Dr. phil.) 2010, University of Kassel, Faculty of Educational Science & Human Sciences
• 2020: Approbation as Psychological Psychotherapist (Psychoanalysis & Depth-Psychology-Based Psychotherapy)
• 2021–present: Independent psychotherapy practice in Frankfurt

Research foci

Her work integrates psychoanalytic theory with empirical prevention science. Central themes include:

• Early childhood parent–child interaction and attachment
• Migration-related trauma and transgenerational transmission
• Early prevention programmes for toddlers with immigrant background (FIRST STEPS)
• Emotional availability and identity development
• Psychotherapy training choices among German students

Scholarly output and impact

Across more than 50 peer-reviewed publications since 2006, her research demonstrates a strong trajectory from foundational studies on psychotherapy training via large-scale RCTs on early prevention to recent applied clinical reflections on refugee families. The work bridges developmental psychology, psychoanalysis, and migration studies, with an increasing focus on culturally sensitive community interventions.

Honours and service

• 2010: Dissertation Award, Foundation of the German Psychoanalytic Association (DPV)
• Editorial Board: Frontiers in Psychology – Section Psychoanalysis and Neuropsychoanalysis (until 2019)
• Reviewer: Psychotherapeut, International Journal of Nursing Studies
• Professional memberships: DPV, FPI, DGPs, Hessen Chamber of Psychological Psychotherapists

Research leadership and grants

• 2020–present: Principal Investigator, BAPAS — Attachment-trauma in adoptive and foster children (Pilot, funded by IDeA Centre)
• 2010–2020: Scientific Project Lead, FIRST STEPS integration project for toddlers with immigrant background (with IDeA Centre & Sigmund-Freud-Institut)
• 2008–2009: Co-author, Federal Ministry of Health research report on psychotherapy training
• 2004–2010: Project Coordination, DPPT study on psychoanalytic training uptake

Laboratory & team affiliations

She maintains an active affiliation with the Sigmund-Freud-Institut, Frankfurt, where she collaborates in the cross-regional research group on psychosocial late effects of the Shoah and leads prevention projects embedded in the IDeA-Zentrum framework. Her university office is located in Building 2, Room 415a, Frankfurt UAS.