Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dr. Etel Leit. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Dr. Etel, thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

I was born in Jerusalem. Yep, holy ground. That makes me a holy chick—my words, not scripture. I grew up in a semi-conservative, semi-open household, which basically means my childhood was one long oxymoron. This was also my first deep-dive into the world of relationships: contradiction, complexity, and unconditional Friday night dinners.

I’m the first of six kids, which meant I was born a leader, a built-in babysitter, and an emotional air traffic controller. My parents didn’t raise me to tiptoe—they raised me to dare. To speak up. To dream big. To reach for the sky even if I had no idea how I’d land.

They taught me courage, resilience, and how to move through the world with purpose—even when it’s messy. And yes, I saw their mistakes too. I took notes. I learned. And I chose to fight for a better world anyway, despite every challenge.

Today, I’ve written four books in English (my second language!), and I use every page, every word, to help others find love, clarity, and connection—starting with themselves.

And for all of it? Gratitude. Always.

Dr. Etel, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Dr. Etel Leit, a love and communication expert with a PhD in Psychology, a few master’s degrees sprinkled in, and a fierce passion for helping people stop repeating the same painful patterns in relationships. I work with singles who are ready to manifest healthy love, couples who want to reconnect (without throwing plates), and teens who are just trying to figure it all out before the drama becomes trauma.

How did I get into this? Life. Heartbreak. Curiosity. And a relentless need to understand what makes connection so beautiful—and sometimes so hard. My journey started as a linguist in Israeli intelligence, decoding language, tone, and meaning under pressure. That fascination with human interaction turned into a lifelong mission: helping people truly get each other—and themselves.

I don’t believe in cookie-cutter advice. I create courses, write books, speak on stages, and work with clients to help them decode their emotional patterns, rewrite their love narratives, and communicate with more clarity, courage, and care.

So far, I’ve written four books (yes, in English, my second language!)—including the bestseller UnAddicted to You, which dives into the kind of love that doesn’t feel like love at all. My latest, The Emotional Code, helps people identify the emotional “software” running their relationships—and gently update it.

What sets me apart? I don’t just hand you tools—I teach you how to understand the wiring. My work is a mix of psychology, spirituality, communication science, and a bit of playful soul-searching. I use humor, truth, and resilience to help people reconnect with their power and remember: love is not a reward, it’s a birthright.

Most of all, I want people to know that healing doesn’t have to be heavy. You can grow, laugh, cry, and manifest the relationship you truly deserve—all in the same session.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Resilience? I wrote my PhD application next to my mom’s hospital bed.

I had sworn I wouldn’t go back home for a long time. Too much baggage. Too many layers of history, heartbreak, and unfinished business. But then I got the call—my mom had cancer. And when life throws that kind of curveball, you don’t negotiate. You pack your bags.

It was mid-pandemic. Twenty-three people on the flight. Everyone was masked, quiet, and tense. But I wasn’t afraid of the virus—I was afraid of going back to a place that held every version of me I thought I had outgrown.

Once there, the chaos hit fast. Family dynamics. Medical appointments. Sleepless nights. I was in a time warp—physically in Israel, emotionally all over the map. But here’s the twist: something woke up in me. That buried desire to pursue my PhD suddenly felt urgent, raw, alive.

So I did what I do best: I got to work.
In between chemo sessions and emotional landmines, I drafted my personal statement. I edited chapters while sitting in cold hospital corridors. I interviewed with admissions from a tiny Airbnb where the lights flickered and the Wi-Fi barely worked.

And somehow—maybe through sheer stubbornness, maybe divine timing—I got accepted.
My first day of class was on Zoom, surrounded by strangers with messy backdrops and big hearts. And as I listened, I realized: I wasn’t just in school. I was coming back to myself.

That’s resilience. Not the “look how strong I am” version, but the quiet decision to build something meaningful while everything around you feels like it’s falling apart.

I didn’t just survive that season. I created something from it. And that will always be one of my proudest moves.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

What helped me build my reputation? Simple: I say what people are afraid to admit—and I say it with love.

I don’t sugarcoat. I don’t hide behind clinical jargon. I talk about love addiction, emotional chaos, heartbreak spirals, and the weird ways we self-sabotage—because I’ve lived it, studied it, and helped people through it.

People trust me because I don’t pretend to have it all together. I just show up real. That’s the brand. That’s the work.

I’ve written four books in my second language. I’ve spoken on big stages, appeared on major networks, and worked with people from all walks of life. But what actually built my reputation? The DMs from strangers who say, “Your post felt like you were inside my head.” The clients who say, “No one’s ever said it to me like that before.”

My work isn’t about being impressive. It’s about being useful. I give people language for the things they feel but can’t quite explain. And when someone finally feels seen and understood? That’s everything.

In a world full of surface advice, I go deep—and people feel it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dretelleit.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dretelleit/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EtelLeit
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/etel-leit/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrEtelLeit
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/signshine-beverly-hills-6
• Soundcloud: https://open.spotify.com/search/etel%20leit
• Other: Books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B013KUC9S2

Image Credits

@DrEtelLeit