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Building Resilience in Children
Author: Dr. Sara Teichman
2020-08-31 20:04:51

Do you ever worry that your kids have it ‘too good?’ They are carpooled to wherever, have their own rooms [well, maybe with one sib], and their own personal lawyer [you!] to help them deal with any issues at school. They have unlimited credit [your credit cards!] and by virtue of their very birth, are entitled to sleep-away camp and a gap year in Israel. How different this is from our childhood where we walked everywhere, shared a roo …
Can Two Wrongs Make One Right?
Author: Marlene Greenspan
2015-08-26 00:00:00

Two wrongs do not make a right, as the old saying goes – and this usually works quite well when parents encourage their children to get past a fighting mode. But in fact, two negatives do make a positive in the disciplines of math and grammar. So why doesn’t it apply to a person’s consideration of morality? Don’t the two principles seem to contradict each other? Math and grammar are challenging subject skills for many. On …
Can't vs. Won't
Author: Dr. Sara Teichman
2015-05-29 00:00:00

Do you ever wonder about your children: they can’t orthey won’t? Are your children unable, or are they unwilling to meet your expectations? Are they deliberately sabotaging your Shabbos meal, or are they not ready to handle the challenge of a lengthy and structured seudah? The “can’t vs. won’t” conundrum comes up frequently in child rearing. There is a tremendous difference between the child who can’t do …
Caring for an Invisible Illness
Author:
2019-11-30 21:22:23

I once had an ingrown toenail which got removed but kept coming back. So, I went to my foot doctor to treat it. As I was sitting on the reclined chair, he sprayed a saline solution, which numbed my toe and allowed him to work on it without causing me an ounce of pain. He finished his job, but I couldn’t wear my regular shoe, as my toe had swelled from the injection. And so, I was given a boot to wear for two days. I was a bit embarrassed to …
Change Is Essential To Mental Health
Author: Dr. Alan M. Singer
2021-11-28 19:27:49

"Your life does not get better by chance; it gets better by change." (Jim Rohn) I am not trying to be a contrarian, but when I saw that the theme for this Mind-Body-Soul is Staying the Course, I thought to myself that one foundation of our field of mental health is to NOT stay the course. The founder of Emotionally Focused Therapy, Dr. Sue Johnson explains it this way: clients come into our offices with one story, and we help them leave with …
Change: It’s Not About Them
Author:
2018-09-04 10:43:40

By Sara Teichman, Psy.D. Many parents see changing some part of their children’s behavior as a critical goal. They feel that it is their duty to fix their children, to eradicate any negative patterns of behavior. Some try to teach, lecture, give examples, and tell stories all in an effort to get their children to change. However their children already know the rules. They know that they should wait their turn, follow directions, etc. They d …
Changing from Within
Author:
2018-09-04 11:23:43

By: Pamela P. Siller, MD The Beginning As a practicing psychiatrist, I am frequently asked how to engage an unwilling patient in mental health treatment. My response is unvaried, “It is very difficult. The desire to change must come from within.” Although the precipitant to change can take many forms, it usually involves some degree of psychic pain or discomfort, as change is neither easy nor comfortable. The next step involves a will …
Changing the Rules
Author:
2018-02-26 12:33:54

Changing the Rules Dvora Entin, LCSW in collaboration with Zisa Levin, RMSWI Just when you think you finally know the way to talk about sexual abuse prevention, the rules change. Take a look at prevention curriculums, where we teach about "Ok Touch" and "Not OK Touch" and the caveat we put in that "even though you don't like how it feels, it's ok for a doctor to touch your private parts because he or she is there to keep you healthy."  Oh, a …
Chaos and the Dysregulated Individual
Author: Evan Steele, LCSW
2020-12-04 12:23:04

In these troubling times, we hear quite often about how much strain the current environment places on our mental health.  We can see this when we self-introspect, when we observe others, and in the myriad data points in larger society, such as the current demand for mental health services, increase in suicidal episodes, increase in violent crime, and maybe even political intolerance. Still, as mental health providers, we’ve also observ …
Choose a Therapist Wisely
Author:
2017-11-28 12:12:51

By Michael J. Salamon, Ph.D. A recent report from ABC News Australia validates what those of us in the field already know, “Poorly trained relationship counsellors (are) doing more harm than good.” According to the Australian College of Relationship Counsellors, couples experiencing marital difficulties are turning to therapists who are not well prepared but are less expensive. This is due to the fact that, in Australia, less prepared …
Choosing a Better Way to Divorce
Author: Alan Winder, PhD
2017-08-28 15:27:49

Wouldn’t it would be great if divorce didn’t exist, people were always happy in their marriage, and they stayed together for the rest of their lives? There was a time when people tended–for better or worse–to stay married, and divorce was not commonplace. Unfortunately today, as we are all aware, divorce rates have been quite high, and only continue to rise. When a couple separates and/or decides to divorce, there are cert …
Choosing Life
Author:
2015-11-25 00:00:00

They tell me that my grandfather loved life. I never met him – he passed away many years before I was born. But I've always wondered what it's like to love life. If I could just get through life without too much pain, I would be happy. Happy. That might not be the right word. Do I really know what being happy feels like? Satisfied is more like it. My childhood home was not a happy one. Growing up in the shadow of "the War," there was a lot …
Co-Partners in Healing
Author:
2018-05-31 10:10:05

By Marlene Greenspan Healing involves a wide variety of techniques that enable the damaged or injured body to return to its original level of good health and functionality. Traditional medicine includes plants as well as synthetic applications and new technological releases from current research and development. Spiritual healing techniques today include mind and body connections that have been studied scientifically by modern therapists. Many of …
Coming Full Circle
Author: Yehuda Krohn, Psy.D.
2019-08-30 14:44:03

In one of my early graduate classes, our professor posed the following question, “Given that so much of our existence touches on cycles—night and day, the seasons of the year, evaporation and rainfall, to name but a few—is there anything that can be described as linear?” One brave student volunteered the answer that human life is linear: a child is born, they mature, become an adult, begin to age, and then they die. Our pr …
Community Conflict and Resilience
Author: Yehuda Krohn, Psy.D.
2020-08-31 20:58:50

Dear Readers, We are six months into a pandemic that has impacted almost every facet of our lives. Many of us have emerged from the more extreme forms of lockdown and are encountering an outside world that bears, at best, a limited resemblance to the world we once knew. Simchos are being celebrated on a size and scale that seems familiar; yet not all of us can safely attend. Some of us have been able to return to work; others have not. The childr …
Compassion
Author: Rabbi Yehuda Krohn, Psy.D.
2022-11-29 21:34:10

Dear Readers
Welcome to the November edition of Mind Body & Soul, themed “Is there more than one way to heal?” Interestingly, most of the articles submitted focus less on the differences between treatment modalities and more on the common threads of effective, healing treatment. Also, several articles challenge the notion that emotional healing must eradicate any and all vestiges of illness.   In particular, Douglas …
Confidential: Psychotherapy behind the Scenes Gestalt Therapy: Empty Chair Technique
Author: Moshe Norman, LCSW
2021-02-25 17:32:55

Confidential: Psychotherapy behind the Scenes Gestalt Therapy: Empty Chair Technique “I can’t do it anymore.” “Therapy is getting to you, isn’t it?” “No, I’m not talking about therapy.” I raise my eyebrows. “I’m talking about living. Yoel had been the victim of abuse for two and a half years during his elementary school years. His parents struggled with their own marital strife, …
Confidentiality: Not Just for Therapists
Author: Ilana Rosen, LCSW
2016-02-29 00:00:00

 Chana* was clearly shaken when she came into session. After a childhood of abuse and significant trauma, she has been painstakingly working to become the best mother she could be. As a mother of five and approaching middle-age, Chana and I had spent months exploring her hopes and fears of having another baby. In addition to her therapy, Chana sees a chiropractor who gives her “corrections.” Recently her chiropractor, a …
Connecting With Resilience
Author: Menachem Hojda LMSW CCTP
2019-08-29 21:08:38

Eighty years ago, in the summer of 1939, fear and anticipation gripped the world. In London, government officials grappled with the difficult question of how to keep children safe during the expected bombing of London by the Nazis. The plan that was conceived involved loading thousands of children, with notes pinned to their clothing recording their identification and essential information, onto trains which carried them into the British countrys …
Conquering our Fears, Introduction
Author: Yehuda Krohn, Psy.D.
2021-02-25 18:06:55

Dear Readers Welcome to the February edition of Mind Body and Soul, titled “Conquering our Fears”.  Whereas anxiety may be considered a constant companion to only some of us, COVID has brought some degree of fear and uncertainty to virtually all of us. In this vein, I hope you, our readers, experience the following articles, in a soothing, calming manner.  In this edition, Rona Novick walks us through the steps of providing …
Consequences vs. Punishment
Author: Sara Teichman, Psy.D.
2017-08-28 15:44:40

All too many parents struggle with discipline. They will often complain that they have trouble making their rules stick, and busy themselves with searching for the “magic” that will make the process of discipline work. They may search for a list of punishments that they can whip out at a moment’s notice in the hope that that would get the children to listen. Unfortunately, despite ads and claims to the contrary, there is no magi …
Coping Successfully with Stress
Author: Chana Simmonds, MSW, LCSW
2014-11-25 00:00:00

  In the 12th century, the Rambam (Moshe ben Maimon, Maimonides), addressed the interconnection of the mind, body and spirit. He recognized that an ill person's thoughts and beliefs affected both his emotional state and physical experience. He did not believe in amulets, and yet, he wrote in his Laws of the Sabbath that a patient who believed that charms or talisman were healing should be allowed to wear them, even on Shabbat, because it mig …
Coping With Back to School Anxiety
Author: Pamela P. Siller, MD
2017-08-28 15:32:52

We have all experienced trepidation before a life-changing event, or a small anxiety-provoking experience. The feelings of butterflies in your stomach, your heart pounding in your chest, or the need to run to the bathroom several times in an hour, is a familiar sensation to most everybody. Regardless of whether you are worried about an upcoming flight, an important business meeting or a life-altering phone call, the physical sensation is the same …
Couples Counseling in a Pasuk
Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

The Recent daf Yomi, daily Talmud reading, (Yoma 23) discusses the prohibition of revenge and grudge bearing:   ⁦What is revenge and what is bearing a grudge? Revenge is illustrated by the following example: One said to his fellow: “Lend me your sickle”, and he said: “No”. The next day he, the one who had refused to lend the sickle, said to the other person: “Lend me your ax.” If he said to him: “I …
Couples Counseling in a Pasuk
Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R
2021-06-02 11:04:16

The Recent daf Yomi, daily Talmud reading, (Yoma 23) discusses the prohibition of revenge and grudge bearing:   ⁦What is revenge and what is bearing a grudge? Revenge is illustrated by the following example: One said to his fellow: “Lend me your sickle”, and he said: “No”. The next day he, the one who had refused to lend the sickle, said to the other person: “Lend me your ax.” If he said to him: “I …
Curiosity, a Blessing or a Curse
Author:
2017-06-29 13:26:31

By Dr. Sara Teichman Many a mother feels driven to distraction by her young child’s curiosity. Whether her child is into everything, tries to take things apart, or perpetually asks “why” – well, it’s enough to drive a mother crazy. Though there’s no denying that the curious child is a handful, curiosity is a very positive characteristic. In fact, curiosity is critical for our child to learn and grow throug …
Dealing With Anger, The Advanced Course
Author: Chana Mark, LCSW
2022-08-31 17:36:42

Does feeling angry at someone always have to end in angry words, sore feelings and helpless frustration?  Maybe not. In Pirkei Avos 5:11 we learn, “A person who seldom gets angry and is quick to be mollified is a tzaddik.” Tosfos Yom Tov and Rabbeinu Yona both point out that the Mishna is telling us that it is not humanly expectable to never get angry. Rabbeinu Yona notes that there are times when Kavod Shamayim requires it. Anot …
Dealing With This Depressive Dystopia: Ecclesiastes, COVID, and the Paradoxical Commandments
Author: Jefferey Singer, PhD
2020-12-04 12:21:42

Dealing With This Depressive Dystopia: Ecclesiastes, COVID, and the Paradoxical Commandments   By Jefferey Singer   Before you think there is a new diagnosis being hoisted on the public, please rest assured that “depressive dystopia” is my own term for how I view our current collective condition. COVID life has helped create a societal malaise that has pushed our emotional tolerances to a state of constant, uncomfortable su …
Dear Brave One
Author:

Dear Brave One,   Before you come to your first appointment, I think it’s only fair that I share with you how stepping foot into my office could potentially impact you for the rest of your life.  There will be some real consequences to borrowing the name of “client.”  And I know you’re not thinking about that now.  You just want to feel better.  But it’s only right that I be transparent about …
Dear Brave One
Author:

Dear Brave One,   Before you come to your first appointment, I think it’s only fair that I share with you how stepping foot into my office could potentially impact you for the rest of your life.  There will be some real consequences to borrowing the name of “client.”  And I know you’re not thinking about that now.  You just want to feel better.  But it’s only right that I be transparent about …
Dear Brave One
Author: Danielle Dragon, PsyD
2021-06-02 12:33:13

Dear Brave One,   Before you come to your first appointment, I think it’s only fair that I share with you how stepping foot into my office could potentially impact you for the rest of your life.  There will be some real consequences to borrowing the name of “client.”  And I know you’re not thinking about that now.  You just want to feel better.  But it’s only right that I be transparent about …
Debunking the Soul Partner Myth
Author: Alan M. Singer, Ph.D, LMSW
2021-06-03 12:51:53

My interest in this topic dates back to 2001 when the renowned National Marriage Project published its study of 1003 married and single young adults titled, “Who Wants to Marry A Soulmate?” Three findings were enlightening: Ninety-four percent of never-married singles agree that when you marry, you want your spouse to be your soulmate - first and foremost. Secondly, eighty-two percent of young adults agree that it is unwise for a woma …
Debunking the Soul Partner Myth
Author:

My interest in this topic dates back to 2001 when the renowned National Marriage Project published its study of 1003 married and single young adults titled, “Who Wants to Marry A Soulmate?” Three findings were enlightening: Ninety-four percent of never-married singles agree that when you marry, you want your spouse to be your soulmate - first and foremost. Secondly, eighty-two percent of young adults agree that it is unwise for a woma …
Debunking the Soul Partner Myth
Author:
2021-06-02 11:00:10

My interest in this topic dates back to 2001 when the renowned National Marriage Project published its study of 1003 married and single young adults titled, “Who Wants to Marry A Soulmate?” Three findings were enlightening: Ninety-four percent of never-married singles agree that when you marry, you want your spouse to be your soulmate - first and foremost. Secondly, eighty-two percent of young adults agree that it is unwise for a woma …
Decisions from within
Author:
2018-09-04 11:46:26

By: Dr. Michael J. Salamon How do we make decisions? How do we process information and use it to help us determine which decisions are appropriate for us to make? The human brain is an intricate organ. It processes voluminous amounts of information every second and responds instantly to complex data. To operate that way, the brain uses algorithms, allowing us to react rapidly. Evaluating this process is an enlightening study of the brain and how …
Defusing Defensiveness
Author:
2017-11-28 12:12:54

By Sara Teichman, Psy.D. Do you feel like you can’t tell your kids anything? Even something like “remember your lunch money” or “Did you shut the air in your room?” Forget about something that is actually instructive – mind you, not critical. So, does a reminder that there is a family Bar Mitzvah the night before finals or a suggestion to take winter clothes to the school Shabbaton elicit a barrage of eye rolli …
Depression in Our Community
Author: Michael J. Salamon, Ph.D.
2015-11-25 00:00:00

In the United States, roughly 12 million women suffer some form of depression. Symptoms of depression include changes in mood, sleep patterns and eating habits, along with decreased pleasure in many activities, fatigue, agitation, feeling worthless, helpless and alone, and difficulty concentrating. Although not everyone suffers from all these symptoms, women who have some of the symptoms should get proper care. Unfortunately, only about half of w …
Depression or Ordinary Sadness?
Author:
2015-03-01 00:00:00

Pamela P. Siller, MD   All of us know what sadness feels like. Some may feel disappointment with a less-than-perfect grade in school. Others get upset after an argument with a spouse. Many of us have cried after a loss, whether a death, argument, or even a geographic relocation. Sadness is expressed differently by each of us, as we are individuals. Yelling, crying, and irritability are the most common reactions to loss or unhappiness, but so …
Disclosure, How and When?
Author:
2018-02-26 12:34:23

Disclosure, How and When? By: Pamela P. Siller, MD “Hello doctor, this is Mrs. Goldman. I just wanted to let you know that Shmuel Rosen, his mother, or the Shadchen will be calling about Rivky. Such a wonderful boy, truly Bashert, but he has some questions for you. Just let them know my Rivky is fine, and all should be good, Kol Tuv”. Voicemails such as these, or any variations thereof, may instill fear, or at the very least, some de …
Dispelling the myths of aging and emotional wellbeing
Author: Douglas Balin, LMSW, MPA
2021-02-25 17:55:52

There are so many myths about aging that have become stereotypes, to the point that even older adults have come to believe they are true. Well, our mission is to debunk those myths and give you the truths about what happens as we all, G-d willing, become older.  It is important, as these stereotypes frame prejudice against older adults. It will often result in ageism, which is discrimination against the older population.  Much worse, ma …
Do I Apologize to My Child?
Author:
2019-06-03 10:01:08

By: Sara Teichman This question was a no-brainer to our grandparents and perhaps our parents as well. Parents were thought to be always in the right. The very idea of them apologizing was considered ludicrous, to say the least. Yet, the ability to apologize is critical in all human relationships. Let’s face it: in close relationships there are inevitably little breaches and breaks. However, by apologizing we mend the tears and strengthen th …
Do You Need a Marriage Therapist?
Author: Ovadia Trepp, MSW, LCSW
2014-11-25 00:00:00

For the purpose of this article, we will be discussing two distinct types of problems that impact marriages, namely, couple problems and individual problems. We will also be talking about two types (or modalities) of therapy: marital and individual. Like the handyman who needs to know the details of a job before choosing the appropriate set of tools, it is helpful to identify the type of issue you are experiencing before choosing one type of ther …
Does 90-10 Sound Balanced to You? Male Resistance in Couple’s Therapy
Author: By Dr. Alan M. Singer
2022-06-02 17:33:36

Ninety percent of the therapists in the United States are women. The reason men shy away from becoming therapists is not the central issue of this essay. The dearth of male therapists however, plays a significant role in male resistance to couples therapy, and that is the topic of this essay.   Traditional couple’s therapy is biased towards women, as they tend to be the caretakers of relationships. Conversation, thoughts, feelings, and …
Does Alan Turing have Asperger’s Syndrome?
Author: Sarah Kahan, LCSW
2015-05-31 00:00:00

The recent release of the movie “The Imitation Game” is about the life of Alan Turing, who lived from 1912-1954. He was a British computer scientist, mathematician, logician, cryptanalyst, philosopher, mathematical biologist, and marathon and ultra distance runner. He was highly influential in the development of computer science, providing a formalization of the concepts of "algorithm" and "computation" with the Turing machine, which …
Embracing Mental Illness
Author:
2017-06-29 13:26:14

By Chaya Blumenberg, LMSW To truly understand the impact of living with a mental illness, you either have to know someone who is diagnosed, have a diagnosis yourself, or have witnessed firsthand how mental illness can impact individuals and families. Take the journey of Racheli, for example, who has been diagnosed with “unspecified mood disorder.” Hers can be defined, not as a journey of burden and hardship, but as one of immense triu …
Emotional Well Being for Older Adults
Author: Douglas Balin, LMSW, MPA
2021-09-01 20:49:54

The Covid 19 pandemic has placed a spotlight on a long-neglected issue; the emotional health of older adults in America. Older adults have become a significant part of our society. Each day, 10,000 individuals celebrate their 65th birthday in the United States, and there are more than 40 million people over the age of 65, according to the Census Bureau. Peluso, Watts and Parsons, in their book, Changing Aging, Changing Family Therapy, predict tha …
Emotions Of Loss
Author:
2017-11-28 12:12:27

By Dvora Entin, LCSW Let’s share a cup of tea: the emotional experience of grieving a pregnancy loss   Bereavement doesn't really come with an instruction manual.  Mourning does. As Torah guided people, we get the directions about burial, shiva, tearing clothes, where to sit, and what to cover, but the experience of what comes next is a bit absent for the grieving. Especially for those that have a less defined, focused period for …
Empowering Ourselves
Author: Yehuda Krohn, Psy.D.
2019-11-30 22:56:54

Dear Readers: Welcome to the newest edition of Mind Body & Soul. Its theme is. Power is an evocative term, an emotion-laden concept. Allow me to illustrate: Have you ever been in the presence of a powerful person? How did you come to know that they were powerful? Did you feel as though their power was supporting you, that some of their power might even be flowing through you, making you stronger? Alternatively, were you painfully aware of hav …
Empowerment
Author: Pamela Siller, MD
2019-11-30 22:20:02

“To be empowered you have to know what you want for your life and why. Without some degree of personal empowerment, your life will live you. Nothing changes unless you change it. No matter what you’re seeking it can only happen if you do something about it” (The Startup) Some children are lucky enough to grow up with parents who are nurturing and supportive. They teach their children from a young age that they can accomplish the …
Empty Nest
Author:
2019-02-26 12:15:14

By Dvorah Levy, LCSW I had been lamenting to friends about my empty nest until over the summer, two birds, weeks apart, found their way into my home. I then stopped complaining.   “The bus is coming in ten minutes.” “What time will you be home for dinner? Is there anything in particular you want me to make?” “Do you have money for your trip?” “Ice cream again before dinner?!” “It’s …
Facilitating Acceptance
Author: Kalman Canant, LCSW, CSAT-c
2015-08-26 00:00:00

Life seldom gives us exactly what we want or  the way we want it. Disappointment can be difficult for us in many ways, causing a lot of disturbance. The way we expected reality to turn out just doesn’t match the way that it does turn out, and this incongruity produces much suffering. Expectations are like entry ramps into our journey through the spiral of non-acceptance. We experience at least two stages on this journey, and enter into …
Facilitating Acceptance, Part II
Author: Kalman Canant, LCSW, CSAT-c
2015-11-25 00:00:00

The Serenity Prayer The serenity prayer is central to various 12-step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous and the other “anonymous” groups. Outside the context of the 12-steps as well, the prayer helps many people to handle daily life issues. With the prayer’s concepts, one learns to “live life on life’s terms” and cope with reality. Instead of using a substance, a process, or a relationship for instant grat …
Facing Our Fears
Author: Shimmy Feintuch, LMSW
2014-11-25 00:00:00

What is fear? Is it a monster under your bed, or in the closet? Is it wide eyes, thumping heart, panicked breathing? Is it dangling off a cliff by your fingertips? Fear is all those things, and more. Fear, at its essence, is actually a good thing. Our bodies let us know when we are in a dangerous situation, so we can act accordingly. Do you have an aversion to standing near the subway platform edge? Do you tend to walk faster through a rough neig …
Family Caregiving, Conflict or Harmony
Author: Douglas Balin, LMSW, MPA
2022-03-08 15:42:59

When we hear the phrase crisis in relationships, the first thing that comes to mind is marital strife and problems between parents and teen-aged children.  There is, however, another crisis that is facing numerous families; when an older adult parent is experiencing a health or mental health situation that requires family caregiving.  One person usually becomes the caregiver. The ensuing crisis can literally tear a family apart! The Fam …
FEAR: Controlling the Wide Spectrum of Moods and Feelings
Author: Marlene Greenspan, MA, LPC
2014-11-25 00:00:00

From anxiety to trauma, fear is a feeling of many colors. Colors and musical notes have a certain resonance or intensity that may vary with the emotion the artist wants to evoke. Feelings are emotions and also have stronger or weaker intensities, depending on the way a person is expressing those feelings inwardly or outwardly. Fear may begin with a mild feeling of worry or concern about someone or something that can escalate to the vibrancy of pa …
Finding Humor in Everyday Situations
Author: Joel Verstaendig, PhD
2014-11-25 00:00:00

  "A merry heart is a good medicine and a broken spirit dries the bones.” (Proverbs: Chapter 17, Verse 22) The health benefits of humor and a good laugh have long been hypothesized, and recent research has substantiated these assumptions. Norman Cousins, who researched the biochemistry of emotions, was diagnosed with a debilitating and painful illness late in life. In his best-selling book, Anatomy of an Illness, he related how ten min …
Finding the Balance
Author: Rabbi Yehuda Krohn, Psy.D.,
2022-06-02 19:51:28

Dear Readers   Welcome to the May edition of Mind Body & Soul, themed “Finding the Balance”.  For some of us, balance is as easy as riding a bike; for others, balance can be elusive. This is particularly the case for those of us whose lives encompass extremes. We may be up, we may be down. We may love some politicians and commentators; we may hate others.   Some of us might even experience our religious lives in ext …
Finding the Teachable Moment
Author: Sara Teichman, Psy.D.
2015-08-26 00:00:00

Many a parent believes in the power of constant discipline, providing further proof that “when you’re a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” However, in my mind, strong discipline is overkill – and subject to the law of diminishing returns. In other words, when it comes to discipline, more is less. Like any system, overuse may breed ineffectiveness and even resentment. And the last thing a parent wants to do is compromis …
Finding the Balance
Author:
2022-06-02 17:50:11

Dear Readers   Welcome to the May edition of Mind Body & Soul, themed “Finding the Balance”.  For some of us, balance is as easy as riding a bike; for others, balance can be elusive. This is particularly the case for those of us whose lives encompass extremes. We may be up, we may be down. We may love some politicians and commentators; we may hate others.   Some of us might even experience our religious lives in ext …
First and Most Important: The Foundation Stone of Marriage
Author: Dr. Alan Singer
2021-09-01 20:52:02

The foundation stone of a building, also known as the cornerstone or setting stone, is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation. All other stones will be set in reference to this stone, and will thus determine the position of the entire structure. This metaphor can be used in searching for the foundation stone of marriage.   In my professional opinion, the foundation stone of marriage is TRUST. …
Forgetting Father’s Day: Perinatal Mood Disorders in Men
Author: Dvora Entin, LCSW
2015-11-25 00:00:00

As the field of maternal mental health is growing and expanding, we are becoming more alert to the shifting family dynamics as parents and extended loved ones welcome new members of the tribe. After the initial celebrations of the shalom zachor, bris or kiddush have passed and shortly after the first car ride home in the cute new outfit selected for just this event, parents are introduced to a completely new reality. Even as couples welcome baby …
Forgiving Hashem
Author: Yehuda Krohn, Psy.D.
2019-08-30 14:15:58

The month of Elul is almost upon us. From the end of Elul through Yom Kippur, while many Jews recite, in an undertone, the formal script with which they seek forgiveness, some might simultaneously be conducting an even quieter, conversation with themselves. The personal conversation takes on a different tone and tenor than the forgiveness formula: I’ve been reciting the litany of my sins for weeks on end. It’s starting to grate on my …
Fostering Positive Behaviors
Author: By Mendi Baron, LCSW
2018-09-04 12:07:23

So many young people come through the doors of treatment struggling with a variety of behavioral and addiction issues. Oftentimes they are accompanied by their parents, who tend to feel pain, frustration, and, most commonly, guilt for their child’s struggle. What did we do? What could we have done? How did it come to this? There is no easy answer. It is difficult, maybe even impossible, to find one specific cause or lapse of judgment within …
Four Ways Psychotherapy Can Change Your Life
Author: Liz Wallenstein, LMHC
2016-02-29 00:00:00

Psychotherapy is built on the premise that if you are struggling with something, feel stuck, or are having strong feelings or reactions to something, it’s because there’s more going on in your life than you realize. According to psychotherapy, the problem you are dealing with is, in actuality, only a symptom of a bigger conflict going on inside you. Through expert-guided conversation, therapists help clients gain the awareness they ne …
Getting the Help You Need: Who Can Provide Treatment?
Author:
2015-03-01 00:00:00

Hindie M. Klein, PsyD   Beginning psychotherapy can be very liberating. It is often the first step in a therapeutic process that hopefully ends with a decrease in disturbing symptoms, improved relationships and a restored sense of well-being. Getting to that first step takes strength and courage. It requires recognition that there are vulnerabilities, problems, and challenges. It requires a true desire for change. A frequent question may ari …
Healing Early Wounds through Psychotherapy
Author: Chaya Rubin, Ph.D
2016-08-24 09:56:21

Our very first relationships are the ones that we form with our caretakers, most typically, our mother and/or father. It is these early bonds that serve as a template for all our other relationships to come. As a baby, and then as child, we learn exactly what is at stake in our closest relationships. These primary alliances are instructive in representing what we can expect from others throughout our life, as well as what we are required to provi …
Healing from Sexual Abuse: The Relevance of Religion
Author:
2018-05-31 10:26:51

By David H. Rosmarin & Talia Kaplan “Let bygones be bygones” is a fairly common phrase amongst adults. Indeed, it’s a sign of maturity to deal with the stresses of daily life without becoming overly limited or restricted by our past. In many instances, this is a useful approach for example, when arguing with a spouse it is typically helpful to only focus on the issue at hand instead of rehashing old arguments and missteps. S …
Health and Healing
Author:
2018-05-31 10:31:54

 By Pamela Siller MD What is healing? The healing process is individual and varies from person to person. A young child anxiously awaits a Band-Aid for a boo-boo, which magically cures all ails. A school-age child impatiently waits for an invitation to join the “in-crowd,” which is thought to banish loneliness. A physically ill woman hopes for a clear CT scan and a clean bill of health.  In healthcare, we speak of response, …
HEARING VOICES GROUP A RECOVERY ORIENTED APPROACH TO PSYCHOSIS
Author:
2018-05-31 10:11:47

By Leah Rokeach LCSW "You are no good. You are a failure. You won't achieve anything good in your life. You might as well be dead." These are the voices that Jay, who is 38 years old, has been hearing since he was 22 years old. Jay lives at home with his single mom. He started to hear voices after he was let go from his job as a messenger   When he started to hear voices, he became very frightened and did not tell anyone. He isolated himself …
Helping Children Cope with Terrorism
Author: Dr. Sarah Lewis-Levy
2015-11-25 00:00:00

As a neuropsychologist who recently moved to Israel, I have been inundated with questions from parents about how to deal with their young children’s questions and fears stemming from the recent slew of terror attacks. Tthe truth is that my response to terrorism in Israel is different from my response to terrorism in the United States. When I worked as the director of guidance at a school in America, I recommended that, for 9/11 memorials, t …
Her Silent Struggle
Author: Chaya Kohn, LMHC
2018-12-04 11:56:46

By Chaya Kohn, LMHC Text and Image published in collaboration with the Jewish Press It happened again. Of course it did. Why would she expect anything different when it happens every day? She comes home tired from the day, emotionally and physically drained. The day always plays out the same, starting with the mornings. Bracha wakes up to the sound of her alarm blaring. She leans over to turn it off and in that brief second, all the hurtful thoug …
Here is What Didn’t Calm the Divorce Storm
Author: Dr. Alan Singer
2020-12-04 12:32:38

No-Fault divorce was supposed to calm the storm of marital dissolution; well, it didn't. States that adopted no-fault divorce experienced a decrease of eight to sixteen percent of wives' suicide rates and a thirty percent decline in domestic violence. That is encouraging data. The Two Types of Marriages that End Some statistics are welcome news, but the “thirty three percent and sixty six percent” are not good news. Of …
How and why community safety matters
Author:

Dear Readers   Welcome to the August edition of Mind Body & Soul, themed Safe families; safe communities. In this issue we consider the various opportunities that present themselves, to create safety within ourselves, our families and our communities.     In particular, Menachem Hojda advises the larger community how to aim for security, especially when some of its members are at risk. Chana Mark guides individuals toward …
How and why community safety matters
Author: Rabbi Yehuda Krohn, Psy.D.
2022-08-31 17:41:53

Dear Readers   Welcome to the August edition of Mind Body & Soul, themed Safe families; safe communities. In this issue we consider the various opportunities that present themselves, to create safety within ourselves, our families and our communities.     In particular, Menachem Hojda advises the larger community how to aim for security, especially when some of its members are at risk. Chana Mark guides individuals toward …
How and why community safety matters
Author:
2022-08-31 15:52:54

Dear Readers
Welcome to the August edition of Mind Body & Soul, themed Safe families;
safe communities. In this issue we consider the various opportunities that
present themselves, to create safety within ourselves, our families and our
communities.
In particular, Menachem Hojda advises the larger community how to aim
for security, especially when some of its members are at risk. Chana Mark
guides indivi …
How Sowing in Tears Reaps in Joy
Author: Rabbi Joshua Marder, MA, LMFT
2019-08-30 14:26:16

Relationship Insight: I told my wife I was going to bed early last Tuesday night. I was wrong. At 10:30 pm, my anticipated bedtime, I found myself in the car taking one of my kids to the ER. It was a beautiful and extremely unpleasant experience. No one enjoys seeing their loved one in pain, and no parent—especially me—enjoys missing their bedtime, but those painful moments are often precious moments. Furtherm …
How to be Part of the Solution
Author: Dr. Yaakov Siegel
2016-05-25 00:00:00

Lately, behavioral addiction has been in the forefront of the psychology world, and with good reason. Behavioral addiction covers a wide range of behaviors that can be devastating to marriages and to other relationships. When this occurs, otherwise functional people find themselves repeatedly engaging in unsafe behaviors to their own detriment. Oftentimes, they seem to be fully aware of the consequences, yet continue to return to the same old beh …
How to Choose a Career that is Best for You
Author: Tzvi Pirutinsky, Ph.D.
2014-11-25 00:00:00

How to Choose a Career that is Best for You By Tzvi Pirutinsky, Ph.D. Choosing the right career can be a difficult and anxiety-provoking process. Will I enjoy it? Will I be good at it? Will it provide an adequate livelihood? Will my family support this choice? On the other hand, it is also an opportunity to actively explore and discover more about yourself and the world, so picking the right career can be exciting, informative, and even fun.
How to Find Your Horizon of Healthy Thinking: A Powerful Three-Step Therapy Technique for Addressing Negativity Based on a New Book
Author: Elisheva Liss, LMFT
2018-12-04 12:17:02

Text and Image published in collaboration with the Jewish Press Moods, to some extent, are just part of being human. With the holiday season behind us and the chilly weather blowing in, many of us find ourselves feeling down more than we’d like. Almost everyone feels like this sometimes- I know I do. When we wake up “on the wrong side of the bed” or encounter frustrations, we may feel that we are being ambushed by inevitable neg …
I love my child. I can't stand my child! Healing Your Relationship with Your Child
Author:
2018-05-31 10:23:20

By Rachel Rosenholtz, LCSW-R There are a lot of parenting books out there. You would think that any parenting issue could be solved by simply following the well charted path as laid out by the professionals in the field. You will have a great relationship with your kid. Homework? Piece of cake. Bedtime? What could be more fun?               Yet, the reality is that raising children is an …
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