Psychotherapy And The Ultra Orthodox Community

Ultra-orthodox Jews in Jerusalem are isolated from the secular community that surrounds them not only physically but by their dress, behaviors, and beliefs. Their relationship with secular society is characterized by social, religious, and political tensions. The differences between the ultra-orthodox and secular often pose special difficulties for psychiatrists who attempt to deal with their needs. In this book, two Western-trained psychiatrists discuss their mental health work with this community over the past two decades. With humor and affection they elaborate on some of the factors that make it difficult to treat or even to diagnose the ultra-orthodox, present fascinating case studies, and relate their observations of this religious community to the management of mental health services for other fundamentalist, anti-secular groups.

This book contains a potpourri of articles written by haredi and religious mental health practitioners who were employed in a haredi sponsored mental health clinic that treated religious patients. The book is divided into two parts, part one addresses mental health issues and part two applies those issues in treatment cases. In part one, I found the article by a haredi psychoanalyst who described in an open and forthcoming manner the internal conflicts she faced in treating patients from the haredi community fascinating. Other interesting topics discussed in this section include rabbinic attitudes towards psychological treatment, clergy-clinician cooperation in treatment, and responsa by prominent haredi and orthodox rabbis to halachic questions raised by therapists in the treatment process. In the second part, highly creative and successful treatment interventions are described. I believe that mental health professionals, religious and secular, can gain practical insights and ideas for treatment from this book, particularly when working with a haredi and religious population. (Lynn Rothstein, Psy. D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist in the USA and licensed Rehabilitation Psychologist in Israel. Psychologist at the Young Women's Breast Cancer Clinic-Tel Hashomer Hospital, Ramat Gan and at Linda Joy Pollin Cardiovascular WellnessCenter for Women-Hadassah Hospital, Jerusalem. Neuropsychologist-conducts neuropsychological and psycho-didactic evaluations, Efrat) --- I was glad to see that an English version of the previously published Hebrew book, "Psychological Treatment and the Haredi Community: Issues and Case Studies," is available for the English speaking public. I believe that mental health practitioners, rabbis and those interested in the interface between psychotherapy and Judaism will enjoy and benefit from this interesting and informative book. (Rabbi Naphtali Bar-Ilan, Community rabbi, Rehovot, Israel. Authored "Be Sanctified with Charity"; "Government and State in Israel According to the Torah," and numerous articles on psychotherapy and Jewish law.) --- Seymour Hoffman, Ph. D. is Supervising psychologist at the "Chiba" Community Health Clinic, Ma'ayenei Hayeshua Medical Center. Authored "Mental Health, Psychotherapy and Judaism," "Thinking out of the Box" Unconventional Psychotherapy and edited "Reader for Orthodox Jewish Psychotherapists: Issues, Case Studies and Contemporary Responsa" and "Rabbis and Psychologists: Partners or Adversaries." --- Hannah Bar-Joseph, Ph. D. is Head of psychological services, Ma'ayenei Hayeshua Medical Center, Bene Brak Israel. Previously was chief psychologist at the Rehovot Community Mental Health Clinic. Taught at Bar-Ilan University and the Religious Teachers' College of Jewish Studies, Moreshet Yaakov. Specializes in youth suicide prevention (therapy, lecturer, researcher)."

Strean shows clearly how religion serves unconscious, neurotic, and defensive functions as well as adaptive purposes. Written in a personal, self-reflective style, Dr. Strean's case study material illustrates beautifully the relevance and application of psychoanalytic concepts to understanding the life and struggles of the Orthodox Jewish patient. These theoretical and technical constructs include transference and countertransference, the relationship between overt behaviors and their genetic antecedents, and the effects of interpretation on facilitating childhood reconstructions. Dr.

"The articles in this slim volume deal with the interface of psychotherapy and Judaism and encourages collaboration between mental health practitioners and rabbis. The articles contribute to a deeper understanding of a variety of halachic questions involved in mental health issues and the practice of psychotherapy and in defining the specific roles and functions of rabbis and psychotherapists in helping people with emotional and psychological problems. Mental health practitioners, rabbis and religious and secular readers will find the book an interesting and worthwhile read.

This book contains a selection of interesting and informative articles authored by orthodox rabbis and psychotherapists that are highly relevant and pertinent to religious psychotherapists, veterans and novices alike. The highly significant topics and issues discussed include the relationship between clergy and clinician, special considerations in treating the haredi patient, attitude towards and treatment of homosexuals, and responsa by prominent contemporary rabbis regarding the issue of halachic constraints and treatment options, among others. The latter contains anecdotal examples of conflicts and dilemmas that religious therapists encountered in their work that were presented by the editor to various rabbis for their halachic (religious law) rulings. Among the questions raised are: Is the therapist obligated to rebuke a patient when the latter is transgressing serious religious commandments?; Is the therapist permitted to encourage a patient to express his negative feelings towards his/her parents?; Can a therapist continue doing marital therapy after learning that the husband is a Cohen and his wife is a divorcee?; Is cross-gender therapy permissible?, amongst others. --- Religious therapists, rabbis and laymen will find the book stimulating, informative and a worth-while read.

This volume contains articles by a prominent rabbi and veteran mental health professionals who have been involved in working with and counseling people from the ultra-orthodox and religious communities for many years. The topics discussed include the different, and at times, opposing views and attitudes that rabbis and mental health practitioners hold regarding their roles in catering to the needs of the people who seek their help. Also discussed are halakhic (Jewish law) issues and controversies that arise in the practice of psychotherapy between therapists and rabbis and between rabbis themselves. Anecdotal examples are also brought describing the psychological wisdom and sophistication of rabbis and their productive and effective contribution and involvement with psychotherapists in psychological treatment. Rabbis and mental health professionals, religious and secular, as well as lay people interested in the interface of Judaism and mental health/psychotherapy, will find the book informative, enlightening and a worthwhile read.

This book presents case studies of the unconventional psychological treatment of orthodox and ultra-orthodox patients by psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric social workers and rabbis. Presenting problems treated include social phobia, obsessive-compulsive, conduct disorder, homosexuality, and severe depression, amongst others. The appendix contains three articles that deal with very sensitive and controversial issues that are highly relevant to the religious mental health practitioner - counseling homosexuals, attitudes of haredi rabbis toward psychological treatment, and cross-gender psychotherapy. The editors are hopeful that this volume will pave the way for haredi rabbis, seminary heads and arbiters to greater appreciation of the value and benefits of psychological treatment for people suffering from emotional, psychological and behavioral difficulties and disturbances. * * * Seymour Hoffman, Ph. D., is a senior clinical psychologist who worked in a variety of mental health facilities in the United States and Israel for over half a century and has published papers and books on psychotherapy in Hebrew and English. He presently works as a supervising psychologist in a mental health clinic in Bnei Brak, Israel. --- Benni Feldman, Ph.D., is a supervisor in clinical and medical psychology and in family psychotherapy and is certified in hypnosis. He is the director of the psychological services at Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot, Israel, and teaches family therapy and medical psychotherapy in the M. A. curriculum at Tel-Aviv-Yaffo Academic College. He lectures on Jewish psychology at the Hebrew University, Social Work Graduate Program, and at Beit Morasha College, and also serves as chairperson of the professional committee for medical psychology.

This volume explores methods for studying child maltreatment in the context of neighborhoods and communities, given their importance in the lives of families. It discusses the ways in which neighborhoods have changed over time and how this that has impacted parenting in the modern context. It also highlights the ways in which policies have contributed to persistent poverty and inequality, which indirectly impacts child maltreatment. An important focus of this volume is to examine the multitude of ways in which the neighborhood context affects families, including structural factors like poverty, segregation, residential instability, and process factors like social cohesion. The volume takes a critical look at the ways in which culture and context affect maltreatment through a community-based approach, and uses this approach to understand child maltreatment in rural areas. The editors and contributors explore innovative prevention approaches and reflect on the future of this field in terms of what remains unknown, how the information should be used to guide policy in the future, and how practitioners can best support parents while being mindful of the importance of context. Addressing an important topic, this volume is of relevance and interest to a wide readership of scholars and students in the social and behavioral sciences, as well as to practitioners and policy makers working with neighborhoods and communities.