Author: Rabbi Yitzchak Shmuel Ackerman, LMHC

October 20th, 2013

I have waited some time to tell this story.  You may recognize yourself but I didn’t want to risk anyone else realizing who you are if they saw this happen.  I don’t know you, I’ve never met you, but I saw and heard you right in front of me at the cashier in a non-Jewish supermarket. You were having your items checked out by the cashier. You had a child in a stroller, and a little boy, I’m guessing around 4 or 5 years old, s …
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Author: Rabbi Yitzchak Shmuel Ackerman, LMHC

October 10th, 2013

Ain simcha k’hataras hasafaikos. There is no joy like the untying of doubts.
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Author: Rabbi Yitzchak Shmuel Ackerman, LMHC

October 10th, 2013

I’m Rabbi Yitzchak Shmuel Ackerman, 2nd Lieutenant, United States Army Reserve, retired.
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Author: Rabbi Yitzchak Shmuel Ackerman, LMHC

September 12th, 2013

Don’t say thank you unless you mean it.
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Author: Rabbi Yitzchak Shmuel Ackerman, LMHC

September 4th, 2013

Revenge is such an ugly word. How could it be that David haMelech, in his last words of instruction to his son and successor Shlomo haMelech, commands him to take revenge? (Melachim I, 2:3-6) The gemara (Kiddushin 32a) says that a father and a teacher are allowed to forego their honor but a king is not. Why does this difference apply only for a king? The Malbim explains that David haMelech, in sentence 3, exhorted his son to follow the laws of the Torah. But in
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Author: Simcha Feuerman, LCSW-R

August 30th, 2013

Improving your marriage relationship is a lifelong journey. Someone who believes that a good healthy marriage does not take constant dedication and work is at best settling for mediocrity, and at worst heading for disaster. In this article, we will discuss the 10 biggest relationship mistakes that people make. These are ideas that come from research and studies about how to maintain successful marriages and our own twenty years of experience as therapists. Mistake #1: Keeping Score And Bearing A Grudge.
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Author: Rabbi Yitzchak Shmuel Ackerman, LMHC

August 30th, 2013

In September of 1971, the shul I grew up in welcomed a new Rav. It was to be the first of Rabbi Irving Rosner’s, A”H, many wonderful years with Congregation Sons of Israel, Yonkers. The day I met Rabbi Rosner, he taught me something I think about every year at this time. I’ve taught some version of this idea many times, in many ways, and it’s time to acknowledge him as the source of the core concept. I’ve come to better understand what he meant, now that the alternative has been identified.
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Author: Martin E. Friedlander, Esq.

August 28th, 2013

Children who were raised by religious families in religious environments are subjected to a degree of psychological torment when confronted by unknown environments due to one parent’s decision to longer live a religiously observant lifestyle.
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Author: Sarah Levy, Ph.D.

August 28th, 2013

Have you ever wondered why your daughter, who looks beautiful to you, complains of being “fat” or “ugly”?
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Author: Sarah Kahan, LMSW

August 28th, 2013

In my work with grief counseling, I observed that some people have difficulty getting in touch with painful emotions, so they either avoid facing their feelings or pretend they don’t exist.
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Author: Michael J. Salamon, Ph.D.

August 28th, 2013

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a very real and frightening malady that can last decades with symptoms that include flashbacks, sleep disturbances, difficulty trusting relationships, depression, and anxiety.
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Author: Mind Body and Soul

August 28th, 2013

Domestic violence is a psychological game, one where the abuser has everybody fooled.
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Author: Dov Wilkes, LCSW

August 28th, 2013

While the havdalah candle is still being dipped into the wine and has yet to burn out, several family members start to scramble in various directions.
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Author: www.ezermizion.org

August 28th, 2013

“Hello, Ezer Mizion calling…” When a call comes in from Ezer Mizion, it means something serious. My knees buckled. My blood ran cold.
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Author: Hindie M. Klein, PsyD

August 28th, 2013

Here’s a brief self-diagnostic quiz: • Do you buy things you want, whether or not you can afford them at the moment? • Do you buy things to cheer yourself up or to reward yourself? • If you have to say no to yourself, or put off buying something you really want, do you feel intensely deprived, angry or upset?
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Author: Rabbi Sheea Langsam, LMHC, LPC

August 28th, 2013

In this article, I will be talking about fostering a healthy and positive parent-teen relationship, which along with its many other benefits, can often serve as a preventive measure for at-risk behavior.
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Author: Shuli Sandler, Psy.D.

August 28th, 2013

This article will attempt to give insight into why children play and what function it serves, both in general and in therapeutic settings.
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Author: Sarah Kahan, LMSW

August 28th, 2013

Tensions often emerge within families once children enter the adolescent stage of development, and the process of building a good relationship with your teenager can be a very challenging experience.
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Author: Jaime DelGrosso, LCSW

August 28th, 2013

Mental illness is, unfortunately, a widespread problem throughout our nation. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 1 out of every 17 people suffers from a seriously debilitating mental illness.
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Author: Rabbi Yitzchak Shmuel Ackerman, LMHC

August 24th, 2013

Sometimes, people look at the same thing and have dramatically different reactions. The example that comes to mind is a mother and a child walking into a store and seeing a sign that says, “Back to School Sale.” The mother has a faint smile and a look of relief, but the child is frowning. If you’re standing close enough to them, you might hear the mother softly say, “finally.” And you might hear the child whisper, “already?” It’s easy to understand why parents look forward to the beginning of the school year. You send your child to school to learn and to spend time with friends. You hope your child will grow intellectually and socially so that school is a stimulating and satisfying place to look forward to.
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Author: Rochel

August 17th, 2013

I look down at myself
  Discouraged, disappointed feeling hopeless Overwhelmed with guiltiness Stressed at my situation   This food addiction is hurting me bad.  Ten years I have battled Twelve step programs, meetings , sponsors Weighing, measuring, phone calls   I do well with the structure No flour. No sugar. Relapse when emotions surface Start day one, again    Tired, dejected, stuck I have put energy, time …
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Author: Ari Margolis , MMHC LPC

July 23rd, 2013

Unlike emotions such as fear, embarrassment, sadness, or pressure, which are reactions to outside stimuli, anger is an emotion we experience as a reaction to other emotions. Primary emotions, such as the ones mentioned above, can be quite uncomfortable. Feelings of vulnerability, loss of control or respect, and sadness are ones that people generally try to shy away from.
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Author: Rabbi Yitzchak Shmuel Ackerman, LMHC

July 10th, 2013

Tell me about your children. What are they like? The only answer to that question that I would consider truly accurate is: They’re younger than me. Any further response that describes “your children” is going to be general and imprecise. I like parents to be particular. We tend to look for ways to include a bunch of thoughts and ideas at one time, to generalize. I don’t think that’s a uniquely American trait, but a visitor to our shores noticed it here back in 1835. He wrote: Men of democratic centuries like general ideas
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Author: Rabbi Yitzchak Shmuel Ackerman, LMHC

July 3rd, 2013

Many years ago I was asked to give a presentation that would address concerns about bedtime for children. I wasn’t sure what title to give this presentation. I thought perhaps, “Helping Your Child Prepare for Bed,” or “Making Bedtime Easier for Your Children and for You.” The menahales who had requested this presentation said that those titles were nice but didn’t really capture the mentality of the parents she thought would most benefit from my lecture. I asked her what she meant by “the mentality of the parents” and she said
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Author: Dr Batya L. Ludman

June 29th, 2013

Choosing a therapist can be a very difficult and scary task. At a time when perhaps you are not feeling at your best, you are suddenly forced to choose from too many names, too many choices and still not know which kind of professional might even be the right choice for you. At various times in your life, you may need help dealing with problems that seem beyond your control. This can all feel quite overwhelming. For some, when you are honest with yourself, you acknowledge that you may not have been feeling well for days – or even weeks. Your symptoms are vague and it is really more that you have not been sleeping well, and you feel anxious, alone and down. The kids, your partner and even your reflection in the mirror at times, seem to bother you and you find yourself short-tempered
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Author: Rabbi Yitzchak Shmuel Ackerman, LMHC

June 22nd, 2013

I’m going to ask you a question. Don’t think about it, just say the very first thing that comes into your mind. “Who is the most important person in your life?” Next, imagine that this “most important person” is telling you something or asking you something, or just enjoying spending some time with you.
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Author: Rabbi Yitzchak Shmuel Ackerman, LMHC

June 13th, 2013

A Jewish-American humorist once said that the reason that grandparents and grandchildren get along so well is that they share a common enemy. He was referring to the parents.
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Author: Aviva Lauren Rizel, MA, LMFT

June 10th, 2013

A guy and a girl go on a date. They have a nice time and are attracted to each other. They go on another date. This time they are a little smilier, and a bit more at ease with each other. So, they go on a few more dates. Before you know it, these two individuals are pretty single minded. When she is in class, she sees her date’s face instead of her professor’s. While he is standing on the train doing his best not to tip over, he hears her giggling at his jokes. They are officially Smitten.
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Author: Liz Wallenstein, LMHC

June 10th, 2013

Can you imagine a person suffering from severe, debilitating, life-altering pain being cured without surgery, medication, physical therapy, or medical procedures? Well thousands of people suffering from chronic illnesses including back pain, migraine headache, colitis, fibromyalgia, sciatica, tendonitis, chronic fatigue, tinnitus, gastrointestinal disorders, skin disorders, carpal tunnel syndrome, allergies and asthma, have done just that! These people did it by treating their medical issue not as the problem, but as an indication of their emotional health. Gaining an understanding of how they manage their day-to-day feelings or the affect certain life experiences had on them, helped them heal their physical health, when conventional medical methods failed to.
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Author: Rabbi Yitzchak Shmuel Ackerman, LMHC

June 6th, 2013

Rabi Preda had a student for whom he taught over a lesson 400 times until his student understood it. What was the rest of the class doing all that time? It’s hard to imagine that the other children were sitting there listening to the same thing told over 400 times without getting fidgety, or talking among themselves. Maybe they
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Author: Barry S. Horowitz, LCSW-R

May 31st, 2013

The most important message regarding signs and symptoms of possible victimization is that these possible indicators may be nothing more specific than hints of high reaction to stress. There are many sources of stress in the lives of children which can range from starting a new school year; bullying from peers; looming final exams; upcoming family simchot; or illness/death in the family. Current or past abuse or neglect is only one possibility. Any individual symptom doesn't mean the child was abused, but several of them, or one which is dramatic, may mean that you should begin assessing more closely.
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Author: Rabbi Yitzchak Shmuel Ackerman, LMHC

May 30th, 2013

What happens to your pulse rate when your phone rings and the caller I.D. shows that it’s your child’s rebbe or morah calling? I hope you anticipate a conversation that will highlight your child’s successes before discussing, if necessary, any areas in which improvement is desired.
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Author: Rabbi Yitzchak Shmuel Ackerman, LMHC

May 23rd, 2013

What three letter word causes more pain, disappointment, and resentment than perhaps any other in the English language? But. How painful is it when a young man’s parents hear the word but from a shadchan:
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Author: Dr. Judith Guedalia

May 17th, 2013

Ok, I’m not the patient you would wish for as an oncologist. I guarantee you I did not choose to be an oncology (cancer) patient. It’s not like going to choose a gynecologist who will deliver your babies, nor even a dentist or root canal specialist. No, you are someone we go to in the worst of times, never in the best of times. For this, the psychologist in me has great empathy for you. After over 26 years of working “up close and personal” as director of the neuropsychology unit at Shaare Zedek Medical Center here in Jerusalem, I have a read on various medical professions. They each draw out the strengths of those who have chosen, or whom fate has chosen, to their specific specialties.
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Author: Yehuda Lieberman, LCSW, QCSW, DCSW

May 14th, 2013

I have, in the past, defined true self-esteem as a positive feeling about oneself based on intrinsic attributes, similar to the way that we feel about others for whom we have esteem. What are the benefits of having true self-esteem, and what are the consequences of not having a positive sense of self?             While there are many mental health issues that can be strongly impacted by low …
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Author: Yehuda Lieberman, LCSW, QCSW, DCSW

May 14th, 2013

I don't believe that anyone can reach the peak of true self-esteem. We all view ourselves externally at least to some extent. The goal is to reduce externally based feelings about ourselves and to increase those intrinsically based. Some people will focus on building self-esteem so as to reduce or eliminate depressive or anxious feelings. Others can continually work toward an increasingly better sense of self. The great irony of self-esteem is t …
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Author: Fred Penzel, Ph.D.

May 13th, 2013

I have been actively involved in the treatment of OCD since 1982, and have treated over 650 cases of the disorder. During that time, I have come to many valuable understandings that I believe are important tools for anyone planning to take on this disorder. Putting together this type of list always seems arbitrary in terms of what to include, but suffice it to say, however it is presented, there is a certain body of information that can make anyone's attempts at recovery more effective. Some of these points may seem obvious, but it has always struck me as remarkable how little of this information my new patients, who are otherwise intelligent and informed people, are seen to possess coming into therapy.
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Author: Martin E. Friedlander, Esq.

May 13th, 2013

In today’s society is the internet causing divorces? The answer to this question is an unequivocal, “yes.” In the community at large and specifically the Orthodox community, authors and lecturers constantly forewarn the many dangers that the internet poses to children. Very little information, however, is published as to the danger that adults face while using the internet and viewing online pornography and the harmful effects that the internet has on marriages.
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Author: Dr. Steven Brodsky

May 13th, 2013

Many children with severe social phobia are never identified because they masquerade as extroverts. They "have to" be the center of attention, but suffer tremendously internally. Often of above average intelligence, they overcompensate by cleverly controlling situations to mask insecurities. They are frequently among the most popular kids and highest achievers who "no one would ever know" suffers painfully with extreme feelings of embarrassment and isolation. They fall under the radar of teachers and parents, who assume popularity and a smile equals confidence.
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Author: Sara Kahan LMSW

May 13th, 2013

Do you enjoy meeting people? Do you find yourself searching for something to say when you meet someone new? What if you don’t know what to say? What if you do something awkward and people laugh at you? How will you react if you get rejected?
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