Part 2: How to be a Jewish Affirming Therapist in 2023
Summary of Blog Posts: Part 1 and 2 of How to be a Jewish Affirming Therapist
In these two blog posts, I share some of what might be going on with your Jewish clients. In the first part, I start by sharing a bit about what the world feels like to me. Of course, this is what the world is feeling like to me and there are many many others out there who feel differently.
Then, in Part 2 of the blog, I share some tips with therapists and counselors about how to better work with their Jewish clients.
Part 2: How to be a Jewish Affirming Therapist in 2023
What can Jewish Affirming Therapists do?
To be a Jewish-affirming therapist during this time, I implore you to ask about how your Jewish clients are doing and then, sit back and fully listen.
Hold space for the ways that your clients are suffering and all the complexities of this time.
Learn how this war impacts clients and their families. Have compassion and empathy for those who are sharing their greatest fears with you.
Let them know that you believe them (if you do) and that your clinical space is a secure one. If you can’t believe them, consider getting a consultation and/or referring them to a Jewish-affirming therapist. Being believed and seen by your counselor is a really important part of being in therapy.
Do some reading on your own about how the war might impact Jewish clients.
Look into sources you might not have read before like the Forward (https://forward.com/ ), the Times of Israel at https://www.timesofisrael.com/, Kveller ( https://www.kveller.com/ ), Jew Belong (https://www.jewbelong.com/ ) and others.
Am I, Abi Weissman, 100% comfortable with these sources? Nope, not at all, and yet, I read them often trying to learn more and challenge myself to recognize my internal antisemitism.
Read about the violence against Jews at local and not-so-local colleges (https://amchainitiative.org/search-by-incident#incident/display-by-date/ ).
Read about the surges of antisemitism around the world at ADL Records Dramatic Increase in U.S. Antisemitic Incidents Following Oct. 7 Hamas Massacre and How the surge in antisemitism is affecting countries around the world | Reuters.
And Then, Stand up For us Jews During Jewish Counseling and More.
Depending on your theoretical orientation, activism can be a part of your clinical work. Always be secure and/ or safe first if at all possible. When another clinician makes an antisemitic or anti-Israel comment, say something to stand up for Jews and/or Israelis. Report an antisemitic incident to the ADL at https://www.adl.org/report-incident. Volunteer to make care packages for Jewish students at local colleges (this is what I did last weekend).
StandWithUs has some options to https://www.standwithus.com/action-center. Attend a Jewish event in support and to learn and maybe, to have a little fun. I’m a fan of Leichtag events at https://coastalrootsfarm.org/events/. Buy some produce at their Sunday Farm Stand, if you eat vegetables or fruits.
If you have the means, donate financially to support Jews and/or Israel. One company you could give to is LiveSecure | Advancing the Safety and Security of Jewish Communities. This is a program to support synagogues and other centers of Jewish life to keep them as secure and safe as possible.
Reach out to Jewish colleagues or Israeli colleagues to let them know that you are there if they need support. Ask how they are and listen. See if they want to go for coffee and connect. Ask how you can support them and follow through if it’s something you can do.
If you need personalized consultation, feel free to reach out to me, Dr. Abi Weissman. I can be reached at office@wavespsych.com or called and/or texted at 619-403-5578. And if you are a potential client reading, please feel free to reach out too! Thank you for reading.
Please read Part 1 of the blog to find out how to be a Jewish-affirming clinician in 2023
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Contact us to schedule an appointment for Jewish Counseling
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