Analytic Therapy in Jerusalem

Aliyah; Dream or Nightmare - Info & Advice to help you get through

2008-07-07T22:43:00.002+03:00

Coming to Israel can be exciting & challenging and at other times frightening & daunting. In the list of stressful activities moving country & home, changing language & culture and starting a new job places you high up on the scale of people at risk of emotional difficulties. There is sometimes a real sense of euphoria, and a sense of ease in starting up a new life in Israel. But even during periods of feeling positive and creative, almost every Oleh or Olah goes through moments of soul-searching & home-sickness.

It sounds scary, but Aliyah can be likened to moments of loss & bereavement because of the sharp changes in living as an immigrant. Feelings of shock, anger, frustration & depression may come up for you. Like grief – it can sometimes feel utterly overwhelming. The good news is that people do make it and come through the other side feeling enriched by the experience. Some can manage stresses by their relationships within their families and communities, others may want to seek out more professional support either through organisations such as Nefesh bNefesh, the AACI or other olim-support centres. Others will want a more intensive and confidential support through sessions with a therapist.

Someone talking about their experience of Aliyah said that they didn't feel totally Israeli until after 5 years of being a citizen of the State. This having been said it’s really up to the individual; their personality & social-economic wellbeing, that makes one feel part of the Israeli community. Some people fit quickly in, others may take a lot longer to find their feet. And even when we're settled in and “Israelified” there are times when being here can feel like a confusing mess. It’s also important to bare in mind how others are doing – if you came with a family or partner you’ll need to be aware that they will go through different stages of absorption at different times. Having worked with families of immigrants, children are very good at adapting, but sometimes (even when the rest of the family is doing great) getting into a new school environment or coping with the changes in language can be too stressful. Encourage other members of your family to do something which they enjoy and which relaxes them.

Learning the language & culture is sometimes the most daunting. As a new Oleh/Olah there's lots of new ways of going about things - being able to communicate with the bank & phone company, being able to find employment through personal connections. At times, it can feel incredibly de-skilling. You're not alone! But the good news is that Israel was founded by immigrants, new immigrants can and do make it in Israel. Being patient with yourself & others is so important when you want the language skills NOW. You might want to do things like volunteer to get work & language experience without the pressure of professional responsibilities, alternatively you may need to take the plunge and get into the Israeli workforce immediately, and be coping with the challenges of new languages & office cultures.

After the initial spurt of growth as a new citizen comes a period of consolidation – taking stock in a conscious way can be really helpful in making sense of what you’ve done and where you’re going. You may want to set aside some time to map out on a piece of paper where you have come from, where you are now and where you want to be. Be creative – you can write, draw, sculpt how you are thinking and feeling about past, present & future.

Perhaps a big issue of making Aliyah is staying in contact with family & friends. Keeping in touch with the past can be helpful and bring us support, for others it’s important to give yourself time before you make connections with the past. Many chose to “put on a brave face” when talking to non-Olim. But it’s important to ensure you have a person/place where you can turn to and talk about some of the difficulties. Allow yourself time to get used to the new ways of living. Be honest about life in “the old country” – no where was/is ever all-perfect & all-wonderful.

In moments of stress, remember that there are things that you can do to help soften the emotional pressures – go for walks, listen to your favourite music, dance, you might just want to take out 20 minutes of your day where you do something that relaxes you.

Transition can be eased through lots of different ways. The information and advice given above are a few of the paths you can take to surviving Aliyah. The most important thing is to realise that people around you are experiencing similar things, and that you do not need to do this on your own.

Psychotherapy for Children & Young People

2008-07-07T22:36:00.002+03:00

It can be worrying for a parent when their son or daughter appears to be in distress. Children can present their stress & worries in many ways, sometimes it's verbal, but often it comes out in the way they manage their relationships & through their behaviour.

Some young people have an easier time in talking about their feelings, others may need a more creative approach to unlocking fears and difficulties which are holding them back from participating better at school or finding it easier to make positive friendships.

Just like adults, children are susceptible to difficulties in mental health, children come to professionals for a range of help including the following

Depression
Anxiety
Anger
Self-Esteem
Unusual behaviours or behaviours that are compulsive/obsessive
Attention Difficulties
Grief
Harmful use of alcohol or illicit substances
Oppositional or Challenging-to-Manage Behaviour
Eating Difficulties such as Pica, Anorexia Nervosa & Bulemia (when someone either harmfully reduces their eating or eats in binges and purgates through making him/herself sick afterwards)
Difficulties in integrating into a new community

Whatever the title, name or diagnosis, the important thing is to know that help is available. Some parents feel better by knowing the name of their child's distress, others can feel dazed even more worried. But the most important thing is that you seek someone out for help.

You may want to approach your family Doctor to see a psychiatrist, alternatively you may not want your child to be on medication and would prefer to see a psychotherapist, social worker or psychologist. Taking the step to make an appointment with one of these professionals for an assessment can be the first step to your child's recovery.

The cause of your son/daughter's difficulties can come from lots of different things - a change in school teacher, the end of a friendship, sometimes there might not seem to be an easy answer (do we as adults always know why we do something?). The role of the therapist is to untangle some of the feelings and thoughts that prevent a child or young person from getting along.

As an immigrant community we also face stresses and pressures that others don't. Some people are able to overcome the challenges whilst others can feel overwhelmed. Working with someone who is able to understand those difficulties, sharing the burden, can often help.

Sometimes this can take the form of working with just the young person, at other times it might be better to work with her and her parent, whilst for others it's better with the whole family. The main goal is to alleviate the young person's distress.

Choosing a Psychotherapist

2008-07-07T22:26:00.003+03:00

Making the choice to undergo an initial consultation with a psychotherapist is often a big step. But what should you be thinking about when you go for that initial consultation?

Below are some tips:

Be yourself in the initial consultation - be as honest as you can about the things that are drawing you to try therapy
Know that no one can talk about everything they want to in just an initial hour - if you decide to continue seeing the therapist there will hopefully be lots of opportunities to talk about what you're thinking & feeling
Be open about how much time you can commit to seeing a therapist - you may be able to come 3 times a week or only once every 2 weeks
In the initial meeting get a feel of how you relate to your therapist - do you feel like you can talk to them? do you think you could develop a professional relationship with them?
Be honest with yourself - would you feel more comfortable working with a male or a female therapist?
You might want to ask questions to the therapist about how they will work with you if you are religious, or how they might approach someone who is exploring their sexuality
Be open with the therapist about what you would like to explore and how - do you want an open space to let loose all of your thoughts or do you want a more structured environment to tackle difficulties
Most therapists have a sliding scale for payment, don't feel inhibited about talking about finances and how much you can realistically afford to pay for sessions. However also keep in mind that you also have to value the work that you and your therapist are doing together
In your first contact with the therapist (by phone or email) agree a time, date, & address and ask about the initial consultation fee (some therapists will have a standard initial assessment fee). Make sure you write down the details
Make sure your therapist is registered with one of the government offices: , the Ministry of Welfare or The Ministry of Health or with a professional body such as the Psychologists' Association
Try and arrive on time for your session - check out if your potential therapist has a waiting room or if you need to be exact in arriving for sessions After the initial consultation be aware that you might feel emotions with more intensity or new feelings.
Try and give yourself a break between the consultation and your next activity - if you can, go for a coffee or a walk before you go back to work or return to family responsibilities
Talk to a person you can trust about how you got on in the session - talking to a trusty friend or partner may help you think more about the session

Overall these are tips and guidelines, not rules which you must go over like a check-list. Most good therapists will guide you through the process.

Good Luck!!!

Religion & Psychotherapy

2008-07-07T22:23:00.002+03:00

Jerusalem is a city that attracts many people for religious reasons. You may have come for a year on seminary or yeshiva, or have made aliyah because of religious-political convictions. Being in a Jewish country can be both wonderful and also challenging. Individuals and families come to the city with lots of hopes and desires. Whilst some therapists have either dismissed the importance of religious beliefs and spirituality or are critical of a religious life, a growing number of us therapists are working within religious communities and work with the client's beliefs and practices.

In providing treatments for individuals and families from the Orthodox community, it's important to note that therapy sessions are still completely confidential and that the content of the sessions are not shared unless the client asks the therapist to talk to a member of their family, a rabbi or rebbetzin.

It's important that therapy can challenge aspects of self-perception and behaviour but it's also important to work with someone who respects religious and cultural beliefs and practices. Part of working with a therapist can be about exploring beliefs and rituals. Using religion in the therapy session can be a powerful tool to working out our relationships. Therapy can often seem like a meditation, a bringing to awareness of how we feel and behave and how we relate to other people and to G-d. Working with a therapist who is comfortable with your religious beliefs and practices can often help the impact of therapy. An important part in therapy is being comfortable in talking to your therapist. Some will prefer not to see a therapist of the same religion, others may prefer therapy with someone who is secular. On the other hand there are individuals and families who want to see a religious therapist. Whilst these are legitimate and important aspects of feeling comfortable in the therapist's room, the most important part for us as therapists is that we are guided by you, respectful of your religion and unimposing in our approach.

What Is Psychotherapy

2008-07-07T22:19:00.002+03:00

There are many different types of psychotherapies; psychoanalytic, cognitive, behavioural, supportive to name a few. The main aim of all is to try and help a person to understand their feelings and thoughts and perhaps help them come to a point where they either look to change their situation or learn to accept the difficulty but not to let it dominate.

The different psychotherapies use different techniques to help a person who wants to change, and even a little motivation can be enough to start that process.

Meeting a psychotherapist or social worker for an assessment is the first important step in finding out what is right for you. The initial assessment is there for you to meet with a person who you may decide to see for an agreed period of time - some short-term therapies last 6-8 sessions others may ask for more - traditional psychoanalysis is famous for its intensive and lengthy process! So your first meeting with your therapist is important in setting down everything from what you are finding difficulties in to how often you come each week and how much you are able to pay for the sessions.

CREATIVE WORKSHOPS ON JUDIASM THROUGH THE EXPRESSIVE ARTS

2008-05-16T08:51:00.005+03:00

Tammy Einstein (expressive arts therapist)
& Binyamin Rose (therapist)

PRESENT

A course of 4 workshops throughout the year connecting you to the seasons & holidays in Israel

“Art is one step from the visibly known to the unknown”
Kahlil Gibran

Introduction
This cycle of 4 sessions invites you to deepen your experience of living in Jerusalem using writing, painting, drama, sculpture & photography. This will be an opportunity to explore your spirituality & creativity in a non-judgemental environment. Participants do not need to have any prior artistic experience. The sessions are geared to allow you to process your personal experience in a non-verbal way and to enrich your mind-soul connection. We invite you to process and express yourselves in a place where you can witness your inner & outer journey together.

Forming The New Year
ימים נוראים – The Days of Awe – Fall/Autumn
אנו פעלתך, ואתה יוצרנו
אנו רעיתך, ואתה דודנו
We are Your Handiwork & You our Shaper
We are Your friend & You our Beloved
(Yom Kipur Musaf Service)

Connecting the physical with the intellectual experience through clay-work

Fighting for Light
Chanukah – Winter
אשרי הגפרור שנשרף והצית להבות
אשרי הלהבה שבערה בסתרי לבבות
Blessed is the match that is consumed in kindling flame
Blessed is the flame that burn’s in the heart’s secret places
(Hannah Szenes)

Exploring the relationship between darkness, light & shadow using painting & words

Inner-Theatre Outer-Drama
Purim – The forerunner of Spring

Mordechai left the king’s presence in royal robes of blue & white, with a magnificent crown of gold & a mantle of fine linen and purple wool. And the city of Shushan rang with joyous cries
(Megilat Esther 8:15)

Exploring the inner Hamans & Esthers – celebrating our complexities through costume & play

Returning Home
Pesach – Entrance to Summer
ובהעלות הענן מעל המשכן יסעו מני ישראל בכל מסעיהם
Whenever the cloud was lifted from the Dwelling Place,
the Children of Israel moved forward on all their journeys
(Exodus 40:36)

Drawing together our experiences of spirituality, growth, change & studies our final meeting will work on the gifts & surprises for each of us in the year

All participants will have a preliminary meeting with Binyamin & Tammy
Session times will be discussed at the initial meetings
The sessions will be located in Jerusalem

Tammy Einstein MA (Expressive Arts Therapist) works as a group leader & therapist in East & West Jerusalem for the past 20 years. She teaches phototherapy at the Musrara school of photography. Jerusalem, and specializes in cultural identities

Binyamin Rose MSW (Therapist in Private Practice) holds a 1st degree in theology from Oxford and is a therapist in private practice living & working in Jerusalem. He specializes in working with people who immigrate to Israel and works with individuals & groups who are exploring their connections to Judaism