Most students don’t come to Yeshiva and Seminary in Israel to study. Instead, they come to find themselves or to ...

Gordon Allport, one of the most well-respected and influential psychologists of the 20th century, sifted through a dictionary and compiled ...

Suicide. I want you to stop and notice your reaction to the word “suicide.” If the word or subject makes ...

To say that this has been a difficult time would be an insult to the so many people who have ...

Yaakov vs. Angel In this week's Torah portion (Vayishlach), as Yaakov is leaving Lavan's home and heading back to his ...

Yaakov's Curious Request In this week's Torah portion (Vayeitzei), as Yaakov runs away from his brother Esav towards his uncle ...

Editor's Note: Below is a compelling question and answer as a special preview of Rav Yoni Rosensweig's upcoming book examining ...

I have vivid memories from my childhood of a man in a crumpled suit sitting in the kitchen of my ...

It is common knowledge that physical exertion and exercise have dramatic impacts on our physical health. All nutritional programs will ...

I started working in an acute psychiatric unit fifteen years ago as an occupational therapist (OT), during which time the ...

“Remember when?” and “remember the time that?” These phrases that often come up when I am hanging out with my ...

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety disorder that is difficult to cope with on a daily basis. The need to perform ...

The stock market is volatile, the government recently went through a historical shutdown and acts of mass violence are almost a ...

The purpose of this article is twofold. The first is to help parents understand the nature of substance use disorders ...

It’s 10 a.m. on Shabbos morning, and the congregation at Ohel Yitzchak (fictitious name) stands as the ark is opened ...

Thanksgiving is around the corner, and for some, it is synonymous with an enjoyable time spent among family and close ...

The Orthodox Jewish community in America has achieved many things once believed impossible. For one, we have built vibrant, knowledgeable, ...

Everyone can learn to improve their communication, whether with spouses, bosses, neighbors, or children. With everyone's different personalities, wants and ...

Taking a vacation can put your mind at ease and make you forget about all of the world’s worries. It’s ...

You overhear a friend say he wishes he were dead. You catch your sister creating superficial wounds on her wrist ...

Perinatal depression is a condition that affects 25% of women during or after pregnancy. However, it is often not discussed, ...

Not everyone loves Pesach. Despite the fact that this is the time when we celebrate the redemption of the Jewish ...

Below is a loosely edited partial transcript of the live conversation recently held with Dr. J.J. Rasimas, MD, PhD and Ariel ...

Alcoholism, drug abuse, and extramarital affairs often go hand in hand. Any of these in themselves is a good reason ...

For many, the holiday season is the most difficult time of the year. In fact, because so many people have ...

Imagine this scenario:   A patient with familial hypercholesterolemia visits his doctor and has his cholesterol levels tested. The doctor ...

Sarah was at her wit's end. Each day, after working a full-time job as a teacher's aide - while her ...

Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder People often ask me what it is like living with someone who has Borderline Personality Disorder ...

This week’s Torah portion (Chayei Sara) begins with “And this was the life of Sara, she lived…” and continues to ...

As he is In this week's Torah portion (Vayeira), Yishmael and his mother are cast out of Avraham's home. They ...

I often see patients for therapy to address issues related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Somehow, people in their ...

Major depression is an illness that can affect people of any age, including children and teenagers. Depression (also called clinical ...

Unhealthy repentance I was recently talking with a friend of mine who has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and suffers from intrusive, ...

The Puffer Fish: A Study in Self-Preservation I recently saw a puffer fish at the aquarium. Famously, when a puffer ...

This week's Torah portion (Ki Teitzei), encourages us to not turn a blind eye towards the loss or destruction of ...

If you live in a small home or apartment, or if you struggle with getting rid of anything and everything, ...

I was one of the lucky ones to have been in the path of totality this past Monday. It's hard ...

In this week's Torah Portion (Eikev), the Jewish people are informed of the great wealth, ease of life, and health ...

Editor's Note: It is hard to believe it has been three years since we lost Robin Williams. Refuat Hanefesh finds it important ...

On a hot summer afternoon, I took my 2 yr old daughter into trader Joe's. Refusing to sit in the ...

In this week's Torah portion (Devarim), Moshe rebukes the Jewish people. The Ohr Hachaim points out several strategies Moshe used ...

We live in a world where we are encouraged to outsource. Whether it’s the Ford Motor Company outsourcing its I.T ...

Contrary to popular belief, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is not the only program which helps facilitate sobriety. In fact, there are ...

In this week's Torah portion (Balak), Bilaam asks G-d's permission to curse the Jews and is denied. However, on Bilaam's ...

25% Can Feel What 18% Have As I wait in line at the grocery store, I notice a tickling feeling ...

Addiction is a disease that is known to be cunning, baffling, and powerful. With this reputation, one might think that ...

In this week's Torah portion (Korach), we witness one of the most famous biblical arguments. Korach gathered a group of ...

We all grow up in different environments with different standards for how to communicate. Yet, we often expect others to understand ...

In this week's Torah portion (Shelach), spies are sent to explore Israel in preparation for conquest. They were given several ...

As someone who works with women struggling with eating disorders, I often hear that mothers are to blame for a child’s ...

In this week's Torah portion (Behalotcha), we are told the Jews in the desert would rest and travel at God's command ...

Many years ago, I started a support group for teenagers whose families were going through a tough time. As I ...

The Torah (Devarim 24:5) teaches that the first year of marriage should be a period of special joy. It relays that ...

Nowadays, it seems everyone has ADHD. In fact, this has been termed the "ADD generation". What's the difference between someone ...

This week's Torah portion (Behar-Bechukotei) promises several rewards for going in God's ways and keeping his commandments. The midrash (Torat ...

What is Borderline Personality Disorder? Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) refers to a cluster of behaviors and psychiatric symptoms characterized by ...

They say Trump is a narcissist, Clinton suffers from antisocial personality disorder and Britney Spears has borderline personality disorder. Is ...

Pregnancy loss, whether an early term miscarriage or a late term stillbirth, can be devastating for both men and women ...

This week's Torah portion (Acharei mot- Kedoshim) conveys the procedures of Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. The Ohr Hachaim ...

When I was a young rabbi, I encountered someone with depression. I vividly remember thinking to myself, why can’t he ...

This week's Torah portion (Tazriyah-Metzorah), discusses the disease Tzarat, a punishment for slander. Part of the purification process requires two birds, one ...

Recently, Netflix produced a TV series detailing 13 reasons why a young woman committed suicide. Closer to home, this past ...

Prescription medication spills out onto the floor. Are addicts who abuse this medication acting out of their free will? ...

Between Pesach and Shavuot it is customary to learn Ethics of the Fathers. In chapter 4:1 Ben Zoma says "איזהו ...

The Pesach Seder is often looked at as a model for how we should educate our children. We use experiential models ...

Why is mental illness different from all other illnesses? Support 1) For with all other illnesses, when you hear someone ...

Pious Actions or OCD? With Pesach quickly approaching, everyone is getting ready in their own way. Some cook the food, ...

This coming Monday night we will sit around the table and retell the story of the Jew's slavery in Egypt ...

The art of storytelling demands a captivating structure. One time-tested method introduces a character worth following, only to have him or her ...

According to a 2013 PewResearchCenter study, though only 23% of American Jews attend religious services at least monthly, 70% participate ...

In this week's Torah portion Rashi, an 11th-century commentator, notes the frequent pauses between commands. He explains these breaks functioned ...

As a psychotherapist, marriage counselor, mother and community member, I am acutely aware of the problems confronting singles in their ...

At the forefront of today's debate-happy society is the question of what constitutes fake news and which culprits are relaying ...

In this week's torah portion (Vayakhel-Pekudei) Moshe relays Hashem's commandment to work six days and rest on the seventh ...

Count Elevate the Jews In this week’s Torah portion (Ki Tisa) Moshe is commanded “Ki tisa et rosh bnei yisrael… ...

Torah lights up the world In this week's Torah portion (Tetzaveh), God instructs Moshe to command the Jews to bring ...

Happiness. It seems this is the modern buzzword for the ultimate goal in life. Ask parents, "What do you want ...

Take me a gift In this week's Torah portion (Terumah) God commands, "...And they should take to me a gift, ...

Many people have questions about how to assist a person suffering from addiction. There are many different treatment options to ...

In this week's Torah portion (Mishpatim), Moshe is commanded: "And these are the laws you should place before them". The ...

Stepfamilies are not uncommon. They sometimes work out well, but at other times can be disastrous. Whether Stepfamilies are created ...

Why was the Torah given on Mount Sinai? In this week's Torah portion (Yitro), the Jews receive the 10 commandments ...

When I was asked to serve as the Intellectual Disabilities Advisor for Refuat Hanefesh, my initial reaction was, “Why? Why ...

Why didn't the Jews take the straight path from Egypt to Israel? In this week's Torah portion (Beshalach) God takes ...

Happily ever after During their engagement, Malka and Avi felt a bond and ease with one another. Under the chuppah, ...

What does it mean that Pharoh's heart was hardened? In this week’s Torah portion (Bo) the Egyptians experience the continued ...

The Fight “I am so fat.” “I hate my body.” “How come she eats all day and doesn’t get fat?” ...

What prevented the Jews from listening to Moshe? In this week's Torah portion (Va'eira) we are told, "The Jews did ...

"Make sure you communicate!" Don't we already do that? “You have to make sure you always communicate.” “Make sure you ...

Our dreams for our children Every parent has hopes, dreams, and aspirations for their child. On the most basic level, ...

If you are married to someone with a mental illness, you don’t need me to tell you that it’s a ...

The story My phone rang on an erev shabbos afternoon, it was my friend Esti*. Esti had been dating someone ...

Have you ever wondered why some people have traumatic experiences and recover uneventfully, while others go on to develop PTSD (Post ...

Mental illness is an organic illness of the mind. Something about this sentence sounds inherently contradictory and it deserves to ...

How is Chemical Addiction Diagnosed? According to the American Psychiatric Association, one meets criteria for a substance use disorder when ...

"I've been thinking about jumping off a bridge. I haven't told my parents because they'll think I'm crazy." ...

"My good fortune is not that I've recovered from mental illness. I have not, nor will I ever. My good ...

"When you are happy you enjoy the music. But, when you are sad you understand the lyrics" -Frank Ocean What ...

"We can not change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand" - Randy Pausch Ok, so ...

“Some people grumble that roses have thorns; I am grateful that thorns have roses.” - Alphose Karr What Causes Depression? ...

"Depression can seem worse than terminal cancer, because most cancer patients feel loved and they have hope and self-esteem." - ...

 "Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal" -Albert Camus Why Do I Get Anxious? Have ...

“Your heart will follow your actions.” – Eliyahu Dessler Before we begin to discuss various illnesses, we must understand what ...

 "Show me a sane man and I will cure him for you." -Carl Jung Ok, so we have established that ...

"Let's face it. The secret is out. We have a problem." ― Abraham Twerski Welcome to RefuatHanafesh! This website is ...