Most students don’t come to Yeshiva and Seminary in Israel to study. Instead, they come to find themselves or to ...
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Gordon Allport, one of the most well-respected and influential psychologists of the 20th century, sifted through a dictionary and compiled ...
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Suicide. I want you to stop and notice your reaction to the word “suicide.” If the word or subject makes ...
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To say that this has been a difficult time would be an insult to the so many people who have ...
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Yaakov vs. Angel In this week's Torah portion (Vayishlach), as Yaakov is leaving Lavan's home and heading back to his ...
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Yaakov's Curious Request In this week's Torah portion (Vayeitzei), as Yaakov runs away from his brother Esav towards his uncle ...
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Editor's Note: Below is a compelling question and answer as a special preview of Rav Yoni Rosensweig's upcoming book examining ...
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I have vivid memories from my childhood of a man in a crumpled suit sitting in the kitchen of my ...
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It is common knowledge that physical exertion and exercise have dramatic impacts on our physical health. All nutritional programs will ...
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I started working in an acute psychiatric unit fifteen years ago as an occupational therapist (OT), during which time the ...
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“Remember when?” and “remember the time that?” These phrases that often come up when I am hanging out with my ...
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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety disorder that is difficult to cope with on a daily basis. The need to perform ...
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The stock market is volatile, the government recently went through a historical shutdown and acts of mass violence are almost a ...
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The purpose of this article is twofold. The first is to help parents understand the nature of substance use disorders ...
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It’s 10 a.m. on Shabbos morning, and the congregation at Ohel Yitzchak (fictitious name) stands as the ark is opened ...
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Thanksgiving is around the corner, and for some, it is synonymous with an enjoyable time spent among family and close ...
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The Orthodox Jewish community in America has achieved many things once believed impossible. For one, we have built vibrant, knowledgeable, ...
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Everyone can learn to improve their communication, whether with spouses, bosses, neighbors, or children. With everyone's different personalities, wants and ...
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Taking a vacation can put your mind at ease and make you forget about all of the world’s worries. It’s ...
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You overhear a friend say he wishes he were dead. You catch your sister creating superficial wounds on her wrist ...
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Perinatal depression is a condition that affects 25% of women during or after pregnancy. However, it is often not discussed, ...
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Not everyone loves Pesach. Despite the fact that this is the time when we celebrate the redemption of the Jewish ...
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Below is a loosely edited partial transcript of the live conversation recently held with Dr. J.J. Rasimas, MD, PhD and Ariel ...
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Alcoholism, drug abuse, and extramarital affairs often go hand in hand. Any of these in themselves is a good reason ...
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For many, the holiday season is the most difficult time of the year. In fact, because so many people have ...
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Imagine this scenario:   A patient with familial hypercholesterolemia visits his doctor and has his cholesterol levels tested. The doctor ...
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Sarah was at her wit's end. Each day, after working a full-time job as a teacher's aide - while her ...
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Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder People often ask me what it is like living with someone who has Borderline Personality Disorder ...
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This week’s Torah portion (Chayei Sara) begins with “And this was the life of Sara, she lived…” and continues to ...
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As he is In this week's Torah portion (Vayeira), Yishmael and his mother are cast out of Avraham's home. They ...
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I often see patients for therapy to address issues related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Somehow, people in their ...
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Major depression is an illness that can affect people of any age, including children and teenagers. Depression (also called clinical ...
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Unhealthy repentance I was recently talking with a friend of mine who has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and suffers from intrusive, ...
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The Puffer Fish: A Study in Self-Preservation I recently saw a puffer fish at the aquarium. Famously, when a puffer ...
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This week's Torah portion (Ki Teitzei), encourages us to not turn a blind eye towards the loss or destruction of ...
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If you live in a small home or apartment, or if you struggle with getting rid of anything and everything, ...
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I was one of the lucky ones to have been in the path of totality this past Monday. It's hard ...
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In this week's Torah Portion (Eikev), the Jewish people are informed of the great wealth, ease of life, and health ...
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Editor's Note: It is hard to believe it has been three years since we lost Robin Williams. Refuat Hanefesh finds it important ...
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On a hot summer afternoon, I took my 2 yr old daughter into trader Joe's. Refusing to sit in the ...
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In this week's Torah portion (Devarim), Moshe rebukes the Jewish people. The Ohr Hachaim points out several strategies Moshe used ...
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We live in a world where we are encouraged to outsource. Whether it’s the Ford Motor Company outsourcing its I.T ...
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Contrary to popular belief, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is not the only program which helps facilitate sobriety. In fact, there are ...
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In this week's Torah portion (Balak), Bilaam asks G-d's permission to curse the Jews and is denied. However, on Bilaam's ...
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25% Can Feel What 18% Have As I wait in line at the grocery store, I notice a tickling feeling ...
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Addiction is a disease that is known to be cunning, baffling, and powerful. With this reputation, one might think that ...
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In this week's Torah portion (Korach), we witness one of the most famous biblical arguments. Korach gathered a group of ...
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We all grow up in different environments with different standards for how to communicate. Yet, we often expect others to understand ...
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In this week's Torah portion (Shelach), spies are sent to explore Israel in preparation for conquest. They were given several ...
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As someone who works with women struggling with eating disorders, I often hear that mothers are to blame for a child’s ...
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In this week's Torah portion (Behalotcha), we are told the Jews in the desert would rest and travel at God's command ...
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Many years ago, I started a support group for teenagers whose families were going through a tough time. As I ...
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The Torah (Devarim 24:5) teaches that the first year of marriage should be a period of special joy. It relays that ...
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Nowadays, it seems everyone has ADHD. In fact, this has been termed the "ADD generation". What's the difference between someone ...
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This week's Torah portion (Behar-Bechukotei) promises several rewards for going in God's ways and keeping his commandments. The midrash (Torat ...
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What is Borderline Personality Disorder? Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) refers to a cluster of behaviors and psychiatric symptoms characterized by ...
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They say Trump is a narcissist, Clinton suffers from antisocial personality disorder and Britney Spears has borderline personality disorder. Is ...
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Pregnancy loss, whether an early term miscarriage or a late term stillbirth, can be devastating for both men and women ...
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This week's Torah portion (Acharei mot- Kedoshim) conveys the procedures of Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. The Ohr Hachaim ...
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When I was a young rabbi, I encountered someone with depression. I vividly remember thinking to myself, why can’t he ...
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This week's Torah portion (Tazriyah-Metzorah), discusses the disease Tzarat, a punishment for slander. Part of the purification process requires two birds, one ...
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Recently, Netflix produced a TV series detailing 13 reasons why a young woman committed suicide. Closer to home, this past ...
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Prescription medication spills out onto the floor. Are addicts who abuse this medication acting out of their free will? ...
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Between Pesach and Shavuot it is customary to learn Ethics of the Fathers. In chapter 4:1 Ben Zoma says "איזהו ...
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The Pesach Seder is often looked at as a model for how we should educate our children. We use experiential models ...
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Why is mental illness different from all other illnesses? Support 1) For with all other illnesses, when you hear someone ...
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Pious Actions or OCD? With Pesach quickly approaching, everyone is getting ready in their own way. Some cook the food, ...
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This coming Monday night we will sit around the table and retell the story of the Jew's slavery in Egypt ...
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The art of storytelling demands a captivating structure. One time-tested method introduces a character worth following, only to have him or her ...
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According to a 2013 PewResearchCenter study, though only 23% of American Jews attend religious services at least monthly, 70% participate ...
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In this week's Torah portion Rashi, an 11th-century commentator, notes the frequent pauses between commands. He explains these breaks functioned ...
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As a psychotherapist, marriage counselor, mother and community member, I am acutely aware of the problems confronting singles in their ...
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At the forefront of today's debate-happy society is the question of what constitutes fake news and which culprits are relaying ...
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In this week's torah portion (Vayakhel-Pekudei) Moshe relays Hashem's commandment to work six days and rest on the seventh ...
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Count Elevate the Jews In this week’s Torah portion (Ki Tisa) Moshe is commanded “Ki tisa et rosh bnei yisrael… ...
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Torah lights up the world In this week's Torah portion (Tetzaveh), God instructs Moshe to command the Jews to bring ...
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Happiness. It seems this is the modern buzzword for the ultimate goal in life. Ask parents, "What do you want ...
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Take me a gift In this week's Torah portion (Terumah) God commands, "...And they should take to me a gift, ...
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Many people have questions about how to assist a person suffering from addiction. There are many different treatment options to ...
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In this week's Torah portion (Mishpatim), Moshe is commanded: "And these are the laws you should place before them". The ...
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Stepfamilies are not uncommon. They sometimes work out well, but at other times can be disastrous. Whether Stepfamilies are created ...
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Why was the Torah given on Mount Sinai? In this week's Torah portion (Yitro), the Jews receive the 10 commandments ...
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When I was asked to serve as the Intellectual Disabilities Advisor for Refuat Hanefesh, my initial reaction was, “Why? Why ...
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Why didn't the Jews take the straight path from Egypt to Israel? In this week's Torah portion (Beshalach) God takes ...
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Happily ever after During their engagement, Malka and Avi felt a bond and ease with one another. Under the chuppah, ...
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What does it mean that Pharoh's heart was hardened? In this week’s Torah portion (Bo) the Egyptians experience the continued ...
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The Fight “I am so fat.” “I hate my body.” “How come she eats all day and doesn’t get fat?” ...
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What prevented the Jews from listening to Moshe? In this week's Torah portion (Va'eira) we are told, "The Jews did ...
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"Make sure you communicate!" Don't we already do that? “You have to make sure you always communicate.” “Make sure you ...
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Our dreams for our children Every parent has hopes, dreams, and aspirations for their child. On the most basic level, ...
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If you are married to someone with a mental illness, you don’t need me to tell you that it’s a ...
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The story My phone rang on an erev shabbos afternoon, it was my friend Esti*. Esti had been dating someone ...
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Have you ever wondered why some people have traumatic experiences and recover uneventfully, while others go on to develop PTSD (Post ...
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Mental illness is an organic illness of the mind. Something about this sentence sounds inherently contradictory and it deserves to ...
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How is Chemical Addiction Diagnosed? According to the American Psychiatric Association, one meets criteria for a substance use disorder when ...
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"I've been thinking about jumping off a bridge. I haven't told my parents because they'll think I'm crazy." ...
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"My good fortune is not that I've recovered from mental illness. I have not, nor will I ever. My good ...
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"When you are happy you enjoy the music. But, when you are sad you understand the lyrics" -Frank Ocean What ...
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"We can not change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand" - Randy Pausch Ok, so ...
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“Some people grumble that roses have thorns; I am grateful that thorns have roses.” - Alphose Karr What Causes Depression? ...
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"Depression can seem worse than terminal cancer, because most cancer patients feel loved and they have hope and self-esteem." - ...
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 "Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal" -Albert Camus Why Do I Get Anxious? Have ...
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“Your heart will follow your actions.” – Eliyahu Dessler Before we begin to discuss various illnesses, we must understand what ...
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 "Show me a sane man and I will cure him for you." -Carl Jung Ok, so we have established that ...
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"Let's face it. The secret is out. We have a problem." ― Abraham Twerski Welcome to RefuatHanafesh! This website is ...
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