Package Description

Presented by Esther Finglass, Ph.D.

When working with Orthodox Jewish clients, the clinician can assume that God is always present in the consulting room. The therapists' words will be filtered through religious orthodoxy that was millennia in the making. From a Jewish viewpoint, the world belongs to God, and the Torah directs every aspect of human endeavor. For culturally and religiously contextualized treatment, the therapist must have a basic understanding and acceptance of the client's belief system and practices, while avoiding stereotypes and assumptions. This webcast will address cultural competence with orthodox Jews including the role of the clergy and their influence regarding psychotherapy, specific religious practices and traditions that impede or empower psychological treatment, religious barriers to therapy, attitudes of religious clients to psychotherapy, as well as overt and covert clinician attitudes towards religious clients. The focus will be on understanding how religious faith interfaces with the practice of psychotherapy and on effective interventions.

This webcast is designed to help you:

1. List Jewish laws and lifestyle differences that can inform culturally sensitive practice;
2. Describe the role of the rabbi as intermediary and adjudicator in psychotherapy;
3. Prepare to utilize effective interventions with members of the orthodox Jewish tradition.