Nefesh (group)

Nefesh, literally meaning in Hebrew "Soul", is a networking organization for Torah-observant mental health professionals internationally.

Not to be confused with Nefesh B'Nefesh.
Nefesh
Formation1992
Membership
over 750
President
Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, LCSW-R
Executive Director
Miriam Turk, LCSW
Websitewww.nefesh.org
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Nefesh was founded in 1992, to bring Orthodox Jewish professionals and rabbis together to address mental health issues that in a professional and communal environment. There are over 750 members worldwide. Notable member and rabbinic advisers include Rabbi Dovid Cohen, Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski, and Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb.

The main office is located in Brooklyn and the current president is Rabbi Simcha Feuerman. There are additional chapters in Australia, Beverly Hills, Israel, Canada, United Kingdom and South America.

There are national and international conferences held on an annual basis since 2001. In the past, these conferences have taken place in New York, Miami, Baltimore, Norfolk, and Israel. In addition, international workshops dealing with contemporary issues have taken place in many of these locations.[1][2][3] These conferences and workshops are approved for continuing education by the State Board Office of New York.[4]

Membership

Nefesh-International is an interdisciplinary organization of Orthodox Jewish mental health professionals providing leadership and interdisciplinary education in the field of personal, family, and community mental health. The members are Torah-observant psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, marriage and family therapists, professional counselors, psychiatric nurses, chemical dependency counselors, psychotherapists, guidance and pastoral counselors, and graduate students. Affiliates include Orthodox Rabbis, Jewish educators, attorneys, and allied professionals. Nefesh International is funded primarily funded through program revenue.[5]

Issues addressed

In the Orthodox Jewish community a stigma exists towards mental health. This issue can create a situation where individuals and families are not addressing mental health conditions. Orthodox Jewish mental health professionals encounter other challenges as the community is closed and insular and it difficult to attain anonymous, yet culturally attuned, care. For example, it is not seen as appropriate for men and women to shake hands with someone of the opposite gender, and an uninformed therapist might not be aware of these and other sensitivities.[6] Nonetheless, in these closed communities issues exist which are parallel to those found in the contemporary world at large — gender, family, and community related issues. The group stays abreast of the latest research while transferring the findings to their specialized communities.[7][8]

The group has reached out to Orthodox Jewish caregivers both psychologists and others in related fields to discuss shared concerns, issues and solutions that are acceptable in their religious communities.

References
  1. Nefesh 2015: An Exceptional and Informative Weekend. The Jewish Press
  2. "Bridging the couple chasm", April 21, 2010
  3. Graduate School of Social Work Creates Fellowship for Orthodox Community’s Mental Health Needs, Touro College, January 2015
  4. "Department Approved Providers of the NYSED". New York State Department of Education. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  5. "About Non profit Companies - Nefesh International". Find the Company. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  6. "Nefesh International Network of Orthodox Mental Health Professionals Comes to Baltimore". WhereWhatWhen. 28 December 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  7. "President Obama Wrong in Denying Youth Voluntary Access to Therapy". Hamilton Strategies. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  8. "Openly gay". Jerusalem Post. 12 August 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
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