Seymour Hoffman

Psychologist, Acquire a Teacher for Yourself Seymour Hoffman

This book contains articles in Hebrew by orthodox rabbis sharing their views on psychological treatment and responsa to questions raised by religious mental health practitioners regarding halachic (Jewish Law) issues concerning their clinical work. The articles discuss a variety of topics including the role of rabbis in counseling troubled people, the relationship between rabbis and mental health practitioners, involvement of rabbis in psychological treatment, treatment of homosexuals, ethics of religious therapists, amongst others. The majority of the responsa quoted in the book deal with questions raised by the editor that arose during his many years of clinical work as a therapist and supervisor of clinical interns and students. Questions discussed include cross-gender therapy, venting anger and criticism towards parents in therapy meetings, obligation to rebuke errant patients, betraying patient confidence to prevent transgression of Jewish Law, couple therapy with a Cohen and divorcee, amongst others. -- The appendix contains four articles in English, one by a rabbi who shares his views and experiences in counseling people and the roles of rabbis and clinicians and two articles by the editor who presents responsa in English on psychological treatment options and shares his views on the attitude of haredi rabbis toward psychological treatment. The last article contains two somewhat provocative essays entitled, "Negative Effects of Extreme Standards of Modesty and Gender Separation" and "Gedolim Are Human." -- The editor believes that rabbis, teachers of religious studies, religious mental health professionals, psychotherapists treating religious patients, as well as those interested in the interface between psychotherapy and Judaism will enjoy and derive benefit from reading the thoughtful and well-written material found in this book. -- Seymour Hoffman, Ph. D., is employed as a supervising psychologist at the Psychiatric Division of the Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center in Israel. He authored "Mental Health, Psychotherapy and Judaism" and "Thinking out of the Box: Unconventional Psychotherapy" and edited "Reader for the Orthodox Jewish Psychotherapists: Issues, Case Studies and Contemporary Responsa" (Hebrew and English) as well as "Rabbis and Psychologists: Partners or Adversaries," published by Golden Sky Books.