Why would someone need to seek psychotherapy? Which type of therapist do we seek out? Each culture has different needs and those also need to be taken into account when choosing a therapist and the culture we will be discussing in the following pages is a branch of Orthodox Judaism called Hasidic Judaism. We will be investigating psychodynamic, cognitive, gestalt, and client centered therapists, and explaining which of these would be the best choice to help our demographic feel like themselves again. “Speaking of the effects of specific forms of therapy, we need to address the question of which form of therapy is most effective for which type of problem” (Nevid & Rathis p.323). The Hasidim or "pious ones" in Hebrew, belong to a special movement within Orthodox Judaism,there were millions of people in Eastern and Central Europe. This movement soon gained popularity in all streams of society, but mostly by the less educated or common people. These people were drawn in by its charismatic leaders by their emotional and spiritual appeal of their message. Which stresses joy, and faith, and prayer along with song and dance. These people also live a hallowed life; that find comfort with the most mundane actions. They are spiritually centered on a dynamic leader known as a rebbe. “Therapists also need to become aware of their own cultural biases in order to avoid stereotyping clients from other cultural groups (Nevid & Rathis p.326). Gestalt therapy was established by Fritz Perls. “Like client-centered therapy, Gestalt therapy assumes people disown parts of themselves that might meet social disapproval or rejection” (Nevid & Rathis p.308). Although it borrows much from psychoanalysis, Gestalt therapy focuses more on the here ... ... middle of paper ... ...davsky, O. (Directors). (1997). A Life Apart: Hasidism In America [Video file]. USA: EMI UNART. Nevid, J.S. & Rathus, S. A. (2013). Psychology and the Challenges of Life: Adjustments and Growth. (12 ed.) Hoboken, NJ: Wiley & Sons Inc. Nevid, J. S., & Rathus, S. A. (2013). Therapies: Ways of Helping. In Psychology and the Challenges of Life: Adjustment and Growth (12 ed., p. 325). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley & Sons Inc.. (Reprinted from Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, Vol. 13, pp. 374-375, by G. H. Awad & S. Ladhani, Eds., 2007, American Psychological Association) Nevid, J. S., & Rathus, S. A. (2013). Therapies: Ways of Helping. In Psychology and the Challenges of Life: Adjustment and Growth (12 ed., p. 326). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley & Sons Inc.. (Reprinted from Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 1 ed., Vol. 35, pp. 3-9, by R. B. Stuart, Ed., 2004)
The Hasidim, or "pious ones" in Hebrew, belong to a special movement within Orthodox Judaism, a movement that, at its height in the first half of the nineteenth century, claimed the allegiance of millions in Eastern and Central Europe--perhaps a majority of East European Jews. Hasidism gained popularity among the common people because of its charismatic leaders and the emotional appeal of its messages which stressed joy, faith and ecstatic prayer, accompanied by song and dance. Hasidism experienced a great decline during World War II and the Holocaust, but it was transplanted by immigrants to America, Israel, Canada, Australia, and Western Europe. Hasidism thrives today in areas such as New York and other American cities. Hasidic Jews thrive as a creative minority because they have conserved many of ...
When Hasidim, who belong to an ultra-pious movement within Orthodox Judaism, immigrated during the post World War ll era in large numbers to America, they sought to build a community similar to the European Shtetl culture to which they were accustomed. In the Shtetl they had lived a traditional and insular lifestyle. Hasidic leaders of the new immigrants founded communities that shunned contemporary Western Culture. Their successors continue to lead the mainstream Hasidic establishment with the same ideals. The only contact with society at large these communities accept is the contact that is necessary for them to nourish themselves.
The therapist must be aware of individual values and beliefs in order to develop an understanding of why the client responds to certain life-stressors. For e...
There are thousands of religions in this world, and of those, Hasidic Judaism is the most conservative. Throughout history Hasidism has not drifted from the rules and rituals of the 18th century. From the clothing, to the food, everything involved in Hasidic daily life is geared towards becoming closer to God. Around the world there are numerous Hasidic groups, and the largest population is in New York. Hasidic people live in small towns filled with members of the same group, and they all look towards their rebbe for guidance. The rebbe or the rabbi is the teacher of his followers and is responsible for inspiring his people. For Hasidic people everyday they must live by the 613 commandments of the Torah. Hasidic history, study, clothing, food, and communities prove that Hasidic Judaism is the most conservative and orthodox branch of religion for its time.
While working in the field of social work with various diverse groups and cultures, it is crucial to maintain a knowledge of cultural competence and cultural humility. In order to be culturally competent, a social worker needs to have both a background knowledge of the culture, and in order to practice cultural humility a social worker needs to be open to the likelihood that they will learn from their culturally diverse clientele. An example of this can be seen in a client from the Muslim-American cultural group. The client to be discussed here is an Iranian Muslim-American woman with OCD, or Obsessional-Compulsive Disorder. In order to address this client's needs regarding her OCD, the Evidence-Based Practice of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy will be applied. Because of this client's cultural background, the pre-sessional tuning-in, as well as the obstacles she might face, are important factors when it comes to
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The rapport and friendship built throughout this movie is vital to the success of the therapy exhibited here. This is a great example of Gestalt therapeutic approach and helps to identify most of the techniques incorporated. The techniques and ways of gently confronting but pushing a client all the way through are very beneficial to each viewer of this film.
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