Welcome to the JFCS Counselor’s Corner, where our staff clinicians
delves into a different aspect of mental health or modes of therapy.
The Challenges & Rewards of Being a Family Caregiver
By Douglas Keller, MSW, LSW - JFCS Geriatric Social Worker Becoming a family caregiver is rarely a role someone expects to step into. It can happen suddenly, such as when a parent receives a diagnosis, a spouse has an accident, or a family member’s needs change unexpectedly. In other cases, a caregiver’s responsibilities grow gradually [...]
Partnering with Purpose: Proactive Mental Health Support for Students
How JFCS works with schools and families to make a difference By Emily Witmier, LAC - Mental Health Clinician & Community Educator At Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS), we see the impact of unsupported mental health challenges every day—students struggling with more than just schoolwork. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 40% of [...]
Smooth Sailing into the School Year: Essential Tips for Easing the Back-to-School Transition
By Emily Witmier, LAC - Mental Health Clinician & Community Educator As summer days wane and the new school year looms, preparing for this transition can ease the stress and set a positive tone for the months ahead. From setting up a new routine to addressing emotional needs, these tips will help ensure that both [...]
Is It Depression or Dementia? Recognizing the Difference.
By Gail Belfer, MSW, LCSW, CDP - Director of Holocaust Survivor Services & Advocacy Many individuals are concerned when they notice changes in their personality, mood, and behavior - or in their loved ones. They worry that these changes are symptoms of dementia and may delay going to the doctor because they are afraid of [...]
What Is Life Coaching?
By Cheryl Herzfeld, MCMHC, LPC, BCC Many people have heard of “coaching,” but what exactly is it, and how does “life coaching” differ from counseling or therapy? One formal definition of “coaching” is “a human development process that involves structured, focused interaction and the use of appropriate strategies, tools and techniques to promote desirable and [...]
What Is Trauma?
By Temima Rothmel, MSW, LCSW - JFCS Staff Therapist Trauma is defined as a deeply disturbing and distressing experience. All of us have most likely experienced some form of trauma in our lifetime whether directly or vicariously. When a traumatic event occurs, our brains react differently. There is no time to think or process the [...]
Play Therapy
By Rebecca Rosenau, MSW, LCSW, CDP - JFCS Director of Clinical Services Communicating with Children in the Language They Speak In adults, mental illness can be an invisible disability. Many people shrink from seeking help due to their fear of shame and stigma. However, these issues are more easily identifiable in young children, who are [...]