“Sometimes, you need to not progress at all — in fact, you need to stop. And therapy, for me, was like a dead stop.”

— Dr. Elliot Malamet

Our society often promotes mental health as a way to improve productivity, with less concern for the human aspect.

This needs to change.

This Living Jewishly episode is an introduction to Crossing the Sea, a new podcast hosted by Dr. Elliot Malamet that explores mental health through a Jewish lens.

It will examine some of the most central issues in mental health today with a compassionate approach. Each episode will offer modern psychological and therapeutic insights blended with ideas from Jewish spirituality and wisdom.

Today’s episode is about therapy.

People may seek out therapy to deal with acute distress, mood disorders, phobias, low self esteem, or relationship issues, but stigma often prevents people from getting the help they need.

In our society, people feel a strong pressure to solve their own problems, which can lead to guilt or shame surrounding mental health issues. Access to therapy is also inaccessible or unaffordable for many people. But it’s an important tool to help people work through grief, negative thoughts or behaviors, communication issues and more.

Therapy isn’t just about digging up painful memories — it can offer you tools for living better, regulating your emotions, and safeguarding your mental health day to day.

Choosing the right therapist is key. Many people try therapy with the wrong therapist then give up on it entirely. But this doesn’t mean that you need to find someone just like you. In fact, a different perspective may be just what you need.

This‌ ‌episode discusses:‌ ‌

• Knowing when you need to slow down or stop — and how to find a therapist that fits your needs
• Whether you need to see a therapist that is Jewish — and what you may gain when you don’t
• The two crucial skills that we should be teaching our children to create an emotionally healthier world

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“Whether it's a chemical imbalance or an existential sadness, depression is not someone’s fault or something they’re doing wrong.”

— Dr. Elliot Malamet