By Fran Dinehart, LCSW Recently I was privileged to attend a training on Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT) hosted by Imagine Recovery, and am excited to integrate what I have learned into my therapy practice. Although DBT was developed for people with borderline personality disorder, it also borrows widely from Mindfulness Based Stress ReductionRead More
by Lauren Rudzis, Development & Communications Coordinator If there was ever a time to focus on your well-being, well congratulations, today is your day! July 24th is recognized as International Self-Care Day. However, ‘self-care’ can be emphasized beyond it’s designated celebration. In our busy lifestyles, we find ourselves in a whirlwind ofRead More
by Dr. Katie Godshall, LCSW-BACS; Teen Life Counts Program Coordinator Over the past week, Louisiana geared up for what was forecasted to be a record “rain-event”. Thankfully the impact was minimal in most parts, but the significant effect remains as an invisible weight on the shoulders of many who have experienced damaging hurricanes, storms,Read More
The Following remarks were given by JFS Director of Clinical Services, Rachel Lazarus Eriksen, LCSW-BACS; at the Hadassah and NCJW Spring Study Group “If Only I’d Had A Plan… The Facts of Life and Death” Tips and Tools for Our Families and Ourselves on Tuesday, April 30th, 2019. OVERVIEW Thank you forRead More
By Lauren Rudzis, Development & Communications Coordinator Looking for a meaningful way to kick-start 2019? Perhaps an activity that makes an impact on the Greater New Orleans community? Consider volunteering with Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans (JFS)! By volunteering with JFS, you have the unique opportunity to help others and partner withRead More
Imagine living without the hope of finding help, simply because you can’t afford it. Sadly, this is the case for many in the Greater New Orleans community. Vulnerable families and individuals are struggling with the financial inability to receive affordable compassionate care. For over 70 years, Jewish Family Service of Greater NewRead More
By Fran Dinehart, LCSW Social Worker & Case Manager One of my counseling clients came for treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). A friend drowned during a recent beach trip and since then she had panic attacks around large bodies of water. I took her history, identified her stressors, and together we created a targetingRead More
Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans is devastated by the horrific act of violence and the senseless loss of eleven lives at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, PA this past weekend. Establishments of worship are meant to be safe havens that shelter those from the storm of hatred. Our thoughts and prayersRead More
By Sarah Villien, JFS Client & Donor Services Specialist “A wife who loses a husband is called a widow. A husband who loses a wife is called a widower. A child who loses his parents is called an orphan. There is no word for a parent who loses a child. That’s how awful theRead More
By Melissa Stewart, LMSW; JFS Teen Life Counts Program Coordinator September is National Suicide Prevention Month. It is a month to remember those who have been affected by suicide and to share information about prevention. Suicide is an epidemic in the United States. The most recent data from the CDC shows that in 2016,Read More
by Katie Godshall, LCSW-BACS, & Jennifer Keith, JFS Behavioral Health Intern The new school year is upon us! Parents are joyfully stuffing backpacks while kids look on in utter disbelief that summer is over. Whether you are a student or a parent of a student, you may be feeling the onset of New-School-Year-Anxiety. Fortunately,Read More
by Katie Godshall, LCSW-BACS, JFS Intern Program Supervisor Many people associate the Fourth of July with hot dogs, hamburgers, family gatherings and fireworks. We talk about the sacrifices made to maintain a sense of freedom and then set out explosives well into the night and continue throughout the weekend. While this may be funRead More
Katie Godshall, LCSW-BACS, JFS Intern Program Supervisor This time of year is usually filled with flustered shopping, indulgent meals, traveling and time spent with our loved ones. A season full of cheer can also be isolating and difficult if you have lost someone dear. Whether this is the first holiday since theRead More
Candice Rosenblum, LCSW Clinical Social Worker, Northshore “Brian” was battling depression when he sought treatment from Jewish Family Service (JFS) last year. The death of his father triggered painful memories of a difficult childhood spent with a physically and verbally abusive alcoholic father. This behavior often creates a negative sense of self for children. ARead More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (7/19/2017): Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans (JFS) is pleased to accept a generous donation from the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust to support counseling services for children and families. The donation primarily supports an established partnership between JFS and the Jewish Community Day School (JCDS) in Metairie, to offer on-site counselingRead More
JFS is pleased to offer ongoing Continuing Education Workshops for health professionals in our community. The last workshop, “An Introduction to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy,” was presented by Stephen W. Phillippi, Jr., PhD, LCSW, Director of the Institute for Public Health & Justice on January 20th, at the JFS office in Metairie. Participants learned (in part,)Read More