On Saturday March 12, I attended the NIP (National Institute for the Psychotherapies) 27th Annual Conference. Entitled “Illusions of Immortality: Psychanalytic Engagement with the Human Condition” (http://www.nipinst.org/nip/training/events/annual_conference/), the conference was a uniquely enriching experience. The presentations addressed, from different yet complementary perspectives, the mind’s struggle with its own demise, with the knowledge that we all must die. Martin Frommer, Ph.D.,… READ MORE>>
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“Illusions of Immortality: Psychoanalytic Engagement with the Human Condition”
Posted by on March 14, 2016
REMINDER: Irit Felsen presenting at OHEL Workshop on “Psychology of Change” on Mar. 9/2016 in Brooklyn, NY
Posted by on February 28, 2016
On March 9, 9:00-4:00 I will be presenting a workshop at the Ohel Institute for Training. The workshop topic will be : Psychology of Change: Promoting Positive Therapeutic Outcomes The presenters will be : David Pelcovitz, PhD, Irit Felsen, PhD and Alessandra Scalmati, MD, PhD This advanced full-day workshop will provide valuable insights for mental health professionals seeking to enhance… READ MORE>>
Dying with dignity – an important conversation to have
Posted by on February 21, 2016
Recently on CNN.com, Dr. Jacquelyn Corley wrote a piece titled “Why Doctors Want to Die Differently” : http://edition.cnn.com/2016/02/17/opinions/doctors-choose-quality-of-life-over-length-corley/index.html Dr. Corley describes the heart wrenching story of a man who was lying in the hospital bed on the twentieth day after he had suffered a massive hypertensive hemorrhage which destroyed his brain. She said that from the perspective of any remaining… READ MORE>>
Paper published: Encounters with Chronic Psychiatric Holocaust Survivors: Trauma, Psychosis and Functionality
Posted by on February 16, 2016
Last week a paper I wrote, entitled “Encounters with Chronic Psychiatric Holocaust Survivors: Trauma, Psychosis and Functionality” appeared in issue 6 of the online journal “Kavod”. The paper can be found at http://kavod.claimscon.org/2016/01/encounters-with-chronic-psychiatric-holocaust-survivors-trauma-psychosis-and-functionality/. The paper describes a research project conducted by me and Dori Laub with chronically hospitalized psychiatric Holocaust survivors. “Kavod: Honoring Aging Survivors” is a professional Journal for… READ MORE>>
Encounter-Focused Couples Therapy: A powerful method for connecting two people, for creating safety in a relationship, for learning to listen and to hear each other more authentically
Posted by on February 10, 2016
This past weekend I assisted in leading a couples workshop in Miami, with Hedy Schleifer, MA,LMHC and her husband Yumi. The workshop, enitled “An Adventure in Intimacy”, is based on Encounter-Centered Couples Therapy, a model that includes a fascinating blend of ideas derived from relational psychology, attachment studies, developmental psychology and the recent burgeoning field of neuro-affective research. Concepts and… READ MORE>>
Event in support of the Survivor Initiative at the Museum of Tolerance and Gratitude, NY
Posted by on February 4, 2016
Last night I was at the Museum of Tolerance and Gratitude in Manhattan (http://www.museumoftolerancenewyork.com, and part of the Simon Wiesenthal Center), as part of the action-oriented Survivor Initiative (http://www.survivorinitiative.org/), an organization that raises funds to support service agencies that serve Holocaust survivors in NYC who are living under the poverty line. It was wonderful to see so many young people… READ MORE>>
Report from Workshop on Parenting Adult Children Substance Abusers
Posted by on February 1, 2016
Yesterday I attended a program at the Northeast Counties Association of Psychologists of Bergen – Hudson – Passaic Counties (NCAP) (for more details, see http://northeastnjpsychassoc.org/). The program, entitled “The Convergence of Attachment, Codependency & Trauma: The Crisis of Parenting Adult Children Substance Abusers”, was presented by Osna L. Haller, Ph.D., and focused on this extremely difficult problem of parenting, which… READ MORE>>
Meeting of the Morris County Traumatic Loss Coalition
Posted by on January 30, 2016
Last Friday I attended the meeting of the Morris County Traumatic Loss Coalition. The meeting was a great example of an effort to present mental health professionals in the community with an organized, clear overview of some services which are available, some even free, of which many of us are not aware. Providing information about the different access points to… READ MORE>>
United Nations Program for International Day of Commemoration in Memory of Victims Of The Holocaust: “The Holocaust And Human Dignity”
Posted by on January 27, 2016
Today I attended the 2016 International Day of Commemoration in Memory of Victims Of The Holocaust at the United Nations headquarters in NY, which was profoundly moving. (More information is available at http://www.un.org/en/holocaustremembrance/2016/calendar2016.html.) The messages delivered by two survivors of the Holocaust, Marta Wise and Haim Roet, and a survivor of the Sinto who were also exterminated by the Nazis… READ MORE>>
Irit Felsen presenting at OHEL Workshop on “Psychology of Change” on Mar. 9/2016 in Brooklyn, NY
Posted by on January 23, 2016
This advanced full-day workshop will provide insights for mental health professionals seeking to enhance their understanding of the key factors contributing to positive behavioral and emotional change, and successful psychotherapeutic outcomes across different therapeutic interventions. The workshop will provide an overview based on current research and clinical findings, with direct application to clinical practice. Participants will have the opportunity to… READ MORE>>
Postponement of presentation on Jan. 24/2016 at Ofek School in West Orange, NJ
Posted by on January 23, 2016
Due to the winter storm, Irit Felsen’s presentation at Ofek School in West Orange, NJ which was scheduled for Jan. 24/2016 has been postponed, and will be rescheduled for a future date.
Presentation on Jan. 24/2016 at Ofek School in West Orange, NJ
Posted by on January 18, 2016
On Sunday, January 24, I will be presenting a talk to the parents and members of the Isreaeli-American community at the Ofek School (http://ofekschool.wix.com/ofekschoolnj) in JCC MetroWest, on 76 Northfield Avenue, West Orange, NJ. The presentation, which will take place between 2:15-4:00, will be in Hebrew. The Ofek School is an integral part of the emerging Israeli community in MetroWest,… READ MORE>>
Two articles by Irit Felsen published in NJ Jewish News on Jan. 13/2016
Posted by on January 16, 2016
The January 13, 2016 edition of the New Jersey Jewish News includes two pieces by me. The first can be viewed at http://njjewishnews.com/article/29569/survivor-sees-his-life-and-message-on-film#.VpmkSFJQA2c, and is about the premier showing of the film “Be An Upstander, The Fred Heyman Story” which took place at the JCC in MetroWest a couple of weeks ago. Fred is a NJ resident and survivor of… READ MORE>>
Attendance at Renaissance Weekend 12/28/15-1/1/16 in Charleston, SC
Posted by on December 23, 2015
I will be attending the upcoming Renaissance Weekend, taking place in Charleston, South Carolina from December 28/2015 – January 1/2016 (more details are available at http://www.renaissanceweekend.org/weekends/detail.htm?id=51). Among the various activities organized, I will give a 1-hour presentation entitled “Extreme Resilience: Up-Close and Personal” as well as a mini-lecture about PTSD, and also moderate a panel discussion about mental illness and… READ MORE>>
Article written by Irit Felsen published in The Times of Israel on December 15/2015
Posted by on December 17, 2015
Another article written by Irit Felsen was published in The Times of Israel on December 10, 2015. The article, entitled “Selfies: A Modern Tale of Ugly Ducklings“, can be found at the following link: http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/selfies-a-modern-tale-of-ugly-ducklings/