Behavioral Health Archives - Westchester Jewish Community Services

Cocaine and Other Stimulants: What Clinicians Need to Know

Miriam Arond2024-11-14T12:59:42-05:00November 14th, 2024|Categories: Courses, Mental Health|Tags: cocaine, stimulants, what clinicians need to know, co-occurring disorders, ed institute, Mental Health, Behavioral Health, Substance Use|

This training will provide an overview of these various substances comprising this category of drugs, their intoxication and withdrawal symptoms, and co-occurring mental health and physical health concerns. Participants will also gain an understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying stimulant use, the clinical presentation of stimulant use disorders, and effective evidence-based treatment approaches to address stimulant use disorders.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Gallery

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Katy Wong2024-10-10T13:14:37-04:00October 8th, 2024|Categories: Mental Health, Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: Domestic Violence, Trauma, Mental Health, Behavioral Health, Westchester|

October marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Relationship violence affects millions of people, both children and adults, and can leave long-lasting physical, emotional, and psychological scars. WJCS is proud to partner with the Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation in our Margaret's Place program, which provides safe spaces within Westchester public schools where middle school and high school students can share their experience with relationship violence, get counseling, and find hope and healing. Margaret Place educates youth and school communities about violence prevention and engages peer leaders in public awareness programs. While most people recognize how dangerous domestic violence is, both ...

WJCS Initiates Zero Suicide Model with NYS Office of Mental Health
Gallery

WJCS Initiates Zero Suicide Model with NYS Office of Mental Health

Miriam Arond2024-09-09T15:22:37-04:00September 6th, 2024|Categories: Mental Health, Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: suicide prevention, suicide prevention awareness month, zero suicide, 988, trauma resources, Mental Health, Behavioral Health, Substance Use, Depression|

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a yearly reminder of the staggering rates of suicide and the importance of identifying and helping people who are experiencing a mental health crisis. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States with over 49,000 people having died by suicide in the U.S. in 2022 and 13.2 million seriously contemplating suicide, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS), the largest provider of licensed community-based mental health services in Westchester County, is closely collaborating with the NYS Office of Mental Health ...

Demystifying Electroconvulsive Therapy: A Discussion of the Practice of Modern ECT

Miriam Arond2024-07-25T10:39:56-04:00July 22nd, 2024|Categories: Courses, Mental Health|Tags: ect, electroconvulsive therapy, bipolar, schizophrenia, roy smetana, ed institute, Mental Illness, Behavioral Health, Depression|

This course will explain the indications, practice, and outcomes of ECT in an effort to clarify and destigmatize ECT. Extensive research has found ECT to be highly effective for the relief of major depression. It is also used for other severe mental illnesses, such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

Intro to Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Miriam Arond2024-07-16T11:21:45-04:00July 10th, 2024|Categories: Courses, Mental Health|Tags: bipolar disorder, self harm, bpd, dbt, psychotherapy, PTSD, co-occurring disorder, evidence based, ed institute, Dialectical Behavior, Mental Health, Behavioral Health, Substance Use, Depression|

Dates: 7/30/24 & 8/6/24 Time: 9-10:30am Contact hrs: 5 CEU’s: 5 Enrollment Limit: 20 Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based treatment originally designed for individuals with suicidal or self-harm behaviors. It has come to be an evidence-based treatment for borderline personality (BPD). However, many other clients and disorders have been shown to benefit from DBT, such as depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, or alcohol and drug use disorders. It can be applied as a behavioral therapy to any target behavior that the client would want to ...

The ABC’s of CBT

Miriam Arond2024-03-20T16:28:14-04:00March 20th, 2024|Categories: Courses, Mental Health|Tags: cognitive heavioral therapy, dbt, psychotherapy, CBT, co-occurring disorder, evidence based, ed institute, Dialectical Behavior, Mental Health, Behavioral Health, Substance Use|

Dates: 4/30/24 & 5/7/24 Time: 9:00 – 10:30 Contact Hrs: 3 CEUs: 3 It has been determined that WJCS staff would benefit from access to a general training specific to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The cognitive behavioral paradigm provides a unique way to conceptualize pathology and to plan therapeutic intervention. The majority of clinicians practicing today identify that some part of their work is informed by CBT. Research consistently indicates the efficacy of CBT with many psychological disorders and with a diverse range of clients. CBT is often embedded in frequently used interventions at WJCS such as dialectical behavior therapy ...

Trauma Treatment Across the Lifespan

Miriam Arond2024-03-06T16:02:33-05:00March 6th, 2024|Categories: Courses, Mental Health|Tags: trauma therapist, trauma treatment, PTSD, CBT, ed institute, mental health course, stress, Trauma, Mental Health, Behavioral Health|

Date: 4/9/24 & 4/16/24 Time: 9-10:30am Contact Hrs: 3 CEU’s: 3 Enrollment Limited to: 20 Trauma is becoming more prominently identified in clinical and mainstream rhetoric. Even if clinicians do not work as “trauma therapists,” they will more than likely encounter survivors of trauma in their practice. The DSM-5-TR diagnoses of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders are complex in their criteria and differentials. Beyond that, the clinical picture is further complicated by the different presentations of survivors of complex ...

Psychopharmacology and Co-Occurring Disorders: What Clinicians Need to Know

Miriam Arond2024-02-14T12:01:46-05:00February 14th, 2024|Categories: Courses, Mental Health|Tags: Psychopharmacology, psychology, co-occurring disorder, evidence based, ed institute, Mental Health, Behavioral Health, Substance Use|

This 1.5-hour training will introduce attendees to the concept of co-occurring disorders- the co-occurrence of one or more mental health and substance use disorders that often act in synergistic ways to exacerbate one another leading to more negative outcomes than if individuals had a substance use or mental health disorder alone.

Mental Health & Substance Use: Overcoming the Challenges
Gallery

Mental Health & Substance Use: Overcoming the Challenges

Miriam Arond2024-11-26T11:59:56-05:00February 13th, 2024|Categories: Mental Health, Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: co-occurring disorder, therapy, Trauma, Mental Health, Behavioral Health, Substance Use|

The number of people suffering from mental health and substance use problems are skyrocketing. More than 20% of Americans, including youth, teens, and adults of different socioeconomic groups, are living with a mental illness. Only about half of adults receive treatment. More than 20 million Americans 12 years and older are affected by substance use disorder. These conditions don’t discriminate. They affect people in all socioeconomic groups. "I came to WJCS for therapy at a time of serious distress in my 20’s. I couldn’t afford much, and was able to pay just a very modest amount thanks to financial ...

Client Alliance, Compliance & Therapist Burn Out

Miriam Arond2024-02-05T14:09:34-05:00February 5th, 2024|Categories: Courses, Mental Health|Tags: client alliance, compliance, therapist burn out, Mental Health, Behavioral Health|

Client Alliance, Compliance, and Therapist Burn Out Date: 3/5/24 Time: 9:00 – 11:00 Enrollment Limited to: 20 Contact Hours: 2 CEU’s: 2 Mental health professionals, perhaps now more than ever, are susceptible to stress and burn out directly related to their job responsibilities. Part of this comes from defining our professional selves based on what we are told our roles should be and what we should ...

Breaking Through the Barrier: Youth Mental Health
Gallery

Breaking Through the Barrier: Youth Mental Health

Miriam Arond2023-12-20T12:58:40-05:00December 17th, 2023|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: subtance abuse, mood changes, YMHFA, YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH, Mental Health, Behavioral Health|

by Brenda Haas, LMSW, Ed.M Why is children’s mental health shrouded with stigma and shame? If a child has diabetes we take them to get their insulin, and if they have asthma, we get them an inhaler. Childhood mental illness is real and very common. The National Institute for Mental Health reports that one out of five children in the U.S. suffers from a mental health disorder. Suicide is now the second leading cause of death in youth ages 15-24. In fact, half of all psychiatric illnesses occur before the age of 14, and 75 percent by the age ...

September is Suicide Prevention Month
Gallery

September is Suicide Prevention Month

Rose Herschman2023-09-20T14:30:27-04:00September 20th, 2023|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal|Tags: suicide prevention month, suicide awareness month, mental health resources, suicide, prevention, Mental Health, Behavioral Health, Westchester|

Recent data shows that in the United States suicide rates are the highest they have been since World War II. According to the National Institute of Health, there were more than 47,000 suicides in 2019, twice the number of deaths caused by homicide. Self-violence is a problem we cannot ignore. Suicide affects people of all genders, ages, and ethnicities. We all need to be prepared with information and resources to help someone who is exhibiting signs of despair, isolation, rage, pain, and suicidal thoughts. While there is no single cause for suicidal behavior, common risk factors include: Depression or ...

What We Stand For
Gallery

What We Stand For

Grace Oshin2022-06-08T12:03:04-04:00January 3rd, 2022|Categories: Featured Internal, General|Tags: developmental disabilities, leadership, Community, Seniors, Geriatric Care, Jewish Programs, Youth, Families, Nonprofit, Mental Health, Behavioral Health, Westchester|

Founded in 1943, Westchester Jewish Community Services has grown to be one of the largest nonprofit human service organizations in Westchester and the largest provider of licensed outpatient community mental health services in the county. Our values guide our work—the state-of-the-art programs and services we offer with compassion to more than 20,000 people of all ages and backgrounds throughout Westchester County. WJCS is driven by the spirit of “tikkun olam”–repairing the world. By providing care and support, we work to help Westchester residents of all ages and backgrounds who are struggling to heal, develop skills, build resilience, and lead ...

Teen Mental Health First Aid
Gallery

Teen Mental Health First Aid

Grace Oshin2022-02-18T15:27:16-05:00December 6th, 2021|Categories: General|Tags: Teen Mental Health, Mental Health First Aid, Mental Illness, students, anxiety reduction, Community, Youth, Nonprofit, Mental Health, Behavioral Health, Westchester, Depression, Anxiety|

The statistics are staggering. One in five teens has had a serious mental health disorder at some point in their young lives. Fifty percent of all mental illnesses begin by age 14. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for 15-24year-olds. WJCS is proud to offer training in Teen Mental Health First Aid, a nationally certified course which teaches high school students how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders among their friends and peers. It gives students the skills to have supportive conversations with their friends and get a responsible and ...

Commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr
Gallery

Commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr

Rose Herschman2022-02-10T16:16:29-05:00December 4th, 2021|Categories: Featured Homepage, General|Tags: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., MLK, Martin Luther King, Pride, Pandemic, leadership, digital equity, College, volunteering, Community, LGBTQ, Trauma, Nonprofit, College Students, Mental Health, Behavioral Health, Westchester|

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. devoted his life to seeking equality and human rights for African Americans, the economically disadvantaged, and all victims of injustice through peaceful protest. He was the driving force behind watershed events, such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the 1963 March on Washington, which helped bring about such landmark legislation as the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. Dr. King's message is as vitally important now as it was when he lived. While we remember him on Martin Luther King Jr. Day—this year ...

ASSESSING AND TREATING CLIENTS WITH CO-OCCURRING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE CONDITIONS

Rose Herschman2021-11-18T09:40:57-05:00November 18th, 2021|Categories: Courses|Tags: substance abuse, Trauma, Mental Health, Behavioral Health, Westchester, Substance Use, Anxiety|

Dates: 12/21/21 & 12/28/21 Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Enrollment Limited To: 16 Contact Hrs: 4 CEUs: 4 Clients seeking mental health treatment may also have a coexisting substance abuse problem. This may be apparent at intake or emerge during treatment. Symptoms of one disorder are often mistaken for the other. Treatment of individuals who present with co-occurring mental health and substance use issues can present a myriad of challenges for providers. Among the challenges faced by providers treating individuals with ...

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Gallery

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

Rose Herschman2021-09-15T18:05:40-04:00September 15th, 2021|Categories: Featured Homepage|Tags: Dialectical Behavior, suicide, prevention, therapy, Behavioral Health, Westchester|

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDgh_oaYXRU September is Suicide Prevention Month and WJCS would like everyone to know that there is help available for anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a cutting-edge, evidence-based treatment that combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approaches and Eastern philosophies, like mindfulness, to reduce suicidality and help individuals build a life worth living. DBT can help with:• Regulating intense, painful emotions • Controlling life-threatening and life- interfering behaviors, including suicide • Managing difficult interpersonal relationships • Fostering more life balanceWhy DBT? DBT is the treatment of choice for people who have struggled to find relief in ...

Remarkable Summer Accomplishments
Gallery

Remarkable Summer Accomplishments

Rose Herschman2021-09-10T15:02:38-04:00September 10th, 2021|Categories: Featured Homepage, General|Tags: Pride, Holocaust, volunteers, Pandemic, leadership, digital equity, College, volunteering, Community, LGBTQ, Trauma, Nonprofit, College Students, Mental Health, Behavioral Health, COVID, Westchester|

As we head into fall, we'd like to look back at some of WJCS's many achievements during the summer. Despite the stresses from the pandemic, we're proud of our clients’ resilience and the dedication of our staff, as they have continued to deliver programs and services for thousands of Westchester residents who have a critical need for our help. Here are just a few of our many accomplishments this summer. Thirty-five girls from Yonkers enjoyed fun, social, and enriching activities, including a visit from Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins at our Wiener Academy for Young Girls Summer Camp. WJCS ...

WJCS Appoints New Board Members
Gallery

WJCS Appoints New Board Members

Grace Oshin2021-07-30T19:12:38-04:00July 30th, 2021|Categories: Featured Homepage|Tags: Board members, leadership, Community, Nonprofit, Behavioral Health, Westchester|

WJCS, one of the largest human service organizations in Westchester, is proud to announce the appointment of three new members to its Board of Directors: Joel Beckman, Steven Beckman, and Julian Gomez. Joel Beckman co-founded Greenbriar Equity Group, L.P. and, before that, was a Managing Director and Partner at Goldman Sachs. Now retired, he has been actively involved in numerous philanthropic causes, including UJA-Federation of New York, the University of Rochester, Yale Law School, the JCC of Budapest, Stepping Stone Day School for handicapped children, Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, and the Chordoma Foundation. He lives with his wife Shari in Scarsdale ...

WJCS Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics
Gallery

WJCS Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics

Grace Oshin2022-07-20T11:44:59-04:00June 15th, 2021|Categories: Featured Homepage|Tags: CCBHC, Mental Illness, students, anxiety reduction, Community, Family, Children, Youth, Nonprofit, Mental Health, Behavioral Health, Westchester, Depression, Anxiety|

WJCS Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) in Peekskill and Mount Vernon Clinic provide integrative services to clients who are living with a variety of behavioral health conditions, including but not limited to serious mental illness, substance use disorders, and serious emotional disturbance. The CCBHC Services include the following: • Screening, assessment, and diagnosis, including risk assessment • Patient-centered treatment planning, including crisis planning • Comprehensive outpatient mental health and substance use services • Case management • Community-based recovery supports, including peer support, counselor services, and family supports • Crisis mental health services, including 24-hour mobile crisis team emergency ...

WJCS AWARDED $4 MILLION SAMHSA GRANT
Gallery

WJCS AWARDED $4 MILLION SAMHSA GRANT

Grace Oshin2021-02-12T15:06:29-05:00February 12th, 2021|Categories: General|Tags: Mental Health, Behavioral Health, COVID, Covid-19, Westchester, Substance Use, Depression, Anxiety|

WJCS was awarded a $4 million Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) grant—$2 million a year for two years—from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The funding will be used to broaden and deepen WJCS substance abuse and mental health services in Peekskill and Mt.Vernon, two of Westchester's most under resourced communities. "The SAMHSA grant will provide integrated care, combining behavioral health, physical health, and substance use services, to low-income individuals who face major emotional and social challenges, including lack of employment, inadequate housing conditions, poor access to health services and substance use and opioid use prevention, ...