The Modern Orthodox Jewish Client in the Clinical Encounter

The clinical encounter between mental health professional and client is directed towards a joint mission of healing through the implementation of an array of psychotherapeutic techniques. The Modern Orthodox Jewish client identifies strongly with secular American culture, yet also remains deeply committed to the Jewish belief system and the accompanying culture. The road to a successful clinical encounter in this instance is fraught with challenges, since the Modern Orthodox patient not only has difficulty fully identifying with the culture of the therapist, but also brings a unique worldview into the therapy room, presenting an amalgam of American culture and religious Jewish culture. The mental health professional is thus presented with a client who is bicultural, a most interesting and challenging situation for a therapist to face