Antisemitism: What Mental Health Professionals Need to Know

Cost
PPA Members: $75
Non-members - $150
Non-CE/Student Members: FREE

3 Continuing Education Credits

This webinar is live and will not be recorded.

Program Description:  

Antisemitism, or discrimination and hate towards Jewish people, is considered one of the world’s oldest forms of hatred. With the evolution of society, media, and violence in the Middle East, antisemitism has evolved alongside; making it more difficult to identify, understand, and combat. In the U.S. in 2022, antisemitic incidents accounted for more than half of religion-based hate crimes despite Jews representing only 2% of the U.S. population (FBI, 2022). Antisemitic incidents have skyrocketed globally since October 7th and the following Israel-Hamas war, with the U.S. reporting a 388% increase in the two weeks after October 7th compared to the same time last year (ADL, 2023). The insidious nature of antisemitism, as with many forms of discrimination and hatred, brings severe detriment to Jews around the world. The mental health of Jewish patients in therapeutic spaces can be particularly impacted, but many clinicians report a lack of knowledge and accompanying discomfort in addressing issues around antisemitism with Jewish clients.

This beginner level webinar is aimed at mental health professionals nationwide, regardless of whether or not their current work involves the Jewish community. The purpose of this training is to help clinicians understand what antisemitism is, what it can look like, and how to support their Jewish clients in the face of antisemitism. This training, grounded in a social justice lens, will provide participants with a thorough background and understanding of antisemitism, equip participants with the tools needed to identify antisemitism, and provide trauma-informed guidelines for addressing antisemitism that may arise in their clinical and professional work. The aim of this training is to empower clinicians to feel more comfortable and confident identifying antisemitism, reflecting on antisemitic biases, and cultivating their social justice advocacy to be inclusive of all.

Program Learning Objectives: At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Define antisemitism, identifying three ways antisemitism can manifest in society, media, and politics
2. Name 5 potential impacts of antisemitism on mental health, particularly through the lens of community and generational trauma
3. Identify three effective responses and tools to address antisemitism in professional and clinical contexts

Presenter

Liya Levanda, PsyD is a dynamic psychologist and speaker who brings a modern perspective on Jewish issues, particularly antisemitism, as they pertain to clinical psychology. Dr. Levanda is an active social justice advocate within the field, seeking a future in psychology that can address all forms of discrimination and hatred, antisemitism included. Over the past decade, she has passionately advocated against antisemitism, with appearances ranging from local universities’ Jewish student union chapters to national organizations, regional psychological associations, and even podcasts. Dr. Levanda actively seeks to empower individuals with the knowledge and tools necessary to challenge antisemitic beliefs and provide clinicians with relevant tools to improve their practice, grounded in the belief that there is no such thing as a “dumb” question.

This program is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Psychological Association (PPA).  PPA is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.  PPA maintains responsibility for the program and its content.