NEFESH International presents
29th AnnualNEFESH International Conference
Four days of clinical learning, meaningful connection, and community for Orthodox mental health professionals.
sessions
credits
600+Attendees
30+Vendors
25+CE Credits
45+Speakers
Wednesday, January 6, 2027
Pre-conference
Complimentary for NEFESH members. Paid registration is required for non-members. Join the NEFESH community before the main conference begins.
01 / The conference
Clinical excellence.
Meaningful connections.
NEFESH International’s annual gathering brings together mental health professionals committed to clinical excellence, ethical practice, and culturally responsive care.
Explore the presenters and sessions below. Open a day to view presentation times, topics, and presenter credentials.
Presenters & program
January 6–10, 2027
Draft schedule · Subject to confirmation. All times Eastern. Sessions with overlapping times run concurrently.
JAN06Wednesday
Wednesday, January 6, 2027 · Pre-conference
JAN06
Wednesday
Wednesday, January 6, 2027 · Pre-conference
3:30 PM–5:30 PM
Concurrent sessionsYehuda Friedman, LCSW
Yitzy Pivovoz, LCSW
Developing a Mind: Building Self-Reflective Capacity
2 hours
Yisroel Isaacs, LCSW
Ther-AI-py: A Clinician’s Guide to AI in Mental Health Practice
2 hours
Joshua Hans, MHC-LP, CCEMT-P
Kasriel Gewirtzman, LMHC
When De-Escalation Isn’t Enough: From Crisis Conversation to Crisis Response
2 hours
6:00 PM–9:00 PM
Concurrent sessionsBarry Horowitz, LCSW
When Words Are Not Enough: Creative Processing Techniques across the Phases of Trauma Treatment
3 hours
Miriam Wolosh, PhD
“Help! Once I Start Eating, I Can’t Stop.” Understanding and Treating Binge Eating Disorder with CBT-E
3 hours
Michael Adler, PsyD
From Smartphones to Substances and Beyond: Understanding, Identifying, and Assessing Addictive Behaviors and Disorders
3 hours
Naalla Schreiber, MD
Pamela Siller, MD
Everything You Always Wanted to Know: Psychotropic Medications for Non-Prescribers
3 hours
Nachum (Andrew) Klafter
“Present and Grounded on My Healing Journey” and Other Silly Terms I Want to Outlaw
3 hours
9:00 PM–10:30 PM
Meaningful connectionsTopics and facilitators TBA
Breakout Clinical Discussions
An opportunity to make meaningful connections through clinical discussion.
1 hour 30 minutes
JAN07Thursday
Thursday, January 7, 2027
JAN07
Thursday
Thursday, January 7, 2027
9:30 AM–12:30 PM
Concurrent sessionsElan Javanfard, M.A., LMFT
Shmuel Zuckerman, LCSW
Crisis-Informed Therapy: Restoring Function without Losing Depth
3 hours
Frimi Faye Walkenfeld, Ph.D.
Rebecca Soffer, Ph.D.
Meira Orentlicher, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, CRA
“Everyone’s Doing It”: Finding Yourself without Losing Your Place — The Psychology of Belonging, Conformity, and Identity
3 hours
Binyamin Tepfer, Ph.D., CSAT-S, CMAT
Game Over: Helping Teens Recover from Gambling Addiction
3 hours
Esther Rollhaus, MD
Tal Weinberger, MD
Beyond Perinatal Psychiatry: Women’s Mental Health and Hormonal Impact on Mood throughout the Lifespan
3 hours
1:20 PM–2:45 PM
Agency TrackSpeakers TBA
Title TBA
1 hour 25 minutes
1:20 PM–4:20 PM
Concurrent sessionsMoshe Maness, LMHC, LPC
Beyond the Stages: Somatic Rituals, the Dual Process Model, and Navigating Collective Trauma in Jewish Grief Counseling
3 hours
Yedidya Levy, Psy.D.
Yael Muskat, Psy.D.
Debra Alper, Ph.D.
From Reactivity to Resilience: Working with Anger in Young Adults
3 hours
Sherrie L. Ludwick, MS, LCPC, NCC, SEP, C-PST
Healing Developmental Trauma: The Role of Attuned Touch, Co-Regulation, and Relational Safety
3 hours
Rebecca Saleman, LMSW
Elan Javenfard, MA, LMFT
Alphabet Soup Is Great, but Don't Forget the Broth: Attuned Listening as the Foundation of Clinical Practice
3 hours
Tzachi Fried, PhD
Tzippora Wallach, PsyD
Treating Personality Disorders: DBT Principles for Non-DBT Clinicians
3 hours
Shmuel Skaist, LPC, CSAT
Ezer Without Kenegdo: Algorithmic Intimacy, AI Companions, and Compulsive Sexual Behavior — A Torah-Informed Clinical Framework
3 hours
3:00 PM–4:20 PM
Agency TrackSpeakers TBA
Title TBA
1 hour 20 minutes
4:25 PM–6:00 PM
Concurrent sessionsMeaningful connectionsRivki Jungreis, LCSW, MS.Ed
Hindie M. Klein, PsyD
Psychotherapeutic Bloopers and Blunders: Important Clinical Lessons Learned
1 hour 35 minutes
Facilitator TBA
Psychology Connect
1 hour 35 minutes
Facilitator TBA
Early Professional Connect
1 hour 35 minutes
7:45 PM–9:45 PM
Concurrent sessionsTzachi Fried, PhD
Yocheved Berlowitz, MD
Dvorah Levy, LCSW
Rozi P. Wax, LMFT
Moderator: Dr. Dovid Fox
The Therapist in the War Zone: Shared Trauma, Resilience, and Identity
2 hours
Sarah Lebovits, LCSW
The Elephant in the Therapy Room: What Are We Not Talking About? (Sexuality)
2 hours
Rus Devorah (Darcy) Wallen, LCSW, CIMHP
The Three Rs of Effective Treatment: Relationships, Regulation, and Repertoire: Creating the Conditions for Meaningful Psychotherapy
2 hours
Devora Follman, LCSW
Assessment for Residential Treatment: Complex Patients, Complex Families, and a Complicated Community
2 hours
Robert Lebovits, Ph.D.
Becoming VUCAH-Informed: Identifying and Managing the Psychological Impact of VUCAH on an Individual's Daily Life
2 hours
9:55 PM–10:55 PM
Yechiel Fayershteyn, LMHC-D
Interpersonal Process Groups: How Relationships Become the Agent of Change
1 hour
JAN08Friday
Friday, January 8, 2027
JAN08
Friday
Friday, January 8, 2027
9:30 AM–12:30 PM
Concurrent sessionsSury Fish, LCSW
Trauma-Informed Sociometry and Psychodrama
3 hours
Eliot P. Kaplan, LCSW
Ed Yisroel Susskind, PhD
Experiencing Borderline Marital Therapy Made Easy
3 hours
Chana Mark, LCSW
Transference/Countertransference, Object Relations, and the Interpersonal: The Centrality of Therapeutic Connection
3 hours
1:30 PM–3:00 PM
Yehudis Wolofsky, LCSW
Developing a Secure Attachment: Healing Childhood Trauma
1 hour 30 minutes
JAN09Saturday
Saturday, January 9, 2027
JAN09
Saturday
Saturday, January 9, 2027
7:30 PM–9:30 PM
Concurrent sessionsAvi Davis, MSW, RSW, RP
Working with Complex Trauma: The Heart of Journeying with Our Clients
2 hours
Rabbi Avrohom Union, MA
Compulsion, Coercion, and Constraints: Halachic Perspectives on Psychological Conflicts
2 hours
JAN10Sunday
Sunday, January 10, 2027
JAN10
Sunday
Sunday, January 10, 2027
9:45 AM–12:45 PM
Concurrent sessionsShimmy Feintuch, LCSW, CASAC-G
Locked In: Clinical Approaches to Sports Betting
3 hours
Elan Javenfard, MA, LMFT
Great Therapists Don’t Outgrow Supervision: The Art of Giving and Receiving Supervision
3 hours
Tzachi Fried, PhD
Nachum Klafter, MD
When Anger Enters the Room: Working with Client Anger, Therapist Anger, and Repair in Therapy
3 hours
2:00 PM–4:00 PM
Concurrent sessions and poster presentationsPoster Presentations & Discussion
Explore the posters and meet their presenters, who will be available to discuss their work, answer questions, and exchange ideas with attendees.
2:00–4:00 PM
Rabbi Dovid Fox, PhD
Rabbi Avrahom Union, MA
SHONDA! What Halacha and Psychology Can Offer Jewish Communities When Facing Scandals
2 hours
Judy Lebovits, LCSW
When Desire Enters the Room: A 5-Layer Clinical Model for Understanding Erotic Transference in Psychotherapy and Sex Therapy
2 hours
Dov Finkelstein, LCSW
Being and Becoming: An Introduction to Existential Psychoanalysis
2 hours
4:05 PM–6:05 PM
Concurrent sessionsRabbi Chaim Ellis, MSW, LCSW
From Avoidance to Attendance: Supporting Families Who Struggle with School Refusal
2 hours
Yosef Mendel Heintz, LMSW
Prevention of Burnout in Social Workers
2 hours
Shulim Goldring, PsyD
Helping Tough Kids and Their Parents
2 hours
6:30 PM–8:30 PM
Concurrent sessionsToby Schwartz, LCSW-R, DSW Candidate
Understanding Eating Disorders, Diet Culture, and the Path to Intuitive Eating
2 hours
Debra Alper, Ph.D.
Aaron Tropper, Ph.D.
The Psychology of Money: Clinical Perspectives on Financial Stress, Wealth, and Well-Being
2 hours
Listed durations are session lengths, not CE credits. Additional conference events will be announced.
02 / Registration
Conference pricing
Choose a rate category to review available packages. All rooms are double occupancy; private-room upgrades will be offered for an additional nightly fee.
Tier 1 Register by Nov. 28Tier 2 Nov. 29–Dec. 15Tier 3 Dec. 16 onward
| Package | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday evening | Free | Free | Free |
| Thursday–Friday | $770 Spouse $635 | $810 Spouse $655 | $855 Spouse $665 |
| Thursday–Sunday Hotel & dining included | $1,290 Spouse $1,090 | $1,355 Spouse $1,115 | $1,420 Spouse $1,145 |
| Friday–Sunday | $1,170 Spouse $975 | $1,235 Spouse $1,000 | $1,300 Spouse $1,030 |
| Saturday night–Sunday Melave Malka included | $515 Spouse $490 | $535 Spouse $515 | $560 Spouse $535 |
| Thursday only | $420 | $440 | $460 |
| Friday only | $275 | $290 | $305 |
| Sunday only + dinner | $420 | $440 | $460 |
| Package | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday evening | $149 Spouse $99 | $159 Spouse $109 | $169 Spouse $119 |
| Thursday–Friday | $820 Spouse $655 | $865 Spouse $675 | $910 Spouse $700 |
| Thursday–Sunday Hotel & dining included | $1,395 Spouse $1,145 | $1,450 Spouse $1,170 | $1,505 Spouse $1,195 |
| Friday–Sunday | $1,280 Spouse $1,080 | $1,330 Spouse $1,105 | $1,385 Spouse $1,135 |
| Saturday night–Sunday Melave Malka included | $525 Spouse $515 | $545 Spouse $535 | $570 Spouse $555 |
| Thursday only | $450 | $470 | $495 |
| Friday only | $325 | $340 | $355 |
| Sunday only | $450 | $470 | $495 |
| Package | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday evening | Free members $69 non-members | Free members $69 non-members | Free members $69 non-members |
| Thursday–Friday | $495 | $505 | $515 |
| Thursday–Sunday Hotel & dining included | $1,060 | $1,070 | $1,080 |
| Friday–Sunday | $930 | $940 | $950 |
| Saturday night–Sunday Melave Malka included | $505 | $525 | $545 |
| Thursday only | $235 | $245 | $255 |
| Friday only | $150 | $160 | $170 |
| Sunday | $235 | $245 | $255 |
Student pricing is available to those taking 12 or more graduate school credits, as well as residents and fellows.
Registration
Registration is open
Review the packages above, then complete your registration online.
Register now ↗03 / Organizations
Meet the community
behind the work.
Put your organization in front of mental health professionals from across the NEFESH network. Agencies, practices, schools, service providers, and mission-aligned organizations can participate in our conference marketplace or select from a range of sponsorship opportunities.
Be part of the room
Reserve a presence where attendees gather, connect, and discover resources throughout the conference.
View sponsorship opportunities ↗Support the experience
Explore visibility and engagement opportunities designed for organizations of different sizes and goals.
Sign up for sponsorship ↗04 / Location
Conference location
Dolce by Wyndham Parsippany
Formerly the Sheraton Parsippany Hotel
199 Smith Road, Parsippany, NJ 07054
Join us in January
Come for the learning.
Leave inspired.
Join the NEFESH community for clinical learning, professional connection, and inspiration.