2026 NEFESH Summer Conference - Day 2

Wednesday, July 15, 2026 | Online Event

Join us for Day 2 of our Annual Summer Conference featuring live interactive CE credits. Register for individual classes below or for full conference access.

FREE for NEFESH Members when attended live | Non-Members: $180

Register using the email linked to your NEFESH membership.

To register for just one class, click on the class title below.

Day 2 Conference Schedule

Schedule is subject to change.

All times are EDT.

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Bridging the Divide: The Essential Role of Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Behavioral Health

Behavioral health treatment increasingly requires an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to effectively address the complex intersection of trauma, mental illness, neurobiology, medical conditions, family systems, substance use, and social determinants of health. Yet professionals across disciplines often work in fragmented systems that limit communication, continuity of care, and treatment outcomes.

This presentation explores the critical role of interdisciplinary collaboration in behavioral health settings and examines how clinicians, physicians, educators, social workers, case managers, legal professionals, and allied health providers can work together to create more cohesive, trauma-informed, and patient-centered systems of care.

Presented by: Malkie Schick, LCSW

11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

Sending Your Client to Their Israel Gap Year: Clinical Risks, Continuity of Care, and What Referring Therapists Need to Know

Each year, many adolescents and young adults with significant emotional, relational, psychiatric, or family-system complexity leave their home communities to spend a gap year in Israel. For referring clinicians, this transition can raise important questions: Is the student stable enough to go? What level of support will they need? How should risk be communicated? What happens when a student’s functioning changes once they are far from home, family, and familiar treatment providers?

The talk will focus on practical guidance for assessment, preparation, referral, and continuity of care. Particular attention will be given to coordinating care between therapists, parents, psychiatrists, and yeshiva/seminary staff while maintaining appropriate boundaries and confidentiality. Clinicians will leave with a clearer framework for deciding when a gap year is clinically appropriate, what supports should be in place, and how to help students transition with greater safety, clarity, and therapeutic continuity.

Presented by: Tzachi Fried, PhD; Jon Ifrah, MSW; and Shevi Slome, LMSW

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM

Fragmented Beauty: A Jungian Perspective on Sexual Compulsions

Most psychotherapeutic approaches to compulsive sexuality and pornography follow an addictions model, with a focus on curbing behavior. This presentation will offer an introduction to a Jungian perspective on the unconscious processes of compulsivity. It will further address some insights that a Jungian perspective might offer the professional working with a person suffering with sexual compulsivity that will impact treatment.

This presentation will compare and contrast a Jungian psychological perspective with a Jewish religious perspective on attraction, desire, and beauty and their impact on working with sexual compulsivity. This presentation will also address transference and countertransference issues specific to the Orthodox Jewish mental health professional working with sexuality, as well as issues related to the Orthodox Jewish person presenting for psychotherapy.

Presented by: Yitzi Horowitz, LCSW

2:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Tele-Therapy with Children and Teens: Yes, It Really Works! Best Practices and Strategies for Effective Virtual Therapy with Young Clients

As tele-health continues to expand within child and adolescent mental health services, clinicians are increasingly challenged to create meaningful therapeutic engagement through virtual platforms. This workshop will explore evidence-informed and practical strategies for conducting effective tele-therapy with children across developmental stages.

Topics will include building rapport remotely, adapting play-based and behavioral interventions for virtual settings, collaborating with parents, maintaining attention and participation online, and addressing common challenges such as avoidance, dysregulation, and screen fatigue. Participants will leave with clinically grounded tools and best practices to enhance therapeutic connection, flexibility, and outcomes in remote care with children and families.

Presented by: Rabbi Chaim Ellis, LCSW

4:15 PM - 5:45 PM

When Families Lock Horns Around Aging

Disagreements that arise in families often increase as issues around aging emerge. A parent or spouse may resist accepting medical or physical care. There are often disagreements among relatives about whether an elder has problems with memory or impaired judgment. Clients will often reach out to therapists for assistance on how to manage these often serious challenges.

This workshop will familiarize clinicians of any level with common issues related to caregiving and aging. We will discuss ways to support caregivers and navigate some of these disagreements.

Presented by: Adina Segal, LCSW and Shira Felberbaum Kedem, LMSW, MS

Important Note

Once you register for the conference, there is no need to pre-register or select your classes prior to the conference. At the time of each class, you will select the class from the time slot that you want to enter.