My niece and I have co-authored three essays for the Times of Israel.\u00a0\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n
Jillian Selman is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Registered Art Therapist who lives in the Greater Boston area.\u00a0 She received her Bachelors from Boston University and her Masters from Lesley University.\u00a0 Our series was prompted by an anti-Israel post that appeared in November on Lesley University’s professional list-serve for over 700 alumni of its graduate school for therapists.\u00a0 Jillian asked me to suggest some ideas for a response and the effort evolved into our collaborative series of op-ed pieces.<\/i><\/p>\n
“Are Palestinians Facing Genocide?<\/a>”<\/p>\n On November 8 the following excerpted post was sent out…<\/p>\n As therapists, it is absolutely essential for us to be highly attuned, empathic people.\u00a0 And right now, this feels so so so hard as we bear witness to the unbearable atrocities unfolding as millions of our beloved kin in Palestine face crushing forces of genocide. I am reaching out to see if anyone has any resources, personal anecdotes or thoughts to share that they have found helpful to navigate this moment we are all living in especially as therapists. I am grateful to navigate this world and this work with a soft heart but sometimes it feels impossible. …<\/em><\/p>\n This is how we would reply:<\/p>\n We agree with you that therapists must be highly attuned, empathic, and humane. But therapists must also be well informed.\u00a0 …<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Read more at\u00a0https:\/\/blogs.timesofisrael.com\/are-palestinians-facing-genocide\/<\/a><\/p>\n “Why is Israel Attacking Innocent Palestinians?<\/a>”<\/p>\n The question, itself, provides sorry commentary on those who raise it.\u00a0 The Jewish State has repeatedly demonstrated through word and deed that innocent Palestinians are not its target. Hamas \u2013 designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union \u2013 is. …<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Read more at https:\/\/blogs.timesofisrael.com\/why-is-israel-attacking-innocent-palestinians\/<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n “On Gaza, Therapists Should Know Better<\/a>”<\/p>\n When George Floyd died in police custody and Russia attacked Ukraine it didn\u2019t take long for participants to weigh in on one side of the equation; and no one scolded them for having done so.\u00a0 In contrast, when thousands of Hamas\u00a0rapists<\/a>, sadists, kidnappers, and murderers raided unsuspecting Israeli farming communities and a music festival on October 7, no one on the list-serve uttered a word.\u00a0 That was, until over a month later. …<\/p><\/blockquote>\n