Israeli families immigration and intercultural issues: challenges to mental health counselors

Abstract

Israeli families who immigrate to the United States present certain sociocultural issues that need to be recognized in order to provide culturally relevant, respectful and empowering mental health counseling. Israeli families are further situated within the complex social, cultural, economic and political context of Jews in the United States, who are themselves rarely recognized as a minority group. The purpose of this article is to present some major themes observed in working with Israeli families. A brief case example and analysis are presented, along with some general guidelines for counselors working with Israeli families.