Chaim Yosef Ackerman, LMSW

It is a big, vulnerable step to reach out to a therapist for support, and I am so glad you’re considering that step!  When I work with my clients, I often think about this quote I came up with in my teaching days, "it may not always be easy to be you, but there is no one better suited for the job."  Our challenges are unique to us and when we are trying to navigate those challenges, we may want the support of a therapist but think we are the only ones who need that support. 

First off, welcome to the club!  Many people feel that they are the only ones who need therapeutic guidance.  The beauty of therapy, though, is that we don’t need to deal with life challenges alone.  This is why one of the first things I like to do in therapy is let you know how normal it is to have a village of support to handle challenges, and that village very often includes a guide, like a therapist. 

We don’t stop there!  Together with my therapeutic guidance and your expertise in being you, we learn how to embrace and accept our challenges and ultimately, ourselves.  In our sessions, you will learn tools and techniques to manage your stresses so that your stresses stop managing you.  

My ultimate goal as your therapist is to help you uncover strength you never knew you had, a strength that will enable you to navigate not just your current reality, but to process and make peace with past experiences and give you hope and confidence for your future.

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A Little About Me

I have been working with people throughout their life events for over 17 years, first as a pulpit Rabbi and now as a licensed psychotherapist.  In addition to working at Embrace Therapy, I work for Sephardic Bikur Holim as a therapist, and speak for them as well as the Shalom Task Force to high school seniors about healthy relationships.