Jewish Family & Community Services East Bay

JFCS East Bay is a gem in our community. Not only do they work to support refugees, immigrants, and aging seniors, JFCS East Bay currently provides early childhood mental health consultation at sixteen Oakland Unified School District sites; four Oakland Head Start sites; two YMCA of the Bay Area Head Start sites; Emeryville Child Development Center; and three independent preschools in Alameda County. The children served by these programs come from predominately Latino and African American families who experience poverty and violence in their daily lives.
Also, Unlike other home care agencies, JFCS East Bay’s geriatric social workers provide an extra level of oversight and advocacy, including home visits. They also provide culturally sensitive care that incorporates our knowledge of Jewish traditions, adding a personal touch that extends to meals and holiday celebrations.

Great resource for the East Bay community for all different types of service. They provide home care services as well with Social Work oversight that is unique.

Gayle and I are big fans of «Being Erica» a Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC) series about facing life’s regrets facing those previous situations in «real» time. Things don’t always turn out as one might expect, but lessons are learned and growth opportunities are offered. Erica’s Therapist and Guide is Dr. Tom who at the beginning of the series presents her with a Business Card that says:
Doctor Tom. The only therapy you’ll ever need. Results Guaranteed.
Ha! If only that were true in real life!
My occasional experience with Therapy has been closer to a dialog that occurred between Captain Picard (me) and Q (a Therapist) in the «All Good Things» Episode of Star Trek — The Next Generation:
Q/​Therapist: The trial never ended, Captain. We never reached a verdict. But now we have. You’re guilty.
Eric/​Capt. Picard: Guilty of what?
Q/​Therapist: Of being inferior. Seven years ago, I said we’d be watching you, and we have been — hoping that your ape-​like race would demonstrate *some* growth, give *some* indication that your minds had room for expansion. But what have we seen instead? You, worrying about Commander Riker’s career. Listening to Counselor Troi’s pedantic psychobabble. Indulging Data in his witless exploration of humanity.
Eric/​Capt. Picard: We’ve journeyed to countless new worlds. We’ve contacted new species. We have expanded our understanding of the universe.
Q/​Therapist: In your own paltry, limited way. You have no *idea* how far you still have to go. But instead of using the last seven years to change and to grow, you have squandered them.
My Therapy experience at or through Jewish Family Services has sometimes had some of these moments. Unfortunately, privacy considerations prevent me from saying much more. And those same privacy concerns can also be used by a wayward Therapist as a shield against any consequences of her actions. I’m just saying.
My Learned Advice? — Try Bikram Yoga…