Benji Elson, LMSW
(Rabbi) Benji Elson, LMSW, is a seasoned clinical psychotherapist with over a decade of experience specializing in trauma, addictions, anxiety, depression, couple's and marriage counseling, and a wide range of other psychological, personality, and behavioral challenges.
Benji works with individuals, couples, and families, utilizing an diverse array of cutting-edge therapeutic approaches, including EMDR, IFS, DBT, CBT, KAP, NLP, Somatic Experiencing, Mindfulness, Regressions, and more.
Benji has served as a therapist and senior staff member at state-of-the-art addiction treatment centers and outpatient therapy clinics in both the US and Israel. Holding a B.A. in Psychology and a Master’s in Social Work, Benji is currently finishing his Ph.D. at Yeshiva University, researching cultural intergenerational trauma and its role in young people's defection from Orthodox Judaism (i.e. going 'O.T.D').
Alongside his psychotherapy work and practice, Benji is a passionate instructor of embodied Jewish practice, an author, a musician, a Jewish environmental educator, and a transformative experience facilitator who has been privileged to share his impactful self-transformation and Jewish psychology teachings globally, including in cities across the U.S., Israel, the UK, Canada, Mexico, Turkey, Finland, Zambia, South Africa, and India.
Benji is also the Head Mentor for Rav Doniel Katz's Elevation Project's Meditation Retreats where he leads a team of 15 therapists and supports the more than 200 retreat participants in their journeys. He is also the Men's Retreat Director for Maim Haim facilitating transformative Kabbalah & Torah-based retreats, combining ancient wisdom with holistic healing practices to unite the body & soul.
Benji's acclaimed book, Dance of the Omer, integrates Jewish psychology, kabbalah, chassidut, embodied practices, meditation, state-of-the-art therapeutic modalities, and nature connection, offering readers a path to personal transformation aligned with Judaism, the Jewish calendar, and the cycles of the natural world. He is currently writing a second self-transformation guidebook on Elul and Tishrei (the High Holidays). Benji regularly offers in-person and online courses and classes on emotional well-being, mental health, spirituality, Torah, and the Jewish calendar through his organization, Sod Siach, and various other institutions and Yeshivot in Jerusalem.
Previously, Benji served as Educational Director and Lead Transformational Facilitator of Shebet Haaretz, leading transformational Jewish jungle expeditions to reconnect participants with themselves, spirituality, and indigenous wisdom.
On a more personal note, Benji’s colorful life experiences include living in two veggie-oil-fueled mobile homes, shepherding goats in the Jerusalem hills, meditating in Indian ashrams, living & working on Jewish farms around the globe, and volunteering in remote African villages.
Benji believes that each person is an entire world and each individual needs a personalized treatment plan carefully and thoughtfully designed to meet their unique needs, challenges, personality, and history.
Reach out for a FREE consultation to see how Benji can help you with your unique needs!
He is available and eager to help in any way that he can.
Let the healing journey begin!

Qualifications and Training:
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Ph.D. in Social Work, Wurzweiler School of Social Work (Ongoing)
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MSW, Wurzweiler School of Social Work
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BA of Psychology, Touro University
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LMSW Licensure, New York State
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EMDR Training and Certification, EMDR Institute of Israel and Europe
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Ketamine Assisted Therapy (KAP) Certification
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Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Certification
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Psychodrama Practitioner Certification, New York
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Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) Practitioner Certification, Jerusalem
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Or HaLev: Center for Jewish Spirituality and Meditation Training, Israel
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Landmark Forum Self-Development Seminar Trainings (Basic and Advanced Courses), Los Angeles
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Call of the Shofar Self-Transformation Seminar, New Jersey
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Monoc EMT School (EMT-B Certification), New Jersey
Benji's Theraputic Approach
Benji takes a holistic, integrative approach to therapy, working with the mind, body, and soul in unison to restore balance and well-being.
Recognizing that each individual is a world of their own, Benji designs personalized treatment plans tailored to the unique needs of every client.
To achieve this, Benji draws from a diverse range of therapeutic modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Somatic Experiencing (SE), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Mindfulness, Psychodrama, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP).
Benji's work is also deeply informed and inspired by Jewish philosophical and spiritual teachings, offering a rich perspective on the interconnectedness of the mind, body, and soul.

Benji's Past Research and Papers:
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Cultural Intergenerational Trauma and its Influence on 3rd Generation Defection from Orthodoxy (Ph.D. Dissertation – Ongoing)
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Current Challenges of Environmental Law, Policy, and Ethics (2020)
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Abortion: Religious, Ethical, and Legal Concerns (2019)
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Soloveitchik, Buber, and Rosenberg in Conversation: Communication and the Nature of Humankind (2019)
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The Ethical Decision-Making Process: A Case Study (2019)
PAST ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE:
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Lead Researcher and Lead Editor for Touro University's two research Journals of Psychology:
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The Journal of Experimental Psychology and
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The Journal of Theoretical Psychology
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