On Sunday afternoon, scores of people showed up a to a private, two-story building off of Toms River’s Hooper Avenue.
These guests included Rabbonim, community activists, and leaders in the mental healthcare field alike crowded inside to see Lifespan.
Along with the palpable excitement running through the room, there was a tangible sense of mission; they all felt this to be a defining moment in the frum community’s mental healthcare landscape. The ceremony was a kevias mezuzah for the newly opened Lifespan Center, but it was the concept they were celebrating more than the finely appointed piece of property. Because Lifespan was the brainchild of people who genuinely care about the welfare of Klal Yisroel.
Over the past several years, a sharp increase in highly sensitive areas of mental healthcare has overwhelmed our community’s limited resources. The lack of available services has had severe implications. Dedicated community leaders and mental health professionals banded together to found Lifespan, which would begin the process of long-needed healing.
Lifespan’s mission is to provide the necessary advanced level of care overseen by leading trauma specialists in the field. Chaim Kolodny, LCSW, and Dr. Sarah Scimeme have both seen wondrous success in their years’ worth of experience, and together, they will be overseeing, instructing, and supervising handpicked therapists on the nuanced methodology of trauma-informed care. Through their collaborative efforts, the Lifespan team will have the skills, and the manpower, to properly treat the rapidly growing numbers of those in need of help.
The kevius mezuzah last Sunday was a celebration of a People who truly care. With Hashem’s help, Lifespan will achieve tremendous accomplishments and perform wonders each and every day.
Life can present difficult challenges. Lifespan is here to offer solutions.
[Press Release]
Will they accept insurance? What are the fees per session? The real crises is the high cost of private practice therapy which cost up to 200 for a 45 minute session. This is drawing many clinicians away from Chemed & LCSC into private practice which net’s about 250 an hour. Families are being severely challenged by the shortage of affordable mental health care. This is what the community needs right now.