Shira Fruchter helps people access their past — and use it to move forward
I’ve always been curious about people. Sometimes I wonder if my parents’ divorce when I was 12 caused me to be more attuned to others’ emotions — or maybe my fascination is just inborn. Either way, I always knew that I’d become a therapist. My desire to love and connect with the people around me only increased as the years passed.
As a 22-year-old newlywed and the proud possessor of a master’s degree in social work, I flew to Eretz Yisrael, anxious to live my dream. My early clients were seminary girls who generally fell into the low self-esteem/social anxiety/rebellious categories. Armed with my shiny new methodologies and trusty college textbooks, I was eager to help them. My clients seemed satisfied, but I felt uneasy. Was I helping them? Why did I feel like I wasn’t doing enough?
Esther* was a typical client. A rebellious, angry teen, she marched into my office bursting with rage against her roommate.
“How does that make you feel?” I asked, validating her powerful emotions. “Let’s try to discover the root of your anger. Where did you learn that this is the way to deal with tough situations?”
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