Miri Bar-Halpern

I never imagined that speaking up about antisemitism within my own profession would come at such a personal and professional cost.

For years, Jewish psychologists have been raising concerns, asking difficult questions, and advocating for the same compassion and ethical standards we are trained to extend to others.

Now, a congressional report has brought some of those concerns into the national spotlight, including research I was proud to contribute to.

But recognition doesn’t automatically repair the damage.

As a trauma psychologist, I know that when people repeatedly feel dismissed by institutions they trust, the harm extends beyond the original experience. It affects their sense of safety, belonging, and willingness to seek support.

I think about the Jewish students entering this profession, the clinicians questioning whether they belong, and the patients wondering whether their identities will be respected in therapy.

They deserve more than acknowledgment. They deserve meaningful change.

I still believe deeply in psychology and its capacity to heal. That is precisely why accountability, cultural humility, and genuine repair matter so much.

My hope is that this moment becomes an opportunity to rebuild trust, not simply another report that goes unanswered.

Read the full report:
https://edworkforce.house.gov/uploadedfiles/apafinal_102926.pdf

#Antisemitism #PsychologyEthics #JewishMentalHealth #traumaticinvalidation #miribarhalpern