Yochanan Berkowitz Examines the Relaxing Power of Hobbies and Meditation

Individuals who seek the services of a licensed clinical social worker like Yochanan Berkowitz are often beset by stress in their lives that they cannot resolve on their own. Yochanan Berkowitz says that a hobby is a great way to relieve and cancel out the stress in one’s life. Engaging in a hobby to relax, points out Yochanan Berkowitz, means choosing a hobby that a person has genuine interest in. The real relaxing value of a hobby is in the process more than the end results, notes Yochanan Berkowitz.

A hobby for relaxation must not be about competition or achievement, says Yochanan Berkowitz, as much as it must be about clearing the head and setting the mind into a comfortable routine. A good relaxing hobby, says Yochanan Berkowitz, will require light activity, preferably work done with the hands, like gardening, jigsaw puzzles or collecting. A hobby is also more relaxing, says Yochanan Berkowitz, if it is an activity with which a person has some familiarity. Learning a whole new skill set just to relax, explains Yochanan Berkowitz, can be a bit counter-intuitive. Taking on a hobby is about making time for positive pursuits, says Yochanan Berkowitz, which encourages a calm and satisfied state of mind.

Many of Yochanan Berkowitz’s clients also experience stress relief through meditation. Meditation has been a part of Eastern traditions for centuries, explains Yochanan Berkowitz, but has only recently become more widely accepted in the West. According to Yochanan Berkowitz, meditation has been proven to be effective in lowering blood pressure, heart rate and other symptoms of negative stress. There are several meditation traditions, says Yochanan Berkowitz, but all of them serve a common purpose. Yochanan Berkowitz explains that this purpose is to become relaxed by clearing the mind, utilizing quiet, stillness and a repeated mental pattern. Meditation requires an individual to focus his or her attention on one simple word, sound or object, says Yochanan Berkowitz, without wavering from that focus.

About Yochanan Berkowitz

Yochanan Berkowitz began his professional studies in Psychology at Queens College in Flushing, New York. In 1994, Yochanan Berkowitz earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and following further studies Yochanan Berkowitz was awarded a Masters of Clinical Social Work. Later Yochanan Berkowitz received the designation of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

During his studies at Queens College, Yochanan Berkowitz had the opportunity to employ his passion for helping others in the New York City Public Schools as a special Education Instructor in Brooklyn from 1993-1994. Yochanan Berkowitz also served for several years as a school Psychologist and Social Worker with the Brooklyn Board of Education. Several years were also spent doing an internship in social work at Maimonides Psychiatric Outpatient in Brooklyn.

In 1997, Yochanan Berkowitz became a certified school social worker and school Psychologist following studies at the Long Island University. Yochanan Berkowitz received his Masters of Clinical Social Work two years later from New York University. Completing additional studies in his chosen field, Yochanan Berkowitz obtained a Post Masters certification in Early Childhood and Adolescence Psychotherapy in 2000 and Gestalt Therapy certification from the Gestalt Association of Psychotherapy in New York City in 2002.

Yochanan Berkowitz used his experience to serve in Brooklyn as an outpatient social worker, MSW, CSW at the New Hope Guild from 1999-2000. Yochanan Berkowitz added breadth to his vocational opportunities while serving as Administrative Assistant, MSW, and LMSW at Fordham Tremont Center in Bronx, New York during the years of 2003-2004. While there, Yochanan Berkowitz began offering his skills as a Clinical Social Worker, MSW, and CSW at the Jewish Board of Family & Children Services in Brooklyn New York.

The years 2004 and 2005 found Yochanan Berkowitz at the Bikur Cholim Department of Clinical Services in Rockland, New York where he was the Administrative Director, MSW, and LMSW. Currently Yochanan Berkowitz maintains a private practice in Teaneck, New Jersey that primarily serves children, adolescents, couples, and families.

To contact Yochanan Berkowitz by telephone, call 646-338-5424. Yochanan Berkowitz can also be reached via email at berkj1517@yahoo.com. For more information about his private practice visit www.familiesheal.com.