The Connections Paradigm: Ancient Jewish Wisdom for Modern Mental Health

by David Rosmarin

This book introduces an approach to mental health that dates back 3,000 years to an ancient body of Jewish spiritual wisdom. Known as the Connections Paradigm, the millennia-old method has been empirically shown to alleviate symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. After being passed down from generation to generation and tested in clinical settings with private clients, it is presented to a broad audience for the first time.
The idea behind the paradigm is that at any given moment, human beings are either “connected” or “disconnected” across three key relationships. To be “connected” means to be in a loving, harmonious, and fulfilling relationship; to be “disconnected” means, of course, the opposite. The three relationships are those between our souls and our bodies, ourselves and others, and ourselves and God.

These relationships are hierarchal; each depends on the one that precedes it. This means that we can only connect with God to the extent that we associate with others, and we cannot connect with others if we don’t connect with ourselves. The author, Dr. David H. Rosmarin, devotes a section to each relationship and describes techniques and practices to become a more connected individual. He also brings in compelling stories from his clinical practice to show the process in action.

Whether you’re a clinician working with clients, or a person seeking the healing balm of wisdom; whether you’re a member of the Jewish faith, or a person open to new spiritual perspectives, you will find this book sensible, practical, and timely because, for all of us, connection leads to mental health.

268 pages, Paperback

Published February 8, 2021

Reviews

[Yisrael]

This book frames mental health as being in a state of connection or disconnection between body and soul, self and others, and self with God. It has simple explanations of the core concepts Rosmarin preaches and practical lessons to bring oneself to a state of connection in each of the 3 categories. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is open to using spirituality as a means to improve mental health.

[Natalie Goobes]

This is one of the best books I’ve ever read, I would recommend it to anyone and everyone. If you are interested in mental health or how to better connect with yourself and others, this is the book to read. If you want to improve your spirituality (no matter what religion or sense of spirituality you have), this is the book to read.