Pastoral Care

Life at Yale isn’t just a story of exploration, growth, and learning: depression, anxiety, loss, and trauma are also part of many, even most, college experiences.

At the Slifka Center, students’ physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being are the most important values – and thus the first priority of our clergy team. Our commitment is to meet with students in need of pastoral care in a matter of days and to keep pastoral conversations confidential as required and permitted by the law. Rabbi Alex and Rachel are all confidential resources, meaning they are not required by Title IX to report any information regarding an incident of sexual/gender-based misconduct or interpersonal violence to the Title IX coordinator or other college offices or officials.

Below you’ll find our contact information. We are all available to any students regardless of affiliation or denomination. Whether you find yourself at a crossroads in life, looking to make sense of a complex relationship, in search of wisdom from the Jewish tradition, or hoping to connect to professional mental health resources – we encourage you to reach out and look forward to meeting with you.

• Rachel Leiken (Reform) — rachel.leiken@yale.edu — 714 458 6683 – calendly.com/rachelleiken 
• Rabbi Alex Ozar (Orthodox) — alex.ozar@yale.edu — 203 432 1136 – calendly.com/alexozar 
• Lauren Steinberg (Orthodox )– lauren.steinberg@yale.edu — 203 432 1136 

Below you’ll find information about several of the most important resources at Yale for students looking for support and guidance:

http://yalehealth.yale.edu/mentalhealth

Mental Health & Counseling (MHC) is committed to addressing Yale students’ psychological concerns and helping them achieve their intellectual and personal goals. To that end, MHC provides short-term therapy that is individualized to the student’s personal situation. For most students, this approach enables them to move forward and successfully handle the challenges they encounter.

203-432-0290

55 Lock Street, 3rd Floor, New Haven

https://chaplain.yale.edu/

Yale’s chaplains are available to meet one on one with anyone who would like to talk. Appointments can be made on our Chat with a Chaplain Form during the academic year; by reaching out to one of our chaplains directly through email, found on our staff bios; or by calling the chaplain’s office at (203)432-1128.

SHARE is available to members of the Yale community who are dealing with sexual misconduct of any kind. Individuals turn to us with a variety of concerns, large and small, and we assist in whatever way we can. Sometimes we have a one-time phone consultation. More often, that first phone call leads to meeting in person, exploring options for response, and working to make sure that the caller gets whatever ongoing assistance is needed.

SHARE responders are Yale University mental health professionals. All calls to SHARE are confidential and can be anonymous if you wish. We will offer information and support, and sometimes recommendations, but we won’t tell you what to do—our goal is to help you make your own informed, empowered decisions.

SHARE is not just a crisis hotline.  We are a center located on the Lower Level of Yale Health and open for appointments or walk-ins Monday through Friday, 9-5.  Counselors are also available any time, day or night, at 203 432-2000. We assist students who are dealing with acute and recent experiences, as well as experiences from their past.  We also support individuals whose friends, family or loved ones have experienced sexual misconduct. We encourage anyone to contact us to receive information, advocacy and support.

http://sharecenter.yale.edu/

203-432-2000 (24/7)

55 Lock St., Lower Level

(9am-5pm Mon to Fri)

Right inside of Slifka we have the Noah Wellness Center. You can find more info about it here.

RUACH: Emotional and Spiritual Support

RUACH is a network of Jewish emotional and spiritual supporters looking to help you during these challenging times. They are 100% volunteer-run initiative made up of therapists, social workers, clergy, chaplains, and providers-in-training offering support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

1-800-273-8255

http://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/