Yaakov Bolel Therapy
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Ordained Rabbi
- Member of the South African Rabbinical Association
- SAAM Qualified Mediator
- SACSSP & PCNS / BHF Registered
- In person in Johannesburg & online
Rooted in who you are.
Choosing the right therapist takes more than qualifications. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and ordained Rabbi, I offer evidence-based therapy informed by clinical expertise and an insider's understanding of the values and culture that shape your life.
What you gain is a toolkit refined through hundreds of real cases: relationship conflict, family breakdown, crisis, grief and addiction. Whatever you are carrying, you will be seen, spoken to honestly, and given something real to work with.
Meet in person in Johannesburg or online; clients connect from the UK, USA, Israel, Australia and beyond.
How I work
- Bring the work, receive the tools.
- Practical frameworks and honest feedback you can use immediately.
- The whole person, not just the problem.
- The psychological, the relational, and the deeper questions of meaning.
- Honest and direct.
- You feel heard first. Then the work gets direct, with a push when it matters.
Approaches: Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Attachment Therapy, Trauma-Informed Practice, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (Unified Protocol), Interactional Analysis, Crisis Intervention, Motivational Interviewing and Spiritual Therapy.
Training and registration
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)SACSSP & PCNS / BHF Registered, Practice No. 1260812
- Rabbinic Ordination (Semicha)Laws of Shabbos, Kashrut & NiddaMember of the South African Rabbinical Association
- Qualified MediatorSAAM Accredited, Solid Ground Mediation Training
- Solution Focused Brief TherapySolution Focused Institute of SA, SACSSP 125/2023
- Interactional Analysis & Attachment TherapyInspire 2 Strive, SACSSP 263/2022
- Trauma-Informed PracticeChild's Voice Toolkit, SACSSP 126/2022
What we can work on together.
You leave every session with something concrete: a tool, a reframe, an action step.
Individual Therapy
Goal-directed work for anxiety, depression, burnout, grief, life transitions and identity.
You'll gain: coping frameworks, cognitive restructuring, goal tracking.
Couples Therapy
A structured space where both of you are heard, for stuck cycles, disconnection or crisis.
You'll gain: communication frameworks, de-escalation, shared goals.
Men's Therapy
For men who would not normally sit in a therapist's office. Direct and practical.
You'll gain: emotion regulation, stress management, accountability.
Men's Group Therapy
Grow alongside men who show up for each other, with honest conversation and accountability.
You'll gain: a curriculum across mental health, relationships and purpose.
Teenager Therapy
A safe, confidential space outside family and school systems, to process and be heard.
You'll gain: emotional regulation, social skills, anxiety management.
Addiction Recovery
Practical support at any stage of recovery, and for families walking alongside.
You'll gain: relapse prevention, trigger identification, family communication tools.
Spiritual Therapy
For faith, religious identity, doubt, or where Torah meets your personal life.
You'll gain: integrating faith and psychology, with halachic consultation where relevant.
Mediation
Resolve separation, divorce and co-parenting conflict through a process both sides can trust.
You'll gain: structured negotiation and documented agreements. SAAM accredited.
For communities and organisations
Programmes already running beyond the therapy room, designed and facilitated for your people.
Empowerment Groups
A therapeutic group for men who wouldn't walk into a therapist's office, with a curriculum tailored to your shul, organisation or business.
Community Learning & Connection
A weekly programme between a learning group and a therapy group, adaptable for communities and staff wellbeing.
Public Speaking & Training
Talks and workshops on mental health, addiction, resilience, men's wellbeing and communication.
Common questions.
Something else on your mind? Ask me on WhatsApp.
What does a session cost?
Fees are confirmed when you book. After every session you receive a detailed receipt for your medical aid.
What can I expect in the first session?
A conversation. We talk about what brought you here, I explain how I work, and together we decide whether it's the right fit.
Is everything I share confidential?
Yes, with narrow legal exceptions such as imminent risk of serious harm, which I explain at the outset.
Do I need to be Jewish or religious?
Not at all. My rabbinic background is available when it is relevant to you, never assumed or imposed.
How many sessions will I need?
It varies. Some people see real shifts in a handful of sessions; others benefit from longer work. We review progress openly as we go.
Do you offer online sessions?
Yes, to new and existing clients anywhere in the world, across time zones.
Can I claim from my medical aid?
The practice is PCNS / BHF registered. Reimbursement depends on your plan, so confirm with your scheme.
What is your cancellation policy?
24 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule. Late cancellations and no-shows may be charged, with flexibility for a genuine reason.
Ready to invest in yourself?
Reach out however suits you. I generally respond within one business day.
- yaakovbolel@gmail.com
- +27 78 281 6690WhatsApp or call
- Johannesburg, South AfricaPractice No. 1260812
- Online & internationalSecure video sessions worldwide
- Sunday–Thursday, by appointmentClosed Friday afternoon & Shabbos