REAL Mental Health Initiative (MHI)

Explore our 2025 ~ 2026 Program Season

Ten years ago, Rabbi Stacy gave a Kol Nidre Sermon in which she shared that Robin Williams’ death by suicide gave her the bravery to share openly that her step-father, too, had taken his own life. This was also the sermon that launched the REAL Mental Health Initiative program in our community. We invite you to a new season of meaningful conversations and connection at Rodef Sholom! Mark your calendars, bring your curiosity, and come be part of these powerful conversations. See below for more on our new season!

ThursdayThu, 15 JanJanuary, 2026

REAL Support for People with Chronic Illness

Thursday, Jan 15th 2:00p to 3:00pJoin others in a safe place to explore living well with chronic pain or illness. We’ll focus on the spiritual terrain of our lives, sharing stories of courage and perseverance as we learn from one another.

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TuesdayTue, 3 FebFebruary, 2026

REAL Parent Support

Tuesday, Feb 3rd 7:00p to 9:00pThis monthly group is open to all parents of teens, young adults, and adult children. We support parents as they navigate mental health challenges, the struggles on the way to independent adulthood, and other challenges. Join us to connect, support one another, and share strategies for self-care. Meets first Tuesday of each month. Email MHI to receive the Zoom link.

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ThursdayThu, 19 FebFebruary, 2026

REAL Support for People with Chronic Illness

Thursday, Feb 19th 2:00p to 3:00pJoin others in a safe place to explore living well with chronic pain or illness. We’ll focus on the spiritual terrain of our lives, sharing stories of courage and perseverance as we learn from one another.

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ThursdayThu, 19 MarMarch, 2026

REAL Support for People with Chronic Illness

Thursday, Mar 19th 2:00p to 3:00pJoin others in a safe place to explore living well with chronic pain or illness. We’ll focus on the spiritual terrain of our lives, sharing stories of courage and perseverance as we learn from one another.

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TuesdayTue, 20 JanJanuary, 2026

REAL Presents: Dr. Brad Jacobs on Stress, Shame, and Silence: How Men's Emotional Lives Shape Mental Health

Tuesday, Jan 20th 7:00p to 9:00pMany men carry stress like a backpack filled with rocks — heavy, ever-present, and largely invisible to those around them. Cultural expectations, family dynamics, and gendered norms often shape how men learn to manage emotion, relate to others, and ask for support, sometimes at a real cost to their well-being and relationships. In this talk, Brad Jacobs invites us to take a closer look at how stress, shame, and silence interact in men’s emotional lives. Drawing on physiology, social patterns, and lived experience, he will explore why “holding it in” often backfires, how shame can quietly shape communication and connection, and what healthier emotional expression can look like — both for men and for the people who care about them. Participants will gain insight into how stress shows up in the body, how emotional patterns are reinforced over time, and how clearer communication and boundaries can support more honest, connected relationships in a culture that often discourages men from naming what they feel. This conversation resonates with anyone who identifies as male or has a father, male-identifying partner, brother, or son — and opens the door to compassionate understanding without blame.

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ThursdayThu, 26 MarMarch, 2026

REAL Presents: Smiley Poswolsky on Friendship in the Age of Loneliness

Thursday, Mar 26th 7:00p to 9:00pIn an increasingly polarized and fast-paced world, many people report feeling more disconnected than ever. Despite constant digital contact, forming and sustaining meaningful friendships as adults can feel surprisingly difficult. In the age of AI, overwhelm, and social fragmentation, the question isn’t whether connection matters — it’s how we create and maintain it in real, human ways. In his recent book, Friendship in the Age of Loneliness, workplace belonging keynote speaker Adam “Smiley” Poswolsky invites us to rethink friendship as an essential part of a well-lived life. In this talk, Smiley will share practical, accessible habits for building meaningful connections, making new friends as adults, and deepening relationships beyond work and family roles. With warmth and optimism, he explores how small, intentional acts can strengthen community, counter isolation, and help us show up for one another more fully. At its core, this conversation is a reminder that nurturing friendship isn’t an extra — it’s a vital practice for living with greater purpose and connection in today’s disconnected world.

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TuesdayTue, 21 AprApril, 2026

REAL Presents: Jennie Young, Ph.D., on Burning the Haystack: How a Feminist Dating Method Reframes Connection and Self-Trust

Tuesday, Apr 21st 7:00p to 9:00pWhen Jennie Young, Ph.D., developed the Burned Haystack Dating Method®, she drew on her expertise in applied rhetoric and critical discourse analysis to help women read dating app profiles in ways more likely to lead to successful partnerships. As the method gained traction, it became clear that learning how to interpret language, patterns, and what is communicated passively — not just explicitly — allows women to protect their time, strengthen their confidence, and stay empowered in conversation. In this talk, Jennie will explore how breaking down communication helps women step out of discouraging dating cycles and take greater control of the relational narrative. She will examine how clearer standards, stronger self-trust, and an understanding of power and communication dynamics can support more intentional, respectful connections. While rooted in dating culture, these insights extend far beyond dating apps, offering tools for navigating communication, boundaries, and relationships more broadly — and reshaping how we engage with others.

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TuesdayTue, 12 MayMay, 2026

REAL Presents: Dr. Douglas Turkington on Understanding and Communicating with a Loved One with Serious Mental Illness

Tuesday, May 12th 7:00p to 9:00pIn partnership with NAMI Marin, Dr. Douglas Turkington has developed a groundbreaking program to help families better understand and communicate with loved ones living with serious mental illness. Drawing on evidence-based principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), this interactive program translates clinical concepts into practical, accessible tools for family members and caregivers. Participants will learn CBT-informed strategies to improve communication, reduce conflict, and support recovery in real-world situations, including responding to delusions, hearing voices, limited insight, withdrawal, resistance to treatment, and managing strong emotions such as anger and blame, and negative symptoms (clinical depression, lack of motivation).Through live demonstrations, role-play examples, and opportunities to practice skills, families gain tools that foster confidence, clarity, and hope while supporting both their loved ones and themselves. This program reflects a long-standing collaboration between REAL and NAMI Marin, whose nationally recognized work with Dr. Turkington has helped shape and expand this innovative, family-centered approach.

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Weekly Support Groups

REAL SEEKERS: A JEWISH 12-STEP RECOVERY GROUP - In Person
MEETS 1ST AND 3RD WEDNESDAYS EACH MONTH
LOCATION: Rodef Sholom
This peer-led group welcomes anyone seeking freedom from alcohol or substance use, or those who wish to deepen their recovery. Mutual support, shared learning, and spiritual connection are pursued through 12-step literature and Jewish spiritual teachings, to assist members to enhance their recovery through Judaism. You do not need to be Jewish to attend. For more information please contact Jennifer Golbus at jennifergolbus@gmail.com.

New Groups Forming

NEW GROUPS FORMING! For parents of young children; Groups will meet monthly, exact dates and time TBD. In-person at Rodef Sholom. Please email mhi@rodefsholom.org for more information or to sign up.

WHO AM I NOW?
Motherhood is a profound journey—full of joys, challenges, and ever-evolving identity. This group offers a space to connect, share, and process the complexities of motherhood, from relationships and career balance to self-care and societal roles. Open to mothers of all ages and stages.

TODDLER PARENTS:
Parenting a toddler is both exciting and demanding as their personalities emerge and needs evolve. This group is for moms of children ages 1-4, providing a supportive space to navigate the joys and challenges of this dynamic stage. Jenny Werba, LMFT, LPCC is a mother, a congregant, as well as a perinatal and fertility therapist who specializes in supporting individuals and couples struggling with the familyhood transition.

The REAL Mental Health Initiative is made possible by a grant from the Laszlo N. Tauber

Family Foundation

About the REAL Mental Health Initiative

Past Speakers and Events

Emergency Resources
If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call 988. The Marin County Crisis Stabilization Unit can be reached at (415) 473-6666.