Living Alongside explores a broad population that we all encounter in clinical practice, yet write about far less often: people who live alongside loved ones struggling with significant mental health challenges and emotional or behavioral difficulties.

Clear examples include: living alongside a person with borderline personality organization, alongside someone coping with addictions, or alongside a partner or family member suffering from acute or complex trauma (in our days, large circles of people are living alongside those affected by the events of October 7th). as well as living alongside a loved one struggling with psychotic states – what we might call madness

The clinical reality of “living alongside” is distinct and unique. While we can identify several overlapping features between this clinic and that of the person who is the direct sufferer (the identified patient), these overlaps usually remain only at the more “epidermal” layers of experience.
Living alongside such a person can be demanding and exhausting. It calls for deep self-knowledge, responsible personal reflection, and ongoing emotional work.ש
In fact, in a certain sense, every therapist embodies elements of living alongside, simply by virtue of being present with patients in their distress. As such, therapists themselves can benefit from the particular stance of listening to the parts of them that are activated in this position.

So what does a person need when they are living alongside a close other who is struggling with psychological pain?
The lectures offer real-life clinical and everyday examples, and propose emotionally safe ways of understanding, responding, and staying grounded within these kinds of relationships.

◂ The “Living Alongside” lecture series is led by Dr. Tsemach Assif, clinical psychologist and Head of the Temurot School for Psychotherapy at Bar-Ilan University.