Analysis
Guess who allegedly taught that Zionism is a mental illness? A leader in America’s top psychology body
Washington’s investigations into anti-Jewish discrimination have turned to the psychotherapy sector
January 5, 2026 12:39
3 min read
Washington’s investigations into anti-Jewish discrimination have turned to the psychotherapy sector
January 5, 2026 12:39Washington’s investigations into anti-Jewish discrimination continue apace. The House Committee on Education and Workforce is now scrutinising the American Psychological Association (APA), which accredits psychological education.
Committee Chairman Tim Walberg’s letter to APA President Dr. Debra Kawahara noted APA “represents more than 172,000 researchers, clinical professionals, professors, and students across the country,” before summarising the problem: “Jewish APA members have reported being harassed and ostracised by their colleagues within the APA and at APA events because of their Jewish identity, their efforts to speak out again antisemitism, and their Zionist beliefs. Members have also stated that their complaints to the association have gone unanswered.”
Walberg further cited a February 2025 open letter from Psychologists Against Antisemitism to APA leaders raising “serious concerns” about “‘insensitivity towards Jews, a lack of concern regarding antisemitism, minimisation of aggression towards the Jewish people, and outright hostility and prejudice towards Jews and Jewish heritage.’” APA-affiliated newsletters have reportedly included defences of, and praise for, Hamas, and “the APA has offered educational credits for members to attend conferences where speakers endorsed ‘violence against Jews and Israelis; antisemitic tropes; Holocaust distortion; minimisation of Jewish victimisation, fear, and grief; and pathologising of Jewish people’s connection to their indigenous homeland.’” Finally, “APA allegedly failed to take meaningful action against a former APA division president who . . . allegedly taught that Zionism is a mental illness, called to ‘destroy Zionism,’ [and] referred to Israelis as ‘genocidal f**ks.’”
Dr. Miri Bar-Halpern, Lecturer in Psychology at Harvard Medical School and member of the American Jewish Medical Association, told me, “The Congressional investigation into the APA was needed a long time ago. Antisemitism has been rising within the mental health field for years.”
Dr. Julie Ancis, Distinguished Professor of Informatics at the New Jersey Institute of Technology and President of Psychologists Against Antisemitism, recalled 2016, when her counselling psychology division at APA “adopted the original Black Lives Matter statement, which included . . . characterising Israel as an ‘apartheid’ and ‘genocidal state’ while promoting BDS.” Jewish members’ concerns “were dismissed,” and it became clear that “Jewish perspectives within the organisation’s leadership were effectively marginalised, save for those who agreed with an anti-Israel viewpoint.”
“Since then, antisemitism and the dismissal of Jewish concerns have become more embedded within APA, manifesting both overtly and subtly in everything from official statements to conference presentations to official Continuing Education credits,” Ancis told me. “Post-October 7th, things have only gotten worse with statements accusing Israel of colonialism, apartheid, and genocide and no sympathy whatsoever to the victims of October 7th. . . Anti-Israel and anti-Jewish rhetoric, statements, and actions have been normalised.”
“We are no longer talking about isolated ideological disagreements,” Bar-Halpern observed. “We’re talking about real clinical harms playing out in training, practice, and scholarship. Jewish clinicians and clients are reporting traumatic invalidation,” meaning “Jewish pain and fear are minimised, dismissed, or erased rather than held with empathy and care. For Jewish therapists, this has meant colleagues reacting with silence, denial, or even scorn when they share their own trauma or research . . . because of who they are. Jewish clients describing fear of antisemitism have been met with comments like ‘you can always leave’ or have their distress reframed through political lenses instead of being validated, and in some situations they were actually fired. . . . Some clinicians have lost patients and referrals due to being named as Zionists.”
“This moment is driven by the collapse of boundaries between activism and clinical science,” Bar-Halpern continued. “When a field dedicated to healing cannot clearly name antisemitism, it risks losing its ethical compass: trading evidence and care for ideology, and compassion for silence.”
Ancis hopes Congress’ investigation inspires at least these six changes: 1. Enforce APA’s “inclusive language” standards “for all minoriticed groups.” 2. “Return to the science of psychology.” 3. “Address antisemitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric in APA-affiliated forums and official communications.” 4. “Monitor professional training,” so “material harmful to Jewish people” isn’t used. 5. “Investigate and implement clear consequences for substantiated violations of APA’s ethical principles regarding discrimination.” 6. Provide “sound leadership training on Jews, Jewish history, antisemitism, and culturally responsive approaches to working with Jewish clients.”
Important work awaits Congress in 2026. APA faces serious allegations. The organisation was due to submit to Congress relevant documentation by January 2, and that will inform Congress’ response. However the Committee proceeds, a functional, non-discriminatory health care system, including mental health care, is a must. And right now, it’s not so clear that America has that.
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