Healing Through Psychology & Jewish Wisdom

We all want to live with joy, vitality, and connection, but so often anger, pain, shame, and fear disrupt our goals and relationships. In this paradigm-shifting work, psychologist Joanne Zagnoev draws from the rich wellsprings of Jewish mysticism over more than three decades of experience in psychotherapy to heal our deepest wounds.

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A Journey Into Emotional & Spiritual Healing

In Soul Therapy, Joanne Zagnoev brings together modern psychology and the profound teachings of The Tanya to offer readers a compassionate and deeply insightful approach to emotional wellbeing.

Drawing on decades of experience as a clinical psychologist, Joanne explores how understanding the soul, our inner emotional world, and our spiritual purpose can help us navigate anxiety, relationships, self-worth, personal struggle, and emotional healing with greater clarity and connection. Soul Therapy reflects years of clinical experience, spiritual learning, and a passion for helping people better understand themselves, their struggles, and their capacity for healing and transformation.

Whether you are familiar with Jewish thought or approaching these ideas for the first time, Soul Therapy offers practical insight, emotional depth, and meaningful guidance for everyday life.

Now in its second print edition and available internationally.

What is Soul Therapy About?

Soul Therapy explores the powerful intersection between psychology, emotional wellbeing, and the teachings of The Tanya.

The book offers readers a framework for understanding the inner conflicts, emotions, and behaviours that shape our lives, while drawing on timeless Jewish wisdom to help cultivate resilience, self-awareness, purpose, and healing.

Through relatable insight and practical reflection, Joanne explains how concepts from The Tanya can deepen our understanding of:

  • Emotional struggle and inner conflict
  • Anxiety and self-worth
  • Relationships and connection
  • The balance between body, mind, and soul
  • Personal growth and healing
  • Living with greater purpose and awareness

Rather than being purely academic or theoretical, Soul Therapy is written in an accessible and compassionate way, making these profound ideas meaningful and relevant to modern everyday life.

The book speaks to readers seeking emotional growth, spiritual insight, or a deeper understanding of themselves through both psychological and Jewish perspectives.

“This is an important work…[It] will help many people become the persons they were meant to become, the people they truly are.”
– RABBI YITZCHAK A. BREITOWITZ
RAV, KEHILLAS OHR SOMAYACH

About the Author

Joanne Zagnoev

Joanne Zagnoev is a clinical psychologist with over three decades of experience as a therapist in private practice. She has appeared regularly on South African television and has been interviewed on radio about varying subjects regarding mental health. She authored a popular column, “Piece of Mind,” for Jewish Life magazine for many years and has also presented workshops at both national and international mental health conferences. In her practice as well as her book, Joanne draws from the rich wellsprings of Jewish mysticism to heal the deepest emotional wounds.

A sought-after public speaker on both Torah and psychology, Joanne trained in systems theory, did a postgraduate course in psychodynamic therapy, and has completed Level 3 training as an Internal Systems Therapist.

Born with a natural capacity for empathy, Joanne has always sought to be of service to others: to understand their struggles and to facilitate healing with humility and integrity. Joanne seeks to live a G-d driven life focused on the values of goodness and kindness as well as discipline and love in her relationship with G-d.

She has become increasingly interested in the mind-body connection, the stories of people, history, and the importance of feeding our bodies healthy, natural food (without being extreme in this new endeavor). Curious about almost everything (economics excluded), Joanne loves being in nature, particularly the famous Kruger Safari Park in South Africa. She lives in Johannesburg, South Africa, and is married, with children and grandchildren.

Testimonials

What Readers Are Saying

☆☆☆☆☆

“I loved reading Joanne’s book Soul Therapy. The discussions about the different people’s challenges are so helpful. What is apparent is that therapy doesn’t need to be a painful journey into the past; it can be a re-parenting experience and a process that helps people deal with painful and powerful emotions. Joanne’s book also offers a unique approach to developing a spiritual framework to facilitate forgiveness, trust, gratitude, and love.“

Ruth Isaakson

Former Principal of King David Elementary School, Johannesburg, South Africa.

☆☆☆☆☆

“Dr Joanne Zagnoev and Rabbi Kesselman wrote a marvellous book.
I have been studying the Tanya for years and as a psychologist always trying to connect it with my therapy practice, and concepts. It was a wonderful surprise to find a book made by a colleague doing exactly just that. I thank Dr Zagnoev for her work”

Joseph Hauser Rosenberg

Psychologist , Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

☆☆☆☆☆

“I have also invested significant time in learning about marriage coaching and helping couples navigate their challenges. In other words, Tanya is a passion of mine, and the world of therapy is not unfamiliar to me.

I’m sharing this to provide some context for my main point:
Your book, Soul Therapy, absolutely blew me away! Its depth, clarity, and beauty—along with other indescribable qualities that stirred deep emotions—were truly extraordinary. Thank you for sharing this remarkable work with the world.”

Yisroel Frankforter,

Chabad Shaliach, Miami, Florida