Dr. Pirutinsky is a licensed clinical psychologist whose practice has included a variety of different services such as individual and group psychotherapy for adults and children, psychological and educational testing, risk assessments, family and couple's therapy, foster care services, treatment of youth with sexual behavior problems, and career counseling and assessment. Before joining the Touro faculty full time, Dr. Pirutinsky taught at Columbia University, Georgian Court University, and Ocean County College. His research focuses on the intersections between spirituality, religion, culture, mental health, and well-being particularly within the Orthodox Jewish community. He frequently publishes peer-reviewed research in journals such as Criminal Justice and Behavior, the Journal of Affective Disorders, Health Psychology, the Journal of Family Psychology, and the Journal of Positive Psychology. He is also interested in cutting-edge research methods and statistical analyses as well as experimental methods, and serves as a statistical consultant for a number of large ongoing research projects.

Areas of Expertise

Mental health, religion and spirituality, and social work practice

Education

Steven Tzvi Pirutinsky has a B.T.S. from Beth Medrash Govoha, an M.S. in Clinical Psychology from Teachers College – Columbia University, and a Ph.D. from Columbia University. He joined Touro Graduate School of Social Work in 2016.

Recent Publications

Stereotypes say Orthodox Jews avoid mental health treatment. The science says otherwise, Forward

Don't show anger, show empathy: How to talk to the unvaccinated, New York Daily News

What to do when you don’t know what to talk about in therapy - Self

The spiritual lives of Israeli teens, The Jerusalem Post

BMG: How this Orthodox Jewish school and its leader turned Lakewood into NJ's boom town, Asbury Park Press

Depression and grief during the holidays? How to cope with a blue Christmas, Asbury Park Press

Practicing religion has health benefits—but not for everyone, The Jewish link of New Jersey

Paying for private school: Will tax reform help NJ parents?, Asbury Park Press