Moshe Manheim, L.C.S.W.
Moshe is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis (BA) and Virginia Commonwealth University (MSW). He has over 40 years of practice experience including over 25 years at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta as the family therapist on a pediatric medical psychiatric unit and CHOA’s Marcus Autism Center where he specialized in working with families with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and related diagnoses. He consulted with Emory’s in-patient psychiatric hospital program and was appointed to Emory’s Child Psychiatry faculty from 1989-1994. He was the chair of NASW-GA Chapter Ethics Committee from 2017 – 2022 and has presented regularly on a broad variety of topics including: Autism; Family Therapy; and Professional Ethics. Moshe has recently retired from private practice and continues teaching at the Family Institute of Neve Yerushalayim.
Leah Malamet, M.A., M.Ed, C.Psych.
Leah Malamet, M.A., M.Ed, C.Psych. is a registered Clinical Psychologist.
She holds a Masters in Clinical Psychology from the University of Toronto and is currently completing her doctoral dissertation on attachment theory and the psychology of religion. Ms. Malamet has provided psychological assessment, treatment, and supervision services for 40 years in psychiatric institutions, general hospitals, schools, and private practice in Israel, Canada, USA, Australia, & England, to highly diverse as well as underserved populations. In her work with children, adolescents, adults, couples and families, Ms. Malamet’s theoretical and clinical approach integrates relational psychodynamic, somatic (various), parts work, cognitive-behavioural, art, sand tray, and play (structured & unstructured) therapies.
Ms. Malamet has taught at Bar Ilan University as well as has given professional seminars in Israel, Canada, USA, & England, on the systematic integration of different theoretical and clinical approaches to psychotherapeutic assessment and treatment, trauma treatment, emotional regulation, and the interface between psychology & religion.
Gershon Swimmer, M.S.
Gershon earned a master’s degree in clinical sociology from the University of North Texas, and is a graduate of the Barney School of Business at The University of Hartford. Gershon completed his postgraduate training at the Family Institute of Neve Yerushalayim and maintains a private practice in Jerusalem working with individuals and couples. Gershon has worked with a wide array of client issues and has extensive experience in working with addictions and 12 step programs. His background also includes a 25-year successful multi-industry and entrepreneurial career devoted to establishing relationships and managing people.
Aviva Zahavi Asa, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.
Aviva Zahavi-Asa, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., received her clinical license in California in 1989 and worked with at-risk children and adolescents for ten years before making Aliya in 1997. She completed post-Masters training at the Family Institute in 2009, and in 2011 completed advanced training in family therapy at the Magid Institute, School of Psychotherapy at the Hebrew University. Since then, she has received recognition as a certified couples and family therapist and supervisor by the Israel Association for Couple and Family Therapy. She is also certified as a social work supervisor by Hebrew University’s School of Social Work. She served for over 12 years as part of the clinical staff at Ma’ane, a therapy clinic under the auspices of Kiddum Noar of the Jerusalem Municipality, where she provided individual therapy to at-risk adolescents; family therapy to teenagers and their families; treatment to parents of at-risk youth; and where she supervised social work students, social workers and family therapists. In addition, she worked at Machon Shiluv in Jerusalem for over nine years providing couples and family therapy to a diverse client population as well as providing supervision to couple and family therapy interns. She has maintained a private practice since 2007 in Jerusalem and Efrat providing individual, couples and family therapy in both Hebrew and English. She joined The Family Institute staff in 2019 as a clinical supervisor.
Atara Weinstein, M.S.W.
Atara Weinstein holds an M.S.W. from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work, as well as postgraduate training in various trauma focused modalities such as DBT, AEDP, and somatic approaches, as well as family systems therapy. Atara has worked with teens, adults, and families in various clinics and residential facilities for at-risk youth. Currently, Atara works with teens and adults in private practice in Jerusalem, with a focus on treating survivors of complex trauma and abuse, among other issues. Atara is a lecturer in the Family Institute, and serves as adjunct faculty at Wurzweiler School of Social Work and is the assistant director of the Wurzweiler Israel Program.
Esther Marcus, M.S.
Esther Marcus, M.S. earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Sociology from the University of North Texas, and completed Postgraduate training in Family Therapy at The Family Institute of Neve Yerushalayim. Esther has extensive experience working with families coping with psychiatric mental health challenges as a therapist, and clinical supervisor at “Milam” in Jerusalem.
She is also an Adjunct Professor in the Wurzweiler/Sara Schenirer MSW Program, and maintains a private practice in Jerusalem.
Dr. Stacey Leibowitz-Levy
Dr. Stacey Leibowitz-Levy is an experienced psychologist with wide ranging skills and expertise in the areas of trauma, anxiety, stress, and adjustment issues in adults and children. She has extensive experience in the training and supervision of mental health professionals in trauma work. Stacey was a board member of the South African Institute of Traumatic Stress Studies (SAITS) and has run self-care and supervision groups for trauma practitioners working with war veterans, refugees and torture survivors. She participated as an expert panel member in the development of the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) intervention model for torture survivors. She worked as an academic at the University of the Witwatersrand (Johannesburg, South Africa) for twelve years and has publications in in the trauma field. Stacey made Aliyah with her family to Ramat Beit Shemesh.
Joan Kristall, M.S.W.
Joan B. Kristall, M.S.W., earned a Master’s degree in social work at the University of Denver and received a certificate in trauma treatment from the Institute for Advanced Psychotherapy Training and Education in Baltimore, MD. Prior to her aliyah, she was Clinical Coordinator for the Shofar Coalition, a collaborative community program for survivors of childhood trauma. Currently she is a clinical supervisor at The Family Institute and maintains a private practice in Jerusalem and Efrat.
Mendel Horowitz, M.S.
Mendel Horowitz a psychotherapist, researcher, and author in Jerusalem who is certified by the International Board for Certification of Group Psychotherapists. His research interests include group therapy and the convergence of masculinity, loneliness, and faith. Mendel is also a founding member of United Hatzalah’s Psychotrauma & Crisis Response Unit and a member of the Public Outreach Committee of the American Group Psychotherapy Association. Mendel has facilitated workshops internationally on religion, masculinity, and emotional isolation and on intergenerational trauma, ambivalence, and avoidance in group dialogue. Mendel’s popular essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Jerusalem Post, JTA, Forward, and Jewish Journal, among other publications. His professional writing can be found in the International Journal of Group Psychotherapy and in the forthcoming volume “Addressing Diversity Dynamics in Group Therapy: Clinical and Training Applications” published by Taylor and Francis.
Dr. Zev Ganz
Dr. Zev Ganz earned a master’s degree from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work of Yeshiva University and a doctoral degree from Smith College School for Social Work. He completed postgraduate training in Individual and Family therapy at The Family Institute of Neve Yerushalayim with a focus on working with young children and their families as well as the treatment of child sexual abuse. He is a certified practitioner of the attachment- based model Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), and has lectured and published widely on the topic of attachment and families. Zev currently serves as Rosh Tzevet of the Lamerchav/Kav L’noar mental health clinic in Ramat Beit Shemesh, is a clinical supervisor at The Family Institute of Neve Yerushalayim, a lecturer at Machon Shiluv, and maintains a private practice in Ramat Beit Shemesh and Jerusalem.