Hebrew 
English 
Deena Mendlowitz, M.S.W.
Clinical Director, Clinical Supervisor
Deena Mendlowitz earned an M.S.W. at Wurzweiler School of Social Work and a graduate degree in Assessment and Counseling at the Institute of Child Study at the University of Toronto. She worked in a wide range of social service agencies prior to making Aliya and completed postgraduate training in Family Therapy at The Family Institute of Neve Yerushalayim. She served on the faculty of the Master’s program in Clinical Sociology at the Center of Foreign Studies. Deena is currently the Clinical Director of The Family Institute and maintains a private practice in the Beit Shemesh area.
Rivkah Menkes, M.S.
Administrative Director, Clinical Supervisor
Rivkah Menkes, M.S. is the Administrative Director of The Family Institute. She is a graduate who trained at The Family Institute for many years, after earning her Master’s degree in Clinical Sociology from the University of North Texas. Her role at The Family Institute includes the coordination of Professional Development Programs, along with a full range of key administrative functions. She maintains a private practice in Jerusalem as well as works on the Sexual Abuse Unit at The Family Institute.
Fran Ackerman, M.S.W.
Clinical Supervisor
Fran Ackerman, M.S.W., has worked directly with the pioneers of Family Therapy in the United States Drs. Murray Bowen, Salvador Minuchin, and Carl Whittaker. She is a former faculty member at the Ackerman Institute for the Family in New York City, the Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic, and the School of Social Work at Hebrew University. Her published work focuses on the clinical application of Bowen Family Systems Theory. In addition to being a Clinical Supervisor at The Family Institute, she maintains a private practice in Jerusalem.
Bilha Fruchter, M.S.W.
Sexual Abuse Unit Coordinator
Bilha Fruchter is a social worker (MSW) and a therapist with over 20 years of experience in Israel, Canada, England and the U.S. She works with individuals of all ages who are coping with anxiety, depression and other mental health issues, and to explore and develop coping strategies to deal with various forms of abuse and trauma. For the last 8 years, Bilha has worked for Mercaz Meital, where the focus is working with children who have experienced sexual abuse and their families. She also currently supervises practicing therapists who are in a two year training program at Mercaz Meital, specializing in therapy with children who have experienced sexual abuse. For the last few years, Bilha supervises students studying in the School Of Social Work department at the Hebrew University. Lastly, Bilha is part of a team of therapists who provide short term therapy for teachers through the national teachers union.
Bilha combines various therapeutic approaches including psycho-dynamic therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TFCBT), and task-oriented psychotherapy focused on understanding behaviors, choices or struggles that arise. Her methods are strength based, goal-oriented, based on her many years of experience.
Bilha is centrally located in Katamon, Jerusalem.
Dr. Zev Ganz
Clinical Supervisor, Adolescent Unit Coordinator
Joan Kristall, M.S.W.
Clinical Supervisor
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.
Dr. Stacey Leibowitz-Levy
Clinical Supervisor, Trauma Unit Coordinator
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.
Miriam Timsit, M.S.W.
Clinical Supervisor
Miriam Timsit earned her M.S.W. from Adelphi University. She is a Clinical Supervisor at both The Family Institute and Machon Shiluv in Jerusalem. She was also a Clinical Supervisor at Hebrew University’s program in Family Therapy. Miriam maintains a private practice in Jerusalem.
Aviva Zahavi Asa, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.
Clinical Supervisor
Esther Marcus, M.S.
Clinical Supervisor
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.
Bracha Coopersmith, M.S.
Clinical Supervisor, Children's Unit Coordinator
Bracha Coopersmith, M.S. earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Sociology from the University of North Texas completed Postgraduate training in Family Therapy at The Family Institute of Neve Yerushalayim where she received extensive, specialized training in psychotherapy with children and their families. In addition to being the Coordinator of the Pinat HaYeled Children’s Unit, she maintains a private practice in Jerusalem.
Ido Schindler
Clinical Supervisor
עידו שינדלר, מרכז תכנית בעברית – במכון משה מנחם של הכשרה בטיפול משפחתי וזוגי של נוה ירושלים. עידו מטפל משפחתי וזוגי מוסמך, מטעם האגודה הישראלית לטיפול משפחתי וזוגי. M.S.W בעבודה סוציאלית קלינית בהצטיינות מטעם האוניברסיטה העברית בירושלים. עידו ניהל מרכז הורים וילדים של עמותת יד רחל מעל 7 שנים בגוש עציון, בהם הדריך צוות המטפלים, וכן טיפל בהורים ומשפחות. עידו טיפל משפחתית 5 שנים במשפחות במגזר החרדי בירושלים במרכז הורים וילדים. עידו בעל תעודת מטפל בפגיעות מיניות בילדים מטעם מכון חרוב, תעודת קורס CPP טיפול הורה ילד- בקשר סביב טראומה, וטיפול דינמי ממוקד שינוי. עידו חבר צוות הטיפולי במכון ראות – לטיפול זוגי, בירושלים. עידו, מטפל ומדריך מטפלים, בקליניקה פרטית בירושלים, ובגוש עציון.
Micki Lavin-Pell, M.S.
Clinical Supervisor
Rachel Pinkasowitz, M.S.W.
Clinical Supervisor in Hebrew Program
רחל פנקסוביץ מדריכה בתוכנית לטיפול משפחתי וזוגי ,במכון נווה ירושלים. M.S.W. בעבודה סוציאלית קלינית מטעם האוניברסיטה העברית. רחל מטפלת משפחתית מוסמכת מטעם האגודה לטיפול משפחתי וזוגי. רחל מטפלת טיפול פרטני ומשפחתי ומדריכה מטפלים בקליניקה הפרטית שלה בירושלים. רחל עבדה שנים רבות כמטפלת משפחתית במכון שילוב, ביחידת גילוי העריות, והיא מתמחה בטיפול בפגיעות מיניות. לרחל ניסיון בריכוז והדרכה בתחום חוק הנוער בעירית ירושלים. כמו כן עבדה כעו”ס לחוק נוער במשך 10 שנים ,בטיפול בילדים ונוער בסיכון ומשפחותיהם במגזר החרדי .רחל לימדה בביה”ס המרכזי להכשרת עובדים לשירותי רווחה. רחל עברה הכשרה בתחומים של: הדרכה בתפיסה דינמית, הנחיית קבוצות טיפוליות, טיפול בפגיעות מיניות ,התערבויות במשפחה במצבי אלימות והכשרה בתחומי הורות וזוגיות.
Silvana Winer
Clinical Supervisor in Hebrew Program
Silvana Winer earned an MA degree in Psychology at the Hebrew University and is a
certified Couple and Family Psychotherapist.
She conducted pioneering OD Projects in Israel as part of the ‘Organizations and
Communities’ Program’s staff lecturing and leading groups at the Ben-Gurion University Behavioral Department and later as program developer and trainer at the Shahar haNegev Social Services Unit. She coordinated, treated, trained and supervised in the area of Addictions on behalf of the Israeli Authority, the National Addiction Division of the Welfare Ministry and in several Therapeutic Communities and Youth rehabilitation centers.
Currently a therapist and Director of Maagalim Center for Psychotherapy that she
founded in Zur Hadassa where she lives.
Moshe Hoffman
Clinical Supervisor in Hebrew Program
Dalia Agrest
Clinical Supervisor in Hebrew Program