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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.
Dr. Zev Ganz
Clinical Supervisor
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 recently made Aliyah with her family to Ramat Beit Shemesh.
Barbara Reicher, M.S.W.
Clinical Supervisor, Sexual Abuse Unit Coordinator
Barbara Reicher, M.S.W., a graduate of Tel Aviv and Bar Ilan Universities, is a certified Family Therapist and supervisor. Her career has focused on treating children and families struggling with issues of abuse. Prior to her appointment as Coordinator of the Sexual Abuse Unit at The Family Institute, she was clinical director of the Israeli Association for Child Protection (E.L.I.). She is considered one of the foremost national experts in Israel on treating child sexual abuse, including both child victims and children with sexual behavior problems.
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
Racheli Pinkasowitz
Clinical Supervisor in Hebrew Program
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