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Dr. Yisrael Levitz
Founding Dean
Dr. Micha Belzer
Director of The Family Institute, Clinical Supervisor
ד"ר מיכה בלזר סיים לימודי פסיכותרפיה וטיפול זוגי ומשפחתי במכון מגיד באוניברסיטה העברית. מוסמך מטעם האגודה הישראלית לטיפול זוגי ומשפחתי כמטפל וכמדריך. השלים את לימודי הדוקטורט שלו באוניברסיטה העברית בירושלים כאשר נושא המחקר שלו הוא "אינטגרציה של זהויות דו-תרבותיות בזוגיות: המקרה של זוגות מעורבים דתיים וחילוניים בישראל". מוסמך בתיאום הורי מטעם מכון CPI בארה"ב – עזרה להורים לאחר גירושין להתמקד בילדים. ניסיון טיפולי מגוון במכוני טיפול שונים במגזר הציבורי והפרטי. ניסיון רב בהוראה בתחומי טיפול שונים. כיום מנהל את התוכנית הישראלית ללימודי טיפול זוגי ומשפחתי במכון משה מנחם - מכון למשפחה של נווה ירושלים וכן מלמד ומדריך בתוכנית באנגלית. וכן מטפל בקליניקה פרטית בירושלים.
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.
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.
Dr. Zev Ganz
Clinical Supervisor
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 where he holds an adjunct faculty post. 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 Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), having completed intensive training with Alicia Lieberman and Patricia Van Horn. Zev is currently a clinical supervisor and instructor at The Family Institute, a therapist at Machon Shiluv, and maintains a private practice in Ramat Beit Shemesh and Jerusalem.
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
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. Since 2009, she has served as part of the clinical staff at Ma’ane, a therapy clinic under the auspices of Kiddum Noar of the Jerusalem Municipality, where she has provided individual therapy to at-risk adolescents, family therapy to teenagers and their families, and has worked with parents of at-risk youth. At Ma’ane, she has also supervised social work students from the Hebrew University as well as social workers and family therapists from Kiddum Noar. In addition, she worked at Machon Shiluv in Jerusalem from 2013-2020, 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.