Addiction & Trauma: Treating a whole person
Addiction & Trauma: Treating a whole person Over the last 10 years, we in the mental health support community have watched a major shift in how ou
Addiction & Trauma: Treating a whole person Over the last 10 years, we in the mental health support community have watched a major shift in how ou
Yonah Pollak joined the Genesis Program as senior clinician after providing individual and group therapy for at-risk youth in Tikva Seminary and Kesher Yeshiva. His clinical approach integrates cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic and reality therapies.
After graduating magna cum laude in 1975 from Boston University School of Business with a Bachelors of Business Administration (B.S.B.A.), Yonah worked in business management and finance until making Aliyah in 1990. He spent 2 years learning full-time at Yeshiva Ohr Sameach prior to transitioning into the field of psychotherapy. He earned a Masters Degree in Psychology from California Coast University and has been involved in the field of addiction treatment for the past 27 years. He is a Certified Addictions and Substance Abuse Professional (CASAP) and an Internationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ICADC). He completed a full time 3 year internship at the Nachat Ruach residential drug rehabilitation program in Jerusalem. He also completed a 2 year certificate program in Professional and Therapeutic Counseling from the Refuah Institute in Jerusalem, under the directorship of Professor Joshua Richie, M.D., and completed 3 levels of training in the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model of psychotherapy.
Yonah is a member of the advisory board of the Kav L’Noar counseling and mentorship program, and maintains a private practice out of both his Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh offices.
Darrin has spent the last two decades serving the Jewish community in Johannesburg, South Africa. After a master’s coursework in social health care cum laude, Darrin continued his professional development with certifications in narrative therapy, post-divorce mediation, psycho-dynamic counseling, DBT, bereavement counseling, Family therapy, Gottman couples work and social work supervision. Darrin assisted to establish and coordinate a community based mental health clinic offering multi-disciplinary mental health services for the community and was most recently responsible for the social services team at a residential mental health facility catering to the needs of 77 individuals. He brings a wealth of assessment, counseling, supervision, crisis intervention, training and facilitation skills to the team and is passionate about empowerment and social justice. Darrin made aliya in October of 2022 and joined the Genesis staff almost immediately bringing his years of experience, his calm, thought through temperament, and his wisdom to the clinical team. Darrin lives in Yokneam with his wife and his dog.
With 20 years of experience in the not-for-profit world, Tali Stern has a history of diverse experience in project management and program direction. After specializing in helping others with organizational startup, Tali founded her own organization where she was introduced to the meaningful field of young adults distress and the importance of mental health treatment and support. Recently Tali collaborated with some of the top mental health organizations in Jerusalem to coordinate the first Mental Health Expo for English speakers. Tali is passionate about working smart, efficient execution, and clear communication, and together with a deep compassion for the human experience she works to ensure a meaningful and substantive experience for staff and clients of Genesis alike. Tali lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh with her husband, Tuvya and their blended family of 5 children.
Chana Sachs has been a respected member of the behavioral health field in the Jerusalem community for the past 25 years. After a decade directing Tikva’s alternative seminary for young women, she has maintained a private practice in addition to working closely with seminaries and yeshivot. As Clinical Director, Chana oversees clinical operations, including program development and ongoing innovative supervision and training of clinical staff.
Chana began her professional life as a registered nurse and moved into the field of public health, earning a Masters Degree in public health education. Chana then earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology in Berkley, CA. With a consistent focus on the interface between health behaviors and psychology, Chana completed her Psychology internship at Stanford University’s Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center in Palo Alto, CA.
Menachem is a New York State licensed clinical social worker who has worked in the field of substance abuse prevention, addictions treatment, and recovery support since 2002. Since 2004, Menachem has served as Director of The Living Room (TLR), a clubhouse program for Jewish young adults in recovery from addiction. Menachem is the author of three books; Stepping Out of the Abyss: A Jewish Guide to the Twelve Steps, Consciously: Six Steps to living vibrantly with our creator, and Acceptance: A path to inner healing, Mosaica Press publications. Finally, Menachem is editor-in-chief of The Light Revealed, a social media content publisher focused on serving the Jewish recovery community. Menachem received his master’s degree in social work from the Yeshiva University Wurzweiler School of Social Work. and lives in Cedarhurst, New York, with his wife Naomi and their two children.
Moish Feiglin has been involved in community work, counseling and wellbeing since 2007. Moish has worked in the public mental health sector, schools, Jewish community centers, highschool, yeshiva system and private practice. Drawing on a range of modalities Moish is trained in ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) and Narrative Therapy and is currently training in FOBT (Focusing Oriented Breathwork Therapy). Moish brings a deep sense of compassion and empathy into his therapy to create a safe and supportive atmosphere of healing and growth. His integrative approach allows for clients to draw from their strengths, recognize and accept challenges, and harness their own deep desire for authenticity and change. Moish holds an MSW, Graduate Diploma of Psychology and Bachelor of Social Science majoring in counseling. In addition to his clinical work, Moish is an accomplished musician, meditation and group facilitator offering a range of music, wellbeing, nature retreats and experiences internationally and in Israel.
Hillel began working in the mental health field over 30 years ago.
Before making Aliyah to Israel 25 years ago, he worked in inpatient and outpatient centers for at-risk teens in Colorado and was the Director of a community based services program for sexual abuse offenders and their families. He earned a Master of Science degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Colorado. Upon arriving in Israel, Hillel was a full time Yeshiva student for 7 years in Gush Etzion.
He went on to become a licensed Education Psychologist in Israel. In addition to maintaining a private practice for the past 20 years, Hillel spent 10 years as the Director of the Education Psychology Department of Kiryat Arba and is a Senior Supervisor for the Educational Psychology Department of Beitar Illit.
Hillel has trained extensively in Narrative Therapy, CBT, psychodynamic, person-centered and positive psychology techniques. He combines these with a very personal, respectful, and humanistic approach to working with people and helping them with a wide range of difficulties including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, personal development and more.
Gedalia grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa and has been living in Israel since 2001. He has been involved with young adults for the last 20 years, including time spent as Director of Yeshivas Kesher in Jerusalem. He works as a therapist in both private and yeshiva settings. Gedalia has a passion for group therapy, and runs groups with students in various yeshivos. These groups provide a powerful resource for fostering self-awareness, self-acceptance, and genuine connection with others. An engaging and charismatic educator, Gedalia enjoys giving over classes on Torah Philosophy, and has a unique ability to make Torah relevant to today’s youth. Gedalia holds an M.S. in Clinical Counseling, and is also a certified Life Coach and N.L.P. Practitioner. Gedalia is known in his community for his commitment to producing quality herring for the shul’s weekly kiddush. In addition, his chicken wings are widely considered the best in the business on both sides of the Atlantic. Gedalia lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh with his wife, and 7 fabulous children.
Credentials: M.S. in Clinical Counseling, Certified Life Coach, Certified NLP Practitioner, Certification in Psychological First Aid
Training: Internship in Neve Family Institute, Supervision with Dr. Avigdor Bonchek and Yona Pollak M.S.c, CASAP. Currently has ongoing consultation with Dr. Molyn Leszcz M.D., co-author of The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy.
Alcohol & Substance Abuse, maintains a private practice in Ramat Beit Shemesh where he lives and in Nachlaot, Jerusalem. He has extensive experience working with adolescents and young adults. He specializes in treating depression, anxiety, trauma, addictions, relationship issues, life transitions, emotion dysregulation, and grief and loss, utilizing a blend of ACT, DBT, IFS, MI, and EFT. He is also an educator and spends his summers co-directing Meor Jinternship, a program for secular college students based out of Machon Yaakov in Jerusalem.
Aharon lived in both New York and Israel, giving him a distinct understanding of troubles facing the Jewish Community globally. After tumultuous years as a teen that left him stronger, Aharon feels his purpose in life is to help others in similar situations. Aharon spends much of his time working one-on-one with alcoholics and drug addicts who are starting their journey into the world of recovery. He also runs weekly groups at a local rehab and halfway houses.
Aharon’s years as an account manager for a boutique personal finance company gave him an invaluable ability to not just be there for his clients but to anticipate their needs and provide for them. With a background also in Hospitality Management, Aharon developed an attention to detail that supersedes the status quo, leaving nothing to chance, always being ready. As an Operations Manager in a large retail environment Aharon gained the ability to implement systems and procedures that boost productivity.
Merging his passion in helping others with experience in operations and management, Aharon is uniquely qualified to ensure that the Genesis program runs smoothly and that each client is given the best possible care.
Avi is a doctor of clinical social work , and a licensed CBT, Schema and advanced EMDR practitioner specializing in the treatment of trauma, addiction, and co-occurring mental health disorders. Avi is a strong proponent of the belief that treating the underlying causes and trauma concurrently while addressing symptoms is the true holistic path to healing. Avi strives to synthesize skills based therapies, cognitive retraining, and mindfulness with a deep trauma informed theoretical foundation to treat the whole person and their system; past, present, and future.
After earning degrees in pre-med and educational psychology, Avi went on to earn his Masters of Clinical Social Work from Long Island University Brooklyn and his Doctorate of Clinical Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania. Avi has over thirty years of experience in adolescent and adult education focusing on treating trauma and anxiety as well as self-esteem and stage of life struggles. Avi trained at the prestigious Hazelden Center for Youth and Family, gaining invaluable experience working with substance abuse and behavioral addictions. Avi then spent years training and working at Hebrew University Hadassah Hospital in the Cognitive Behavioral outpatient clinic. Avi is the founder and former clinical director of the PsychoTrauma and Crisis Response Unit of United Hatzalah. Avi is an advanced in-field medic with decades of experience responding to critical incidents, including terrorist attacks and mass casualty events. Avi has led international rescue missions to natural disasters and critical incidents around the globe. Along with serving as in-field commander, Avi designed the educational syllabus and treatment protocols for the PsychoTrauma and Crisis Response Unit and trained EMS responders in countries throughout the world.
David has spent over a decade working in the healthcare field.
He majored in business and marketing at Hofstra University and completed his course studies at Touro College. Following his college career, David became a representative for restaurant owners, transforming franchises into successful leaders in the industry. He then decided to transition into Healthcare as Chief Administrator & Principal of Hollis Women’s Center.
In 2015, his passion and personal long term recovery story led him into the substance abuse treatment field, where he founded Starbent Recovery, an all-Women’s Recovery Residence in New York. In 2019, David relocated to Florida to join Onward Living as Executive Director. His extensive experience, along with his knowledge and compassion, made him a valued member of the team. Most importantly, he improved community outreach and referent relations and has continued to build his reputation of honesty, integrity and superior client care.
In 2021, David established Genesis Israel together with Aaron Levine as a global model and highly sophisticated abuse rehabilitation for young Americans in the heart of Jerusalem.
Aaron is a seasoned healthcare professional with the ability to intertwine clinical oversight with business acumen. His career in behavioral health spans over 15 years. In the Summer of 2021, Aaron and his long-time friend David Mosberg founded Jerusalem’s Genesis Israel with the vision of bringing superior clinical care to the Jewish community. Inspired by a unified mission in filling a dire void with an unsurpassed level of clinical sophistication and specialty in understanding and treating a particular sect of the population, they bring the latest research, knowhow and practical application of emotional and behavioral health therapy to the Jewish market.
Throughout his professional advancements, Aaron has achieved several prominent recognitions. He is a graduate of Adelphi University, achieving academic distinction and was presented with the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Social Work Practice. He furthered his education at New York University where he earned his Master’s degree in social work. Aaron continues to advance his learning, and in 2019 completed a Certificate program from The University of Pennsylvania at the Wharton School in Business Analytics. Additionally, he is a member of the National Association of Social Workers.
Since 2017, following a decade of work as a speech language pathologist, Faigy Ort has worked with families, young adults, individuals and couples dealing with the full spectrum of mental health diagnoses. Faigy approaches her therapy sessions with creativity, sensitivity, and respect for each individual and the system from which they drive.
Faigy draws from a variety of methods to create an individualized approach that resonates with an individual’s strength, goals and struggles. She integrates DBT, EFT, IFS and SE to provide a multidisciplinary supportive platform for her client’s journey toward healing.
Faigy has a MSW, with a concentration in Substance Abuse, and is CASAC-T certified.
She also has a BS and MS in Speech Language Pathology and a certificate degree in Creative Arts.
Benji Elson has over a decade of experience in the mental health field, specifically dealing with trauma, substance abuse, addiction, comorbidity, and other psychological and behavioral issues. He is also a Jewish environmental educator, transformational experience facilitator, musician and author. In these capacities, Benji has taught and led transformative experiences all around the world including in the US, Israel, Mexico, Canada, Turkey, and India.
As a caring professional, Benji brings a unique set of skills to Genesis. In addition, Benji’s own personal journey of “going off the derech” as a teenager and young adult, hanging out with the “wrong crowd”, and “dabbling in substances” has given him a first-hand understanding of the complex challenges and needs of the individuals and families facing these situations.
Benji received a B.A. in Psychology from Touro University, where he served as Lead Editor of two different Journals of Psychology (Journal of Experimental Psychology and Journal of Theoretical Psychology). He also holds a Master’s in Social Work from Wurzweiler School of Social Work, where he is currently working on his Ph.D. on intergenerational trauma and its influence on young people’s defection from the Orthodox community. In addition, Benji received semicha (rabbinic ordination) from Rav Elisha Anschelowitz.
Rabbi Charlop has 40+ years of teenager and young adult teaching experience, including Modern Orthodox, Ba’alei Teshuva, and Orthodox backgrounds. Certified in IFS family counseling, he has been conducting couple’s therapy in the Jerusalem area for the last ten years, and has spent the last 25 years working with at-risk young men in Yeshiva Neveh Zion – Telz Stone. In addition, he has organized and led 17 trips to Poland to encourage knowledge of the Holocaust along with organizing and hosting dozens of Shabbos programs based around education and spirituality.
Rabbi Dovid Charlop earned his Semicha from Rav Shraya Dublitsky in Bnei Brak. He also earned his Bachelors of Science in Education from Empire State College New York.
Judah Weiner is a NYS certified School Psychologist, Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor and Recovery Coach. In addition to his 40 year career as a school psychologist, Mr. Weiner has worked in the field of substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery support since 1986 in a variety of facilities and programs, including Yatzkan, Retorno, Mask, Madraigos, Jacs, The Living Room and Caron Renaissance. He has also maintained a private practice and consultancy throughout his career and views working with individuals, their families and parents to assess, address, cope and thrive through the journey from addiction to long term recovery as a distinct privilege.