JFCS, founded in 1850, has remained flexible and responsive to the dynamic nature of contemporary mental health service delivery. Licensed clinicians provide short-term mental health services and ongoing psychotherapy for children, adolescents, adults, and seniors. Problem focused, results oriented services are provided through individual counseling, family therapy and case management programs. Our strength is our ability to provide a wide selection of services in response to individual needs.  Multiple areas of specialty treatment for target populations are offered as well as general counseling.

All JFCS staff receive weekly clinical supervision. Weekly case conferences take place in all departments and branches, and consultation is provided regularly.

Professional staff participate in on-site staff training throughout the year facilitated by outside specialists.

In addition, specific department /branch trainings take place regularly, and are facilitated by appropriate outside consultants. All staff are required to spend at least two days a year attending professional conferences.

All open cases are subject to weekly supervision, regular case conferences and quarterly review. Once cases are closed, our management information system tracks behavioral objectives set with clients against "goals met". Outcomes are also monitored through a Client Satisfaction Questionnaire, mailed to clients within one month of case closure.

Cases are formally reviewed as follows:

• Assessments and treatment plans are reviewed in individual supervisory sessions, including written materials, on a weekly basis.
• Cases in progress are discussed in clinical staff meetings on an ongoing basis.
• Open cases are reviewed quarterly by supervisors and by a peer review process.
• Ten cases per clinician are selected randomly each quarter for management staff review.
• Cases at closing are assessed for the effectiveness of the interventions and require supervisory sign-off on Closing Forms.
• Utilization review of all cases by management staff takes place quarterly.

In addition, JFCS conducts internal evaluations of its programs. Once goals and objectives are set for program components and/or individual clients, the following are evaluated in assessing quantitative and qualitative outcomes:

• Clients served in relation to budgeted numbers.
• "Closing Forms," including reasons for termination and results of interventions.
• "Client Satisfaction Questionnaires," sent to all closed cases within one month of closure.
• Program assessment by an outside, professional evaluation team.

The following is a list of our Professional Staff by location and clinical specialty:

Phone Number: 415/449-1200

• Randie Bencanenn
  Licensed Clinical Social Worker
  MSW from Yeshiva University
  Treatment Specialty: adoption
• Abby Kovalsky
  Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Board Certified Diplomate
  M.S.W., University of Southern California
  Treatment Specialties: Persons with Disabilities, In-Home Disability Assessments, Chronic Illness, Counseling for Gays and Lesbians, Persons with AIDS, Bereavement and Loss Issues, Case Management
  
• Maya Cullbertson-Lane
  MA in Clinical Psychology
  Treatment Specialties: Psychoanalysis, Dance Therapy, Relational/Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Sand Play, Hakomi
• Alex Silberstein
  Masters in Art Therapy, College of Notre Dame
  Certified E.M.D.R. Therapist
  Treatment Specialties: Individual therapy, Couples therapy, Depression, Anxiety and Trauma
  
• Jordana Joseph
  MSW, University of Washington, Seattle
  Treatment Specialties: Case Management, HIV/AIDS
  
• Jean Kotcher
  Marriage and Family Therapist
  Treatment Specialties: Individual therapy, couple therapy, depression, anxiety, trauma, and parenting
  

Located at our 1710 Scott Street Office in San Francisco

Phone Numbers: Parents Place, 415/359-2454, Adoption Connection, 415/359-2494

• Eddie Arbetman, MFT
  Clinician
  California State University at Hayward
  Treatment Specialties: Individual therapy with children and adults, parent support and guidance, adoption issues, child abuse
  
• Susan Byrd, LCSW
  Child and Family Therapist
  Boston University
  Treatment Specialties: Individual, group and family therapy with children and adolescents; parenting education and guidance
  
• Amy Cooper, MFT
  Clinical Services Coordinator
  Antioch University
  Treatment Specialties: Group and individual therapy with children, youth and families, parent guidance, play activity groups, domestic violence
  
• Cathleen Greene, LCSW
  Licensed Clinical Social Worker
  M.S.W., Columbia University Graduate School of Social Work
  Treatment Specialties: Adoption Counseling, Clinical Consultation, Psychiatric Social Work, Employee Assistance Programs, Case Management for the Homeless
  
• Hugh Molesworth, Ph.D.
  Clinician
  California School of Professional Psychology
  Treatment Specialties: Individual and group therapy with children, adolescents and adults, family therapy, psychological testing
  
• Nancy Toder, LCSW
  Licensed Clinical Social Worker
  M.S.W., University of Michigan School of Social Work
  Treatment Specialties: Adoption Counseling, Child Abuse
  

Located at our 2534 Judah Street Office in San Francisco

Phone Number: 415/449-2900

• Lina Chernyak
  Clinician
  MSW, San Francisco State University
  Treatment Specialties: Adult and Children Counseling
  Languages: Russian
• Anetta Kalk
  Marriage Family Therapy Intern
  MS in Counseling Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy
  Treatment specialties: Individual and Family counseling
  Languages: Russian and Lithuanian
• Basia Laeffer
  Licensed Clinical Social Worker
  MSW, San Francisco State University
  Treatment Specialties: Adults, Couples
  Languages: Russian, Hebrew, Polish, French
  
• Sonia Sztejnklaper
  Licensed Clinical Social Worker
  M.S.W., Yeshiva University
  Treatment Specialties: Children and Adolescents, School Consultations, Fluency in Russian, Polish 
  
• Gayle Zahler
  Licensed Clinical Social Worker
  M.S.W., Yeshiva University
  Treatment Specialties: Adults, Stress and Coping Skills, Immigration Related Issues, Adoption and Infertility Counseling, Employment Related Counseling, Fluency in Russian, French 
  

Located at our 200 Channing Ave. Office in Palo Alto

Phone Number: 650/688-3030

• Linda Bruce
• Alison Costa
  Licensed Marriage, Child and Family Counselor
  M.A., John F. Kennedy University
  Treatment Specialties: Children, Adolescents and Families, P.T.S.D., Crisis Intervention, Domestic Violence and Abuse, Incest, Chemical Dependency, Diversity Training, Fluency in Spanish and Portuguese
  
• Nancy Fernbach
  Licensed Clinical Social Worker
  M.S.W., California State University, San Diego
  Treatment Specialties: Adolescents, Couples, Families, Group Therapy
  
• John Hurd
  Marriage Family Child Counselor
  M.A. Santa Clara University ? Counseling Psychology
  B.A. Pomona College
  Treatment Specialties:
  
• Susan Kaye
  Licensed Clinical Social Worker
  MSW, University of California, Berkeley, School of Social Welfare
  Treatment Specialties: Seniors and health care.
• Marlene Levenson
  Licensed Clinical Social Worker, graduate Cal State San Jose with MSW,
  Licensed since 1990.
  Treatment Specialties include: individuals, couples and seniors.
  Specializes in issues of aging, divorce, marriage and family.
• Priscilla Surdan, LMFT
  Clinician
  MA, Pacifica Graduate Institute
  Treatment specialties: Adults, families, and couples
• Donald Sussman
  Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Board Certified Diplomate
  M.S.W., Fordham University
  Treatment Specialties: Adults, Persons with AIDS, Adolescents, Alcohol and Drug Abuse,
  Work-Related Problems
• Laurel Woodard
  Marriage Family Child Counseling
  M.A. Counseling ? University of California, San Francisco
  B.A. Business Administration ? Iowa State University
  Treatment Specialties: Adults
  

Located at our 600 Fifth Avenue Office in San Rafael

Phone Number: 415/491-7960

• Susan Byrd
  Licensed Clinical Social Worker
  M.S.W., Boston University
  Treatment Specialties: Couples/Families, Children, Adolescents, Parenting, Learning Disabilities, Behavioral Issues
  
• Torri Campbell
  Licensed Clinical Psychologist
  B.A. - Columbia; M.A. and Ph.D. - SUNY/Binghamton
  Treatment specialties: Anger management; adult relationships; depression and anxiety; overcoming addiction
• Susan Gitlin
  Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Board Certified Diplomate
  M.S.W., California State University, San Diego
  Treatment Specialties: Couples and Families, Acute and Chronic Illness, Persons with AIDS and HIV, Eating Disorders and related problems associated with Body Image
  
• John Gusman
  Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Board Certified Diplomate
  M.S.W., University of California, Berkeley
  Treatment Specialties: Children, Adolescents, Adults, Families and Couples, Infertility and Adoption Issues, Divorce and Separation, Sexual Abuse, Parent Guidance/Consultation, School Consultation, Premarital Counseling, Crisis Intervention 
  
• Alex Markels
  Licensed Clinical Social Worker
  M.S.W., University of California, Berkeley
  Certificate in Chemical Dependency Studies, California State University, Hayward
  Treatment Specialties: Couples, Adults, Adolescents, Chemical Dependency and Recovery, Acute and Chronic Mental Illness, Crisis Intervention and Assessment, Substance Abuse
• Danna Powsner
  Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
  M.A.
  Treatment specialties: Overcoming addiction and eating disorders; adult relationships; parenting and step-parenting challenges; school failure; family turmoil
• Leslie O'Connell
  Licensed Clinical Psychologist
  A.B. - U.C. Berkeley; M.Ed. - Harvard; Ph.D. - CSPP
  Treatment specialties: Parent-child attachment; girls' development; family turmoil; child and adolescent transitions; child and adult depression
• Bernadette Sweeney, MSW
  Licensed Clinical Social Worker
  University of California, Berkeley, School of Social Welfare
  Treatment Specialties Issues of aging, disability, chronic illness, bereavement

Located at our 1360 North Dutton Office in Santa Rosa

Phone Number: 707/571-8131

• Mary Hirsch, LMFT
  MA in Clinical Art Therapy, Loyola Marymount
  Treatment Specialty: Emotionally disturbed children and adolescents.
• Tamar Berg, MFT
  MA Sonoma State University
  Treatment Specialty: Family Therapy, Depression and Anxiety
• Alissa Hirshfeld Flores, MFT
  MA California Institute of Integral Studies
  Treatment Specialty: Grief and Loss, Affective Disorders, Adults, Seniors and Children
• Paula Shatkin, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
  MSW ? USC School of Social Work
  Treatment Specialty: Geriatrics
• Liz Jimenez, MSW, Intern
  MSW San Jose State
  Treatment Specialty: Foster and Adopted Children and Youth; Group Facilitation

Located at our 2001 Winward Way Office in San Mateo

Phone Number: 650/931-1800

• Stephanie Agnew, B.A.
  Coordinator
  Treatment Specialties: Temperament, limit setting and discipline,
  raising daughters, preschool choices, kindergarten readiness
• Gloria Moskowita Sweet, LCSW
  Coordinator
  Treatment Specialties: Parents of school-age children, adolescents
  and twins, bilingual/ bicultural issues, learning styles
• Allena Barbato, J.D. MA, MFTI
  Treatment Specialties: Pre and post-natal counseling, post-partum
  depression, birth and delivery, mothering and custody issues;
  coordinates the Single Parent Center
• Mariana Doig, MA, MFTI
  Treatment Specialties: Immigrant families, blended families, family
  violence, child victims, single parent families, addiction, ADHD
  and learning disabilities, early childhood, eating disorders
  (Spanish speaking)
• Sheila Dubin, MS
  Treatment Specialties: Raising daughters, adolescent issues, and
  parenting teens
• Heidi Emberling, MA
  Treatment Specialties: Sleep, sibling rivalry, new siblings, toddler
  development, potty training
• Miranda J. Gabriel, PsyD, Licensed Clinical
  Psychologist (PSY 19388)
  Treatment Specialties: Assessment and treatment of children and
  adolescents on the autism spectrum; Conducts psychological
  and assessment and provides individual, family, and
  group psychotherapy to children, adolescents, and adults
• John Hurd, LMFT
  Treatment Specialties: Psychotherapy to children, adolescents,
  and individuals
• Ellen Maness, MSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
  Treatment Specialties: Older children, teens, and adults with emphasis
  on anxiety, depression, self-esteem and relationship issues
  and victims of physical and sexual abuse
• Kristin Stent, PhD
  Treatment Specialties: Developmental transitions; high risk children
  in schools, community organizations and in the foster care
  system; youth in the juvenile justice system, including suicide
  assessments and individual and group therapy
• Tobi Bruce, MSW
  Treatment Specialties: Geriatric services, short-term counseling, crisis
  intervention, psycho-social evaluations, discharge planning,
  transitional care planning, physical rehabilitation, HIV and heart
  transplant as a specialty of care
• Susan Kaye, MSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
  Treatment Specialties: Aging; adult children of aging parents (individual
  and family concerns); psychosocial issues related to medical
  concerns; long term care planning; information and referral
  to community resources
• Don Sussman, MSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker,
  Clinical Director
  Treatment Specialties: Individuals, couples and adolescents, people with
  AIDS, LGBT issues, and chronic mental illness and disabilities
• John R. Bisenius, MSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker;
  Coordinator of the Adults with Disabilities Program for
  JFCS-Peninsula
  Treatment Specialties: Adult case management, mental health case
  management, adults with disabilities
• Nancy Ferbach, MSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
  Treatment Specialties: Treatment of older adolescents and adults with
  anxiety, depression or life altering experience such as couple's
  issues, parenting problems eating disorders or career transitions
• Marlene Levenson, MSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
  Treatment Specialties: Bereavement, aging, divorce, children of aging
  parents (individual and family concerns)
• Priscilla Surdam, MA, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
  Treatment Specialties: Adult therapy including individuals, couples,
  and families
• Laurel Woodard, MA, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
  Treatment Specialties: Life and career transitions, depression, grief,
  organizing skills, and eating disorders

JFCS serves San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties, California, USA.

To receive services, please call your nearest JFCS branch office for an appointment.

Please report any errors, suggestions, additions, or changes to
© 2009 Jewish Family and Children's Services