Administrative Staff:
Mordechai Weinberger, LCSW
Executive Director
Dave Back
VP of Operations
Dave is a dedicated VP of Operations at Serenity Center, with over four and a half years of experience in the mental health field. His career began as the Director of Operations for an ABA program specializing in clients diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). During this time, Dave realized the profound satisfaction that comes from positively impacting others’ lives and developed a strong appreciation for evidence-based practices like ABA. His leadership was crucial in expanding the program’s reach, enabling it to serve a significantly larger number of clients.
At Serenity Center, Dave remains committed to delivering the same level of dedication to quality service and innovative practice that defined his previous role. His primary objective is to enhance Serenity’s capacity to provide exceptional psychotherapy services and support to the community.
Outside of his professional life, Dave enjoys singing with a vocal group, playing baseball and football, and exploring his interest in sports cars. However, his favorite pastime is spending quality time with his wife and child, demonstrating his deep commitment to family life.
Sarah Gurvitsch
Director Of Operations
Sarah has over 10 years of experience in management and operations, bringing a strategic mindset and strong leadership to her role as Director of Operations. Her passion lies in empowering employees to reach their full potential. Sarah began her career in the corporate sector, where her strong interpersonal skills and expertise in management opened the door to the healthcare industry. There, she managed Credentialing for a medical billing company, leveraging her organizational and leadership abilities to support company growth. During this time, she also mastered the complexities of insurance processes, gaining a deeper understanding of provider credentialing’s crucial role in ensuring accessible, quality care.
At Serenity, Sarah is driven by a commitment to help people succeed. She views her role not just as keeping the agency running smoothly, but as creating a place of healing. Each system she develops is designed to enhance the support and care clients receive, with the ultimate goal of providing an exceptional experience at Serenity Center.
With a strong foundation in customer service, Sarah ensures Serenity remains client-focused. Her passion for helping others is further influenced by her husband, a respected Nurse Practitioner in a local Monsey health center and a dedicated Hatzalah volunteer. Sarah is continuously innovative in her efforts to make a meaningful impact, ensuring that the clinic fulfills its mission of delivering vital mental health care to the community.
Levi Rosen, LCSW-R
Director of Clinical Operations and Supervision
As the Director of Clinical Operations and Supervision at Serenity Center, Levi Rosen plays a pivotal role in guiding and overseeing our team of dedicated therapists. A native of Brooklyn, NY, Levi graduated from Yeshiva University’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work in 2008 and has been passionately involved in the mental health field since 2005.
Levi has extensive experience providing care to individuals with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) and leading groups in various settings, including Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs). He majored in Clinical Social Work and completed a field practicum at a Family and Child Center, focusing on individual therapy. After transitioning from clinic settings, Levi began offering supportive counseling to school-aged children (ages 3-21) and their families, embedded on-site in various Yeshivas in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
Levi brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Serenity Center team. In his first year, he demonstrated his ability to empower therapists to engage effectively with their clients while maintaining best practices and fostering their growth as expert clinicians. His guiding principle is to create a secure space where individuals can reflect on their thoughts, feelings, and experiences as they navigate life’s journey. Inspired by his mother, a master therapist, Levi is driven by a profound sense of gratitude and a recognition of the shared humanity in his clients. He works with diverse populations and specializes in trauma-informed modalities, helping clients release the burdens of past experiences to reconnect with their aspirations and relationships.
Certified in EMDR by EMDRIA, Levi is committed to community outreach and aspires to become a trainer in the near future. What he enjoys most about his work is the opportunity to share space with others. Even during challenging times, he remains motivated by the belief that each individual possesses the inner strength to radiate light amidst darkness.
Dr. Elizabeth Cohen
School Liaison Coordinator
Dr. Elizabeth Cohen brings a wealth of experience and passion to Serenity Center’s mission of providing high quality mental health services to children and their families. Recognizing the essential role that parents and the school play in a child’s development, she is deeply committed to providing a comprehensive program on-site at the schools that actively involves parents, students and school personnel in mental health care. With a career that spans several decades, she is a fierce advocate for children and is deeply invested in making a positive impact as they learn and grow.
Most recently, Dr. Cohen served as the Director of Special Student Services for a large, diverse school district where she interacted and learned from pioneering child advocates and leaders in the field of special education. She spent her career developing strong, robust, trusting relationships with local families and schools, creating a foundation of collaboration that guides her work. At Serenity Center, she is excited to continue her mission of enhancing school-based mental health services, ensuring that every child has access to the care and support they need.
Elena Rowatti, MBA, HCM
Therapist Success Manager
Elena has recently moved from southern New Jersey to New York to start her career after graduating in 2022 from Widener University with her Master’s in Business Administration – Healthcare Management. In 2021 Elena also received her bachelors degree from Widener University, and graduated with a major in Management and minor in Marketing. Prior to joining the amazing team here at Serenity and becoming the Therapist Success Manager for the clinic, Elena has 5 years of previous experience in the Healthcare field, working in a pharmacy. Elena mentioned she has always had a passion for helping others and that is what has driven her towards creating a career path in the healthcare field. Elena describes herself as a motivated, reliable, and devoted individual with a witty sense of humor. She loves all animals, hanging with her friends, traveling, trying new things, and making others smile.
Teena Baxter
Documentation Specialist
Teena is native to northern New Jersey. Teena attended college at Passaic County Community College. She has over 16 years of documentation experience and joined the team at Serenity Center to work as a documentation specialist. Teena has a passion for data and helping others, and that’s what has driven her towards working in the administrative side of the healthcare field. Although Teena describes herself as quiet and reserved, she has a kind soul that is devoted to helping others thrive. Teena loves being adventurous, trying new things, nature and animals.
It starts with you. Let us help you help yourself.
845.286.2210
Email: info@serenityctr.com
232 North Main St
Spring Valley, NY 10977