Administrative Staff – Serenity Center

Administrative Staff:

Mordechai Weinberger, LCSW

Executive Director

Mordechai Weinberger, LCSW, has been a dedicated professional in the mental health field for over two decades, initially embracing holistic methods such as the One Brain method, hypnosis, and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). His journey in therapy began with these integrative techniques, but recognizing their limitations, he pursued a traditional education in social work, culminating in a degree and a speaking opportunity at his graduation in 2005. Mordechai’s commitment to professional development is demonstrated through his extensive training in a variety of therapeutic approaches including CBT, DBT, EMDR, IFS, Brainspotting, Object therapy, Sandtray therapy, Group therapy, Gottman’s couples work, and some training in EFT.

Mordechai’s approach to therapy is deeply empathetic and genuinely caring, making him a popular figure among his clients and within the broader community. He excels in connecting with individuals on a personal level while addressing community-wide mental health needs, ensuring that both individual and collective healing are pursued.

His media presence has also been a significant aspect of his career; he has hosted a popular local radio mental health program for nearly 15 years, authored three best-selling books, and regularly contributes to the international newspaper Yated Neeman and the Yiddish magazine “Moment.” Additionally, he leads a weekly Yiddish Kol Mivaser program, further engaging with diverse audiences.

In April 2022, Mordechai founded the Serenity Center clinic, which rapidly expanded to include over 36 clinicians and now offers comprehensive mental health services across the lifespan, from children to geriatric patients, including specialized group therapy sessions. This clinic underscores his vision of making mental health care accessible by accepting all insurances and serving hundreds of clients weekly. Mordechai’s dedication to lifelong learning continues as he pursues a degree in psychology, reflecting his enduring commitment to enhancing his therapeutic practices and healing the logic, mind, and emotions of those he serves.

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.

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.

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