Our Staff

Ruth Edelman LCSW

Ruth Edelman, LCSW is the Coordinator of the Family Mentor / Senior Friendly Visitor Program for JFS. Ruth has an MSW from the University of Michigan, and holds a postgraduate certificate in Infant Mental Health. She has worked with children and their families for over 30 years in medical and social service settings. She has held supervisory positions overseeing social workers and psychologists, and has presented numerous workshops locally and nationally on work with children from birth to three, grief and loss, and supervisory and management topics.

“I believe strongly in the power of relationships for healing in our lives. We need one another. Most of us have much more to give than we realize. A supportive word, a caring gesture can make a difference to someone when they are feeling alone and struggling with some issue. The Family Mentor / Senior Friendly Visitor Program recruits, and trains volunteers who are matched with Somerset County families feeling overwhelmed with parenting and/or household management. I love the program because it brings people with a need together with people who are in touch with their humanity. The volunteers are ordinary people, but they understand what 'being there' for someone is all about, and are willing to make a commitment to be a mentor to a family for a whole year. I learn things from the families and from the volunteers all the time. It is a richly rewarding experience to coordinate the Family Mentor / Senior Friendly Visitor Program.”

Elise Prezant

Project Coordinator

Elise Prezant has over 20 years of experience providing employment and vocational rehabilitation services in New Jersey and Georgia. Before joining JFS, she was the Manager of Career Services for Jewish Family and Career Services in Atlanta, Georgia. Ms. Prezant was responsible for the Career Counseling and Testing, Recruitment and Senior Employment programs. She has also provided vocational evaluation, vocational counseling, placement assistance and support to individuals with and without disabilities.

In addition, Ms. Prezant was the Executive Director of The Raritan Valley Workshop, an Easter Seal Facility in North Brunswick, NJ. The Raritan Valley Workshop provides vocational training for over 300 adults with disabilities on a daily basis.

Jeanne Lankin LCSW, ACSW

Jeanne Lankin is a NJ licensed clinical social worker. She received her Masters in Social Work from Columbia University and has worked over twenty years in a variety of outpatient mental health settings including University of Pennsylvania Hospital, Hillside/Long Island Jewish Hospital and Jewish Family Service agencies in Bayonne and Southern Middlesex Counties. She is also in private practice in Highland Park and Monroe Township, NJ.

Jeanne has unique training working with individuals, couples and families on a variety of issues including cognitive behavioral therapy for the treatment of phobias and an expertise in geriatrics. In addition to providing psychotherapy to JFS clients, she works in the Senior Mentoring Program.

Roger Sachs, LCSW

Roger A. Sachs received his M.S.W. degree from Adelphi University. Roger provides counseling services for children, adults, couples and older adults. He has extensive experience in counseling, supervision of social workers and graduate students and administering home health aide and older adult programs. In addition to working at JFS, Roger is also employed as a Senior Social Worker at Jewish Family Service of Metrowest.

Teresa Reitz, LCSW

Teresa Reitz, MSW, LCSW, RPT-S is a licensed psychotherapist who provides individual, group, and couples therapy. She provides services to children, adolescents, and adults and has been practicing for over 10 years in a variety of settings including schools, outpatient clinics, foster care agencies, hospitals, and psychotherapy group practices. Her areas of specialization include Anxiety and Depression, Behavioral Difficulties, Parenting Support, Grief and Loss, Peer Issues, Stress Management, and Trauma. Teresa is also a Registered Play Therapist and Play Therapy Supervisor through the Association of Play Therapy.

Teresa's treatment approaches include: Play therapy: “Prescriptive Eclectic Approach” — With young children Teresa utilizes play therapy treatment. Children often will use toys as symbols of their internal struggles. Play is a child's “words” and specialized training has allowed Teresa to help many children work through various difficulties that they were experiencing. Depending on the nature of the difficulties she uses either a non-directive or directive approach. Her play therapy approach is a “prescriptive elective&rdquou; approach, meaning that she assess the scope of the difficulties and utilizes the best play therapy interventions, shown through the latest research, to show effective change and healing. Teresa also has training in sand tray therapy which often becomes part of her work with children and adolescents. Psychodynamic, Cognitive-Behavioral, Schema Therapy orientation—Teresa's approach with adolescents and adults is often based on her training and expertise with Psychodynamic, Cognitive-Behavioral, or Schema Therapy. Depending on the issues identified she would discuss what approach she thought would work best for the issues at hand. Often in therapy there is some overlap of these models. Teresa is open to using creative interventions in therapy including technology (particularly useful with preteens and adolescents), journal therapy, art therapy, music, and sand tray interventions. Many clients have found that these creative approaches have allowed them to reach a greater level of healing.

Teresa believes that the therapy relationship, along with clinical knowledge, is key in effective therapy. A good therapist should be able to create a feeling of safety, which allows clients to fully address issues and work towards their goals. Clients have often told Teresa that her down to earth style, sensitivity, and clinical knowledge made it possible to face the challenges that they were working through and experience genuine growth. Teresa is passionate about her work and respects all those who so courageously take the steps necessary to achieve growth and change.

Sudha Narasimhan, LSW

Sudha Narasimhan is a Licensed Social Worker and the Project Coordinator for the Home Sweet Home project at JFS. She received her MSW degree from Rutgers University in May 2010, with an emphasis in Gerontology. Before her employment at JFS, Sudha completed her clinical training as an intern with JFS during her last year in the MSW program at Rutgers.

During her internship, Sudha worked closely with children, individuals, couples and families by providing psychotherapy and case management services. Sudha continues to provide therapeutic and case management services and is also working with the Family Mentoring and Senior Mentoring Programs.

Cantor Lee Coopersmith, D. Min.

Cantor Lee Coopersmith, D. Min, is the new Community Chaplain of the Ohr Tikvah Jewish Healing Program. Cantor Coopersmith is a graduate of the School of Sacred Music of the Hebrew Union College — Jewish Institute of Religion in New York and was invested as a Cantor in 1982.

She received her Master of Sacred Theology and Pastoral Counseling Certificate from the New York Theological Seminary and the Post Graduate Center for Mental Health. Cantor Coopersmith is Cantor Emeritus of Temple B'nai Abraham, Livingston, NJ and has served Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple, New Brunswick, NJ and Temple Sholom, Plainfield, NJ.

Amy Acker, LCSW

Amy Acker, LCSW received her B. A. from Rutgers University with majors in Psychology and English. She received her Masters in Social Work from NYU with a concentration in Clinical Practice. Amy works with children, adolescents, adults, and families, always with a focus on understanding the client from a strengths perspective. Amy has worked extensively with individuals with histories of trauma, as well as anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and adjustment disorders.

Amy has a variety of tools to help with these painful issues in a safe, nonjudgmental way. She uses a combination of psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral techniques to tailor therapy to the individual's current needs and treatment goals. Amy uses the therapeutic relationship as a key tool in helping her clients to become able to manage the difficulties of everyday life. She is thankful for the opportunity to help others and honors the importance of building and maintaining a trusting, supportive relationship.

Evan Jaffe, LSW

Born in Denver, Colorado, Evan Jaffe graduated Cum Laude from Columbia University with a BA in Religion and received an MHL (Master of Hebrew Letters) from the Jewish Theological Seminary. In 2005, Evan graduated with a Masters of Social Work, University of Pennsylvania.

Evan has been counseling for almost two years, both at JFS and in the Hunterdon Community. Evan's involvement in community activities has served as a role model to many people for whom he has worked.

Stephanie Pearce

Stephanie Pearce is a New Jersey licensed clinical social worker. She earned her master's degree in social work from Rutgers University in 2004. Stephanie has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, and families in a variety of settings. Stephanie specifically worked at the Morris County Youth Shelter providing case management services to at-risk youth.

Stephanie also worked at the Somerset County Family Crisis Intervention Unit for five years providing crisis intervention and short-term family therapy to families who struggled with conflict, runaway behavior, school attendance issues, and mental health concerns.

Stephanie is also experienced in working with youth who have demonstrated firesetting behaviors, as well as adults who are experiencing grief and loss issues and mental health issues resulting from traumatic experiences. Stephanie utilizes a strength based approach when working with individuals, couples, and families. She is committed to working with clients to customize treatment to meet their unique needs and preferences.