Licensed Psychotherapist
New Jersey Therapist
About Malka
Consultant, Speaker, Educator & Facilitator
My Story
I'm not sure which came first, whether I was drawn to people who were struggling, or they were drawn to me. Either way, it's been true for as long as I can remember. What keeps me in this work isn't the hard parts, and there are plenty. Sitting with someone in real pain never gets easier. It's those moments when someone says something out loud for the first time, or I see the expression on their face when something finally clicks. Whether it's one person in therapy or a room full of people in training, that “aha moment” when a shift in perspective becomes possible is why I do this work.
Perspective isn't just about how we see the world—it's about how we transform it.
I grew up watching my parents devote themselves to helping others and serving their community. Their example shaped my values long before I knew where my career would take me.
Early in my career, responding to September 11 taught me what trauma can do to individuals and entire communities. I spent the next two decades helping people navigate trauma, relationships, loss, and life's unexpected challenges.
Then October 7 happened, and something shifted. I recognized another communal trauma unfolding, this time within my own community, alongside profound questions of identity, belonging, and trust. I knew the work I'd built couldn't remain within the walls of my therapy office.
That realization led me to expand my work through Kesher Shalom Projects, bringing psychological education and practical tools to professionals, organizations, and communities.
How I Got Here
Like so many women, I know what it’s like to juggle all the roles ofcareer, family, personal growth—and still feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day. As a wife and mom of three, I’ve had to learn that we can’t do it all, and we’re not supposed to. I bring that same perspective into my work, helping people navigate life’s demands with a little more self-compassion and clarity.
And if there’s one thing I’ve learned? Healing doesn’t have to be so heavy all the time. Even in the most challenging moments, we can still have humor, lightness, and connection, and that we are stronger than we give ourselves credit.
Balancing Life, Family & Everything in Between
It's more than a phrase I use in my work. It's a belief that has shaped both my personal and professional life.
Perspective doesn't mean minimizing pain, pretending everything is fine, or finding a silver lining in every difficult experience. It means recognizing that even when we cannot change our circumstances, we can influence how we understand them, respond to them, and move forward.
I believe people are more than the difficult experiences they've lived through. We're shaped by our histories, relationships, identities, and the meaning we make of what happens to us.
Curiosity, compassion, and connection are at the heart of my work. Whether I'm sitting with one person or speaking to hundreds, my goal is to help people better understand themselves and others, strengthen their resilience, and discover new possibilities.
What Guides Me
Perspective is Power!!
New Jersey Therapist
My father often shared the words of Rabbi Hillel:
"If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?"
Those words have stayed with me. They remind me that caring for ourselves and caring for others are not competing responsibilities, and that understanding matters most when it leads to action.
- B.A. in Psychology & Sociology – University of Delaware
- M.S.W. in Social Work – Wurzweiler School of Social Work (Full Scholarship)
- The Neve Family Institute - Post Master's Institution Training
Education
- NYANA (New York Association for New Americans), Social Worker | New York, NY – Provided crisis counseling and case management for immigrants, refugees, and domestic violence survivors, helping them navigate trauma, legal systems, and cultural adjustment.
- Covenant House | Harlem, NY – Managed a child abuse prevention and family support program, supervised caseworkers, counseled adolescents and families in crisis, and facilitated parenting and domestic violence recovery workshops.,
- Tikvah School Psychotherapy and Crisis Management | Jerusalem, Israel
- Neve Family Clinic, Psychotherapist | Jerusalem, Israel
- 9/11 Trauma Response (Red Cross & FEMA) – Provided trauma support for first responders and survivors and later, continued with Project Liberty in outreach, support groups, and speaking on the aftermath of 9/11.
- Ohel Children's Home and Family Services | Brooklyn, NY – Directed the Independent Living Program for youth in foster care, provided individual therapy and vocational guidance, and facilitated social skills and trauma recovery workshops; while managing the program staff.
- Adult Family Health Services, Program Director | Clifton, NJ – Led and expanded a psychiatric Partial Day Care Program, developed trauma-focused therapy groups, and provided clinical supervision for mental health professionals. Under my leadership, the program expanded by over 300%, increasing its reach and impact through community outreach, strategic partnerships, and operational improvements. This role allowed me to develop key skills in leadership, workforce development, and designing trauma-informed policies
- Started my Private Practice in 2008
Early Career
Helping People Heal & Move Forward
Therapy & Healing – My Approach
For over 25 years, I’ve worked with individuals facing trauma, burnout, grief, and life’s hardest challenges. Whether it’s personal betrayal, workplace stress, or large-scale crisis, I believe:
✔ Trauma changes us—but it doesn’t have to define us.
✔ Healing is possible, even when it feels out of reach.
✔ Sometimes, the hardest part is just taking that first step.
Therapeutic Approaches and Methods
Approach to Healing
Who I Work With
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – CBT helps people shift unhelpful thought patterns.
- Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) – Reprocessing trauma to regain control.
- Family Systems Therapy – Understanding how relationships and family dynamics shape healing.
- Solution-Focused Therapy – A practical, goal-oriented approach that helps clients identify strengths and create meaningful change.
- Individuals navigating trauma, stress, and resilience-building.
- Professionals facing burnout and workplace trauma.
- Families and couples working through relationship challenges, conflict and emotional patterns.
- Clinicians in training and private practice – clinical supervision, case consultation, and guidance on growing and managing a private practice.
- Teams in schools and organizations – Helping leaders, educators, and professionals build healthier team dynamics, improve communication, and create trauma-informed, supportive environments.
- Practical, results-oriented therapy focused on building resilience.
- A mix of empathy and real-world tools to help clients regain control.
- A belief in humor and lightness—because healing doesn’t always have to be heavy.
- Collaboration is key—whether working with individuals, families, or teams, fostering stronger connections and healthier communities is always at the heart of my work.
New Jersey Therapist
Perspective doesn't change what happened. It changes what becomes possible next.
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