Psychosocial Rehabilitative Services for the Mentally Ill
The Summit Institute’s therapeutic treatment and rehabilitative programs offer a wide range of services to mentally ill young adults struggling to function and in need of high-quality psychosocial rehabilitative treatment. Summit provides personalized psychological counseling, social activities, vocational support, and psychiatric treatment. Our programs guide participants to create healthy, independent lives.
Rehabilitative Services at Summit Include:
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An Adolescent Therapeutic Community
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A Therapeutic Community for Young Adults
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Assisted Living
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A Rehabilitative Vocational Support Center
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A Rehabilitative Sports Center
Rehabilitation staff includes administrators, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, dieticians, and counselors.
The Adolescent Therapeutic Community
This department provides treatment and rehabilitative therapy programs for participants suffering from mental health issues that interfere with their ability to function. The participants, aged 18-23 upon entering the Community, are all highly-motivated to seek treatment. In most cases, these young people were recently hospitalized and require comprehensive treatment that includes housing. The treatment and rehabilitation process is approximately three years.
The rehabilitative therapy program is based on unique in-community treatment methods within groups of similar-aged participants. The participants gradually gain independence and move to transitional apartments while undergoing job training through the Summit Institute’s Rehabilitative Vocational Support Center. The initial framework is similar to an all-inclusive hostel with the final treatment stage taking place in the community’s external apartments. An additional interim stage eases the transition between the two, helping participants move toward greater independence. Each stage offers greater daily independence, both socially and in terms of employment.
The staff includes administrators, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, dieticians, and counselors. The community is located in a residential building in Jerusalem that includes participant apartments, dining room, lounge, treatment rooms, fitness center, and offices.
The Therapeutic Community
The Summit Institute provides participants with a variety of social and psychological therapies. Each adolescent meets with a psychologist twice a week, who guides the participant throughout all stages of the rehabilitative process and supervises each individual's treatment plan. At the same time, social programming integrates all aspects of daily life within the community.
The community’s management resembles a hostel, with oversight committees comprised of both staff and participants. These include a central management committee as well as maintenance, finance, culture committees, and many more. The staff conducts community-wide meetings to discuss all personal and group aspects of community life. The communal lifestyle is a key treatment tool used to teach coping mechanisms for a variety of issues including difficulties with social absorption or separation anxieties.
Transitional Apartments
Transitional apartments serve as a branch of the treatment community, helping participants gradually adjust to independence and responsibility. The administrative staff gradually transfers authority to participants, encouraging them to take advantage of Jerusalem’s social opportunities. The participants maintain direct connections with the therapeutic community through regular meetings for psychotherapy, vocational support, clubs, and social activities.
Relationships with Families
We believe in creating an accessible treatment community that interacts openly with its surroundings. All participants visit their parents at home every two weeks and are present at meetings between staff and parents. These meetings are held at the beginning of treatment, at all transition stages, and on an as-needed basis with advanced notice.
Eligibility
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Motivation to begin and follow through with social and psychological counseling
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No drug or alcohol use
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Self-control of destructive behavior
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Intelligence slightly below average or higher
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Classification of at least 40% disability according to the National Insurance Institute. Candidates without a classification or who are approaching 18 years old, must begin the process with the National Insurance Institute before contacting Summit.
The psychological treatment programs are funded primarily by the Ministry of Health Rehabilitative Therapy Basket. Participants also pay a percentage of their Disability Allowance to offset the cost of living and rent, in accordance with the amounts defined by the Ministry of Health.
Application and Admission
Candidates should send hospitalization and treatment summaries along with any welfare reports to the Summit Institute. After an initial selection process, candidates will be invited for an interview and suitable candidates will be invited for a second interview with the relevant department. The interviews primarily explore each candidate’s motivation to pursue treatment and create lasting changes through rehabilitative treatment. The candidate’s family plays a key role in the treatment and therefore the interview also explores the family’s willingness to support the participant and cooperate with the treatment framework.
The participant, the family, and the referring body all receive the final decision and treatment recommendation along with the Ministry of Health – who is responsible for approving admission.
After receiving Ministry of Health approval and before arriving at Summit, each candidate attends an orientation day. By spending a day in the rehabilitation center and therapeutic community and taking part in activities, candidates become familiar with the framework and ensure they are fully invested.
Adolescent Therapeutic Community:
4 HaSadna Street, Jerusalem ISRAEL 9342044
Phone: +972-2-5670840 Fax: +972-2-6722141
The Therapeutic Community for Young Adults offers intensive, comprehensive psychosocial rehabilitative therapy within a residential framework for young adults with mental illness that interferes with their ability to function successfully. The program is open to candidates ages 19-35 who are interested in holistic, all-encompassing treatment. All candidates are required to receive approval from the Ministry of Health’s Rehabilitative Basket or from the Ministry of Defense.
Each participant in this Therapeutic Community creates a personal treatment plan that incorporates vocational support, social counseling, assistance and training in school and daily life skills. Regular meetings are held throughout the treatment process with the participants and their parents to ensure that all involved are updated regarding the participants’ progress.
The Therapy Process
There are two stages in the therapeutic process:
Stage 1 – Participants undergo a comprehensive treatment process with dedicated support in an environment similar to an all-inclusive hostel, with both residences and treatment rooms on-site. As treatments progress, participants move to nearby apartments.
Stage 2 – With help from the staff, participants rent apartments near the main building. This stage continues the comprehensive therapy program with an emphasis on gaining independence and life skills.
Additionally, participants spend their mornings at Summit's Rehabilitative Vocational Support Center. There, they learn important skills and behaviors for the job market and begin work or study. Studies may include vocational training, earning a high-school diploma, or working toward an academic degree.
Therapy Staff
The department’s staff includes administrators, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and counselors as well as art and drama therapists.
Fields of Rehabilitative Therapy
Each participant meets for at least two hours a week with a psychiatrist and has the option of attending group therapy, psychological treatment, a social lounge, group activities, a variety of clubs, and art and drama therapy. In their free time, Summit encourages participants to take advantage of the many educational and social resources around Jerusalem, assisting with integration at every step.
Residence as a Therapeutic Tool
Residence in the Summit Institute’s apartments provides significant therapeutic value, as participants are expected to take responsibility for their food, hygiene, and general cleanliness. The Summit Institute’s staff assists the participants in learning social and life skills and in managing their free time.
Within this therapeutic structure, participants are unsupervised for 24 hours at a time, which is why the criteria for admission to the program are strict.
During the first stage of treatment, participants live in one of two buildings in Jerusalem’s Gilo neighborhood, which have been customized to meet participants’ needs.
Eligibility
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Motivation and ability to begin the therapeutic process
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Basic functional abilities, not requiring constant supervision
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No suicidal or antisocial tendencies or dependence on drugs, alcohol, etc.
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No violent tendencies
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Intelligence slightly below average or higher
Application and Acceptance
All medical forms and documentation should be sent to the Summit Institute for preliminary selection. The reports should include descriptions of the candidate’s abilities and not only problems and disabilities. Candidates require approval from all sponsoring organizations, including the Ministry of Health Therapy Basket or the Ministry of Defense, before applying. If the candidate is deemed suitable, the referring agent will be invited for an introductory interview and only then will the candidate be interviewed by the relevant department. After two comprehensive interviews, a final acceptance or rejection decision will be sent to the candidate. Before beginning the program, the candidate will spend an orientation and registration day at the Summit Institute.
The complete process takes approximately one month. The program’s start date depends on availability.
The Therapeutic Community for Young Adults
Address: 39 Tziporen Street, Gilo, Jerusalem
Address for reports and documentation:
4 HaSadna Street, Jerusalem ISRAEL 9342044
Phone: +972-2-6766020 Fax: +972-2-6766027
Therapeutic Community for Young Adults
Assisted Living
The Summit Institute’s assisted living services are specially-designed for those seeking independent residence within the greater community but requiring guidance in developing the necessary life skills. This program is intended for candidates recently released from psychiatric hospitals who would like to move from their family homes, or who have been living in various institutions and would like to make progress toward independence.
The goal of the assisted living program is to strengthen social, vocational, and life skills in order to promote independence, acclimate into society, and improve participant’s quality-of-life. The therapeutic program is designed to meet each individual’s unique needs, in cooperation with the participant and anyone else involved in his or her treatment.
The participant is responsible for choosing an employment framework, participating in psychological or psychiatric treatment, and taking medications.
Program Structure
Participants in the program live in apartments with roommates or independently. The scope of the treatment activities is dependent on the Ministry of Health's Therapy Basket Committee or the Ministry of Defense’s therapy department.
Assisted Living Apartments:
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Supervised assisted living – 1-2 home visits per week
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Regular assisted living – 3-5 home visits per week
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Extra support assisted living – 6-7 home visits per week
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Apartments for women who have experienced sexual trauma
Activities
All participants partake of both private and group sessions with counselors as part of the assisted living program. They also meet as needed with the professional staff responsible for implementing therapy programs and coordinating with all those involved in the treatment program.
Activities in the Assisted Living Program:
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Support during the move, including help finding an apartment and roommates, negotiating with prospective landlords, signing contracts, and purchasing required furnishings (a request for assistance from the therapy fund must be made in advance).
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Support and guidance in integration into an employment framework
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Support and training for daily functions, including cleanliness, personal hygiene, cooking and eating habits, shopping, personal finance, independent transportation, and communication with local institutions
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Strengthening social and interpersonal skills, including shared housing and encouraging participants to take advantage of local social groups
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Updating the therapy program based on periodic assessments and updates from therapists
If the participant’s situation changes, the staff also assists in making the transfer to a more appropriate therapeutic framework.
Application and Acceptance to the Assisted Living Program
Candidates must be referred to the assisted living program by the Ministry of Health's Therapy Basket Committee or the Department of Defense. They may be contacted through local mental health clinics, private therapists, treatment institutions, or independently. The application process includes forms that must be completed by a therapist as well as an application interview. The process requires the approval of the regional therapy coordinator. The first three months of the program are a trial and adjustment period. If a candidate has never lived independently before, the assisted living staff will assess his or her situation and abilities and, if needed, recommend a preparatory program.
For more information or to apply:
Address – 4 Maase Hoshev Street, PO Box 10234, Talpiot, Jerusalem 9262208
Phone – +972-2-6737221 Fax – +972-2-6725442
Rehabilitative Vocational Support Center
The Summit Institute's Vocational Support Center guides participants’ job searches, supports them throughout employment, schooling, and job training, and operates the Yetzir Kapayim supportive factory - which aids participants to explore their employment prospects and earning potential while developing vocational skills. Participants arrive at Summit’s Rehabilitative Vocational Support Center both from the Summit Institute’s therapeutic communities as well as from all over the Jerusalem area.
The Challenges of Vocational Rehabilitation:
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Functioning in a work environment – providing quality work through focus, creativity, high-quality efforts, responsibility, and initiative
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Interpersonal relations in the work environment – building and maintaining appropriate workplace relationships
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Self-identity as a member of the workforce – creating a positive, realistic self-image as a productive member of the open job market
Stages of Vocational Rehabilitation
Transitional Employment at Yetzir Kapayim – This stage is designed for participants who struggle in the mainstream workforce, allowing them to earn money in a safe, supportive environment while gradually adjusting to the job market.
Pathway to Employment – A transitional course which provides a smooth transition on the journey toward job recruitment. The participant works in the free market as part of a group, guided by an on-site counselor.
Supported Employment – This recruitment process eases the adjustment to school or the workplace:
Work – Guidance and support for participants ready to join the job market. Each participant is assigned a dedicated consultant and recruiting counselor who accompanies him or her throughout the job search, interviews, and acclimation process, including contact with the employer as needed.
Studies – After making a well-informed, collaborative decision to return to school, participants require approval from the Ministry of Health Therapy Basket Committee or National Insurance Institute in order to receive funding.
The approved areas of study include completion of elementary or high-school, studies toward a high-school diploma, higher education, and either main-stream or specialized assisted professional training courses.
Candidates are able to begin at whatever stage is most appropriate for their personal needs. Additionally, each participant meets regularly with a recruiter and is eligible to participate in group sessions related to study and employment.
Principles of the Rehabilitative Process toward Employment
The Summit Institute’s employment program focuses on making gradual progress at the right pace for each individual participant. We believe gradual, supported steps that incorporate the abilities and motivation levels of each participant are important for making progress toward productive, satisfying employment.
In order to succeed in the workforce, participants must fulfill the following criteria:
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Motivation to be employed
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Willingness to accept the idea of rehabilitative therapy at work
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A commitment to work diligently
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A commitment to aim for high-quality results
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A commitment to appropriate workplace behavior
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Understanding and acceptance of basic work conditions, such as salary, vacations, set workdays, etc.
Participants must also understand their own right to fair and respectful treatment in the workplace.
Application and Acceptance to the Supported Employment Program
Candidates are able to apply to the Supported Employment Program through a number of channels: local mental health clinics, private therapists, or independently. The application requires previous approval from the relevant funding organization, such as the Ministry of Health Therapy Basket Committee, Department of Defense, or National Insurance Institute. Each candidate is then interviewed twice. The staff presents the various program options to each candidate and together they assess the appropriate program for each participant. Once the approvals are confirmed, the acceptance process is brief and, in most cases, immediate.
For more information and to apply, contact the Director of Psychosocial Rehabilitation or the External Participant Coordinator at +972-2-6733548.
Address for the assisted employment workshop and the center for gradual supported employment: 4 Maase Hoshev Street, Jerusalem
Address for documentation: The Summit Institute, PO Box 10234, Jerusalem 91101
Phone: +972-2-5471512 Fax: +972-2-5471517
Rehabilitative Sports Center
The Summit Institute recently established a modern, spacious sports center specially-designed for the health and enjoyment of participants in Summit’s rehabilitative mental health programs. While the sports center is under the responsibility of the Summit Institute and open to participants in Summit's rehabilitative programs for the mentally ill, due to enthusiastic feedback and the center’s success, it is also now open to anyone struggling with mental illness in the greater Jerusalem community.
The Summit Institute’s physical fitness center is located in Beit HaNoar HaIvri, as well as a number of satellite locations throughout the city. The Sports Center includes a spacious, state-of-the-art gym, swimming pool, fitness classes, sports clubs, martial arts classes, group sports activities, experiential health and fitness workshops, as well as workshops in nutrition and organic gardening.
The decision to open the Rehabilitative Sports Center was part of a greater campaign to promote exercise and long-term physical fitness among the mentally ill. Obesity and neglect of the physical body are common side effects of mental illness, in part due to medications that affect the thyroid gland and slow metabolism. Additionally, mental illness may lower awareness of grooming and physical health. The result is a blow to already-vulnerable self-esteem and an aversion to appearing in public.
As a result, the medical community strongly recommends physical activity. Physical activity not only slows weight gain, it also alleviates some of the symptoms of mental illness, improves overall well-being, raises self-esteem, and strengthens social skills.
Activities at the Sports Center
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Physical fitness
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Tai Chi
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Street defense – self-defense, identifying situations and correct responses
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Hip-hop – rhythmic dance to upbeat music
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Aerobic dance for women only – experiential dance and physical fitness through music
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Pilates – improving day-to-day stability and functioning through a series of exercises that activate the right muscles for each motion and promote joint flexibility
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Yoga – physical activity focusing on movement, flexibility, and relaxation
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Motion – exercises that improve coordination, flexibility, and relaxation using the Elbaum Method
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Aerobics – diverse activities at various difficulty levels, to improve cardio strength and muscle tone
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Soccer and basketball – practices, games, and tournaments
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Tennis – beginners and advanced classes, taught by a personal trainer from the Teddy Stadium Tennis Center
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Gym – personalized workouts with a certified trainer
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Running group – a workout to improve cardio and overall strength
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Hiking club – one Friday a month, including a guided walking tour, as well as bike trips, picnics in nature, and more
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Experiential study activities
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Nutrition – a workshop providing a broad knowledge of health and nutrition. Private classes may also be scheduled with Yedidya
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Ein Yael – an organic community garden in the beautiful surroundings of the Ein Yael Living Museum. Participants grow vegetables and learn about health and ecology
Additional Activities
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Ein Yael – an experiential work and study group that meets in nature, grows plants and vegetables, learns about organic food production, and takes part in community activities. The group meets in the Ein Yael Living Museum (next to the Malha Mall)
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Nutrition and healthy living – personal meetings with a counselor to improve quality-of-life
How to Register
Visit the Sports Center to register and receive a 2-week free trial at the sports center and clubs.
The monthly fee for one or two classes is only NIS 50, thanks to extensive subsidies. The classes meet at Beit HaNoar HaIvri 105 HaRav Herzog Street, next to the Pat junction, except for:
Tennis – the Tennis Center next to the Malha Mall, 1 Elimelech Street
Ein Yael – approximately 10 minutes from Malha junction
Capoeira – Arazim School, 22 Shai Agnon Boulevard
Women’s karate – Ross House Community Center, 27 Rabbi Israel Najara Street
Men’s yoga – Pais youth club, 20 Nikanor Street (next to Pat junction)
Running – Sacher Park
Adi Shorer
Phone: +972-54-3082888
Facebook page for Summit Sports
Now! New physical activity groups are now being organized for members of the Haredi community.
Contact Adi for more information.
Participation in any physical activity requires valid medical approval.
FAQs about the Summit Institute's Rehabilitative Therapy Programs
What rehabilitative psychotherapy does Summit offer?
The Summit Institute offers a range of rehabilitative psychotherapy programs for the mentally ill, aged 18-42.
These include assisted living, two therapeutic communities (adolescents and young adults), a transitional employment warehouse, and supported employment. In addition, Summit operates a sports center for the benefit of its participants and the greater Jerusalem mentally-ill community.
Who is eligible for therapy at the Summit Institute?
Anyone eligible for the Ministry of Health’s Therapy Basket may apply to Summit’s assisted living, Therapeutic Community for Young Adults, and vocational support programs. Adolescents are not required to be eligible for the Therapy Basket but must be eligible for an allowance from the National Insurance Institute. Anyone affiliated with a psychotherapy institution in the greater Jerusalem area may join the Summit Institute sports center.
What is included in the Ministry of Health Therapy Basket?
The Therapy Basket is a Ministry of Health program meant to enable any Israel struggling with mental illness to access the best possible therapeutic framework.
The Therapy Basket Committee may also refer applicants to the National Insurance Institute who may grant 40% disability status.
The Therapy Baskets offers a wide range of residential services, from assisted living with full-time care, to apartments for a relatively independent lifestyle, to hostels that offer comprehensive services and high levels of intensive support. The Therapy Basket also offers many vocational support options, including employment clubs and assisted employment for those requiring more support, as well as dedicated recruiters who assist mentally-ill people in the mainstream workforce.
Those struggling with mental illness are entitled to social support from the Therapy Basket, in the form of social groups and integration into clubs around the city. The Therapy Basket also offers tutoring and educational support, ranging from help getting a high-school diploma through support in university studies.
What’s the difference between a hostel and assisted living?
A hostel is an assisted living institution with full-time therapy staff. A hostel demands significantly lower levels of independence than assisted living. For someone who cannot function independently and is still working on basic life skills, a hostel is a good place to begin the process.
Assisted living, however, provides an independent lifestyle in an apartment, often with roommates, with only periodic visits from staff. Residents manage their own homes and lives with the help of staff as needed.
Are there time limits on staff support in assisted living?
The Therapy Basket Committee grants approval for a counselor and social worker for one year, as part of the treatment program. If the participant and assisted living staff feel there is a need to continue receiving this support, they are able to request an approval extension from the Committee.
Does the Summit Institute provide psychological treatment?
Yes. Every participant in the therapeutic communities meets with a psychologist twice a week. Participants in the other frameworks use external psychological services as part of their psychosocial therapeutic program.
What about psychiatric treatment?
Each department in the therapeutic community has a dedicated psychiatrist on staff who meets twice a week with each participant. External participants, including those in assisted living and vocational support programs, are referred to psychiatric professionals in the greater community.
Does everyone use psychiatric medications and who oversees their administration?
The use of psychiatric drugs is a personal medical issue, decided by the department psychiatrist. At the beginning of the rehabilitative process, counselors oversee and assist the participants, gradually transferring responsibility to the participants themselves.
Is there staff on duty 24 hours a day at the Summit Institute?
The Adolescent Therapeutic Community is staffed 24 hours per day. In the Therapeutic Community for Young Adults, a counselor stays on duty until 10pm and the full treatment staff arrives each morning. There is also on-call staff that can be reached by the participants at any time.
What is the meal plan at the Summit Institute?
The Adolescent Therapeutic Community includes a cook who prepares nutritious lunches throughout the week. Dinner is organized by the counselor on-duty with preparation help from the participants. This is also the arrangement for Sabbath meals on Friday night and Saturday. Initially, the counselors assist participants in obtaining ingredients, with the expectation that the participants will gradually gain the skills to do it independently. Summit also runs a cooking club where participants learn about nutrition, meal planning, and budgeting.
How does wake-up work in the therapeutic communities?
Waking up for work is a key value for the participants and staff of the Summit Institute and a requirement within all programs.
In the Adolescent Therapeutic Community, participants take turns on wake-up duty with the help of a staff member. In the Therapeutic Community for Young Adults, participants are responsible for waking up on their own.
Are participants allowed to receive visitors?
Visits should be scheduled around activities in the community with consideration for other participants. The Adolescent Therapeutic Community maintains set visiting hours.
How does Summit help with employment?
The Summit Institute operates Yetzir Kapayim, a transitional assisted employment program. The program helps participants develop productive habits and begin their journey into the working world. The first stage includes exploring the individual participant’s abilities and developing skills required to succeed in the workplace. Summit also offers recruiting for work and education.
Are participants able to begin study or job training while in Summit Institute programs?
Definitely. Summit encourages personal development and strives to help each participant fulfill their potential and grow their unique abilities through education.
Can participants volunteer for national service while in Summit Institute programs?
Of course. Participants can volunteer for national service until age 24. Summit works in cooperation with organizations that assist mentally ill volunteers find suitable national service positions and support them throughout the process.
Are all participants required to work in Yetzir Kapayim, the transitional employment workshop?
Yetzir Kapayim offers many advantages to the employment process for participants and so most begin there.
Initially, participants invest most of their efforts into the transition to the Summit Institute and usually feel most comfortable in an affiliated, supported work environment. This stage also helps the therapeutic staff and participants themselves to accurately assess their abilities and the best direction for future progress into the workforce.
Professional Staff
Yoni Bogot
Executive Director of the Summit Institute
4 HaSadna Street, Jerusalem
Danny Steinberg
Therapeutic Rehabilitation Coordinator
Chief Psychologist
4 HaSadna Street, Jerusalem
Rita Kotik
Director of the Therapeutic Community for Young Adults
39 Tziporen Street, Gilo, Jerusalem
Eitan Gafan
Director of the Adolescent Therapeutic Community
39 HaRav Herzog Street, Jerusalem
Keren Zelichov Shasha
Director of Assisted Living
4 Maase Hoshev Street, Talpiot, Jerusalem
Rotem Maman
Director of Vocational Support
Gil Building, 16 HaOman Street, Talpiot, Jerusalem
Adi Shorer
Director of Health and Sports Center
Herzog Street 105, Jerusalem
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