Rivcka Edelstein, Ph.D.

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            Rivcka Edelstein, Ph.D. Is a clinical psychologist and a trained mediator. Since earning her doctorate in 1972,  she gained extensive experience, both in the USA and internationally, working with children, adults, couples, families, and  groups. She worked in various settings, including schools, residential treatment centers, government and private business agencies, etc. to facilitate mental health and growth, effective relationships with family members and co-workers, constructive resolutions of conflicts and development effective communication skills.
            Dr. Edelstein taught at the university level both in the USA and Israel.  She developed, researched, and published the Everything Is Possible©  therapeutic game. The game was designed to promote honest and effective communication within social groups that are significant to the individual, especially the family, and help the individual in negotiating difficult situations in rational and constructive ways.
            She also developed, researched, and published the Edelstein Child Sexual Abuse Inventory. The forms were designed to facilitate disclosure of child sexual abuse history and  therapeutic intervention.
For seven years Dr. Edelstein was the Clinical Director in a residential treatment center serving emotionally disturbed adolescent girls referred for placement by the courts.
            Dr. Edelstein authored the novel Silence Broken© (published in Israel), based on her professional experience both as a Clinical Director in Residential Treatment Center  and as a private therapist with child sexual abuse victims and perpetrators.  The book was published in Israel in Hebrew in 1994.
            Since 1985,  Dr. Edelstein has been the director of the Awareness Center for Psychological Health and Growth and Mediation Services. She frequently gives lectures and leads workshops throughout the country.  She appears in New York State courts  as an expert on child-parent relationships, custody issues, domestic violence, and child sexual abuse.
            Dr. Edelstein, is a New York State licensed psychologist, an accredited member of the New York State council on Divorce Mediation and a Practitioner Member of the Academy for Family Mediators. Dr. Edelstein is an elected member of the Board of Directors for the New York State Council on Divorce Mediation and is currently serving her second term.