Therapy
Overview
BaMidbar Therapy promotes self-reflection and therapeutic growth, while helping participants build a toolkit to face life’s challenges.
After many years offering residential wilderness therapy programs, BaMidbar is transitioning to a community-based outpatient therapy model. BaMidbar will still offer 10-day immersive wilderness trips starting in the summer of 2024.
OUR CLIENTS
- Teens & young adults, ages 13-28.
OUR CLINICIANS
- Licensed mental health professionals trained to work with individuals, families & groups.
HOW WE MEET
- In-Person & Online depending on the state and client needs.
we love the outdoors
We Love Judaism
We Love You
BOSTON: now accepting new therapy clients!
Our Services
Individual Therapy
Individual therapy provides a safe, healing environment where you can feel heard, supported, empowered, and understood. It’s a space for growing, transforming, and making meaning of your life.
Group Therapy
Using an activity-based and experiential approach to group therapy, teens and young adults engage in a process that is supportive, uses the power of peer relationships, and promotes personal growth.
Wilderness Expeditions
Through backcountry travel, group living, and adventure activities, students are challenged and given the opportunity to apply therapeutic learning in a safe, experiential environment.
Who We Work With
We help teens and young adults build resilience and overcome obstacles.
Life challenges may include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Chronic stress
- Self-harm
- A “failure to launch”
- Spiritual challenges
- Relationship challenges
- Academic or employment challenges
- Substance abuse
- Family or personal conflict
Therapeutic Approach
Adventure Therapy
The practice of adventure therapy is the prescriptive use of adventure experiences provided by mental health professionals, often conducted in natural settings, that kinesthetically engage individuals, families and groups on cognitive, affective, and behavioral levels.
It is an experiential and activity-based approach to mental health treatment. While adventure therapy takes place outside of the typical office setting, evidence-based psychological frameworks such as cognitive behavioral therapy, systems theory, and somatic psychotherapy are integrated into the experiential environment.
Clinical Intervention
Students work with a therapist through individual, group, and family therapy. Mental health professionals develop individualized treatment plans, provide therapy, and facilitate adventure-based learning experiences.
Jewish Lens
At BaMidbar, we meet every student where they are in their unique Jewish journey, and honor the role Judaism does–or does not–play in their life. Using 3,000 years of Jewish tradition that speaks to the question, “What does it mean to live well?” BaMidbar’s students explore meaning, values, and purpose through a Jewish lens.
Our Therapists

ADAM KARP — Massachusetts Clinical Fellow & Educator (he/him)
MA CMHC Adam graduated from Antioch University with a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in Spring 2021. Prior to pursuing his master’s degree, Adam

CHILI SZLAFROK — Community Engagement Coordinator & Clinical Intern (he/him)
Location: Serving clients in Massachusetts and Colorado (virtual-only) My Approach: My approach to therapy is varied and individualized. I believe deeply in the human power

GABRIELA LUPATKIN — Director of Clinical Services, Boston (she/her)
Location: Serving clients in the Greater Boston Region (in-person) and broader Massachusetts (virtual) License: MA-LICSW #00123944 My Approach: I believe in client-centered care and working

LIORA BERNSTEIN — California Clinical Fellow & Educator (she/her)
Location: Serving clients in Massachusetts (virtual only) License: MA License Pending My Approach: I use a collaborative and strengths-based approach focused on evidence-based practices to

NICK MAGLE-HABEREK — Clinical Director (he/him)
Location: Serving clients in Massachusetts and Colorado (virtual only) License: CO-LCSW #CSW.09925406 / MA-LICSW #126610 My Approach: I think it’s important that therapy can be

SAM LANGSTEIN — Clinician & Educator (he/him)
Location: Serving clients in the Greater Boston Region (in-person) and broader Massachusetts (virtual) License: NY LMSW 116207, MA License Pending My Approach: As someone who has always worked
Our Locations
Colorado
Accepting virtual therapy clients in Fall 2023. Expanding in-person services in Winter 2024.
California
Therapeutic services will be available for California residents in 2024.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
BaMidbar works with teens and young adults (13-28).
Because our mental health providers are licensed on a state-by-state basis, BaMidbar only serves MA and CO-based residents. BaMidbar is planning to launch clinical services in CA in 2025.
Therapy sessions cost $150 for a 50-minute session. BaMidbar offers a needs-based sliding scale payment system for those needing financial assistance. Due to the limited amount of financial assistance available, BaMidbar cannot guarantee discounted rates for all clients.
Yes! BaMidbar has a limited number of available sessions per week at a discounted rate. Due to the limited amount of financial assistance available, BaMidbar cannot guarantee discounted rates for all clients. To learn more, contact Brett Hausler, Director of Business Operations, at bretth@bamidbartherapy.org.
Not currently. We are working hard to get contracted with a variety of insurance agencies, and anticipate accepting insurance by Spring 2024.
- In Massachusetts, BaMidbar offers both in-person and virtual therapy. Our Boston offices are located at the JCC of Greater Boston: 333 Nahanton St., Newton MA 02459.
- In Colorado, BaMidbar offers virtual therapy. In-person options will be available in Winter, 2024.
Yes, all of our therapists offer telemental health services through our HIPAA compliant Zoom platform.
Intake sessions (your first session) is scheduled for 1.5 hours. This is because we have extra paperwork and like to take the time to get to know you.
Regular sessions are 50 minutes.
This question is often decided by the therapist and their client. We generally recommend that you start off by seeing your therapist on a weekly basis. Once you begin to notice improvement, you may choose to see your therapist less frequently (bi-weekly or monthly).
Length of treatment will depend on the individual, their needs, and their treatment goals. Some individuals may want to work with a therapist on a specific goal over 5-10 sessions. Other individuals may be looking for an ongoing therapeutic relationship. If this is something you’d like to explore, you can request a 30-minute discovery session to learn more.
While BaMidbar used to offer inpatient therapy programs, our strategic planning process in 2022 led us to shift our clinical model to focus on providing regionally-based outpatient adventure therapy. To learn more about mental health resources in the community, click here.
Each of our therapists bring their own unique clinical lens and expertise. More information can be found on our clinicians’ bios or you are welcome to call and inquire if there is a particular modality that you would like your clinician to use.
Traditional office-based modalities sometimes create barriers for 13-28 year-olds. Sitting in a small office 1-on-1 with a therapist may work wonderfully for some. For others, it’s scary and uncomfortable. Experiential and adventure-based therapeutic modalities can provide a softer entry to care. They feel reminiscent of beloved environments like Jewish summer camps and provide active participation in a solutions-focused, evidence-based therapeutic process that is empowering, effective, and fun, thus decreasing the stigma associated with therapy. They also provide a more active therapeutic process. Clients have the opportunity to test therapeutic concepts in a safe, experiential setting, with guidance and support from a therapist.
While wilderness therapy falls under the umbrella of adventure therapy, they can and do look very different. Wilderness therapy tends to be an immersive experience where clients go into wilderness for days and even weeks. Adventure therapy can happen in an outpatient setting and involves intentionally selected and designed activities that help clients access thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, which connect to their therapeutic goals.
Adventure Therapy is a therapeutic approach that focuses on making therapy experiential; which means we do activities, games and initiatives during sessions as a way to connect to your goal for therapy. These connections can take the form of a metaphor, but oftentimes they come up as a belief or attitude that arises during the activity. These connections are then discussed with the therapist to consider what went well and what the challenges were.
BaMidbar leverages experiential and adventure-based activities to support the therapeutic process. That being said, everyone has different needs and desires for their therapy experience. Our therapists will ask you about how you would like adventure and experiential modalities to be used in your therapy sessions. If the experiential modalities are helpful for you, our therapists will integrate them into sessions. If you would prefer a more traditional therapeutic process, your therapist will follow your lead. If this is something you’d like to talk about more, consider connecting with one of our therapists in a 30-minute discovery session.
BaMidbar leverages Jewish wisdom to explore concepts of mental health and wellness. That being said, everyone has a different connection to Judaism, and that remains true in therapy. Our therapists will ask you about how you would like Judaism to be connected into your therapy sessions.
If Judaism is a source of strength or hope for you, our therapists may bring stories, readings, or practices into session to allow you to connect your healing journey to your Jewish journey. If you would prefer not to have therapy connected to Judaism in this way, your therapist will follow your lead.
If this is something you’d like to talk about more, consider connecting with one of our therapists in a 30-minute discovery session.