Background
Shiluv is a Jerusalem-based non-profit organization that provides high-quality, professional
and affordable therapy to residents of the greater Jerusalem area, regardless of their financial
situation. Shiluv provides therapy to hundreds of families each year who are coping with
traumatic events as well as financial, familial and personal crises. Since its inception, Shiluv
has provided family and couple therapy to over 10,000 clients from all ethnic, religious and
socio-economic backgrounds.
Shiluv was founded in 1971 by a group of family therapists as one of the first family therapy
institutes in Israel. Shiluv was created to address the need for reasonably priced treatment for
those who are unable to pay the standard costs of therapy due to financial barriers. Today, the
need is greater than ever before: Jerusalem’s population is one of the most disadvantaged
in Israel, with a socioeconomic status among the lowest in the country and poverty rates as
high as 45%. This need is further compounded by the destructive effects that financial
challenges have on relationships and families, creating a vicious cycle of suffering and
distress.
Many people see therapy as a luxury they cannot afford – Shiluv’s vision is to change this
perspective by demonstrating that therapy is the solution to life’s challenges and key to the
wellbeing of relationships and families.
Shiluv’s clinic offers couple and family therapy to the entire community, including a
early intervention program called “ Nitsanim ” which addresses the needs of families with
young children experiencing trauma, developmental, emotional or behavioral problems. In
addition, Shiluv offers specialized services in the fields of family-based sexual abuse
treatment, trauma treatment and family mediation. Shiluv also serves as a certified training
center for family therapists from across Israel.
Shiluv’s expert staff includes more than twenty seasoned family therapists with experience in
a variety of cutting-edge therapeutic modalities. Shiluv’s funding sources include client and
professional training fees, charitable donations and grants, but no government funding. This
enables the organization to provide subsidized therapy services on a sliding fee scale based
on clients’ income, approximately 35% less than the cost of traditional therapy fees. Still,
many clients do not complete the referral process or never approach Shiluv due to dire
financial circumstances.
As a nonprofit organization, Shiluv relies on donations to continue enriching the lives of
individuals, couples and families, helping them cope with life’s challenges and become
resilient. Please consider supporting us today!