My Story
I’ve been drawn to helping others for as long as I can remember. From a young age, I was involved in volunteer and social justice efforts, learning the skills of leadership, teamwork, and advocacy. These early experiences shaped my commitment to supporting individuals and communities through challenges, fostering resilience, and creating meaningful change.
About
malka
shaw
Perspective isn't just about how we see the world—it's about how we transform it.
I've always been drawn to helping people. Even as a college kid, I was the one people turned to—whether volunteering, organizing, or staying up all night to listen when someone needed support. I grew up in a home where my parents acted as lay leaders, always going above and beyond to serve the community and help others in need. Watching them step up in leadership positions to serve their community showed me the power of showing up for others, no matter how big or small the need. Those early experiences shaped everything that came next. Over time, I’ve learned something profound: Resilience begins with perspective.
I studied psychology and sociology at the University of Delaware, wanting to understand what makes people tick—what helps them heal, grow, and keep going. From there, I earned my Master’s in Social Work at Wurzweiler School of Social Work while working full-time at NYANA (New York Association for New Americans), supporting immigrants, refugees, and survivors of domestic violence. That experience showed me firsthand how trauma and resilience exist side by side—and how, with the proper support, people can rebuild their lives.
How I Got Here
As seen in
- 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
Early Career
- 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
PROFESSIONAL HISTORY – EDUCATION & CAREER PATH
Helping People Heal & Move Forward
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.
- 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.
Who I Work With
- 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.
My Work Today: Therapy, Consulting, & Education
THERAPY & HEALING – MY APPROACH
- 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.
Like many in the Jewish community, October 7, 2023, changed everything. The shock, grief, and fear were overwhelming—but so was the determination to show up and stand up. In the aftermath, I found myself responding in ways I never expected—helping leaders process trauma, supporting mental health professionals navigating this crisis, creating continuing education curriculum for Jewish cultural competence and navigating Jewish Trauma, protocols for working with Jewish clients experiencing emotional distress from antisemitism, and guiding organizations in creating safer, more resilient spaces in the face of rising hostility.
A Shift in Focus: The Impact of October 7, 2023
- Founder of Kesher Shalom Projects (KSP) – provides resources and support for Jewish communities, professionals, and allies, equipping them to heal, counter hate, and build lasting resilience.
- Education Coordinator for Gesher Campus Care- A new initiative supporting Jewish students and faculty facing antisemitism by connecting them with therapy and programing. My role is in providing professional development and support for the therapists.
- Committee Member for:
- American Jewish Psychologists’ Jewish Trauma & Resilience Committee
- American Jewish Medical Association Curriculum Committee
Like so many women, I know what it’s like to juggle all the roles—career, 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
my recent work beyond therapy
If there’s a common thread in everything I do—therapy, consulting, education—it’s this: we are all capable of growth, resilience, and change.
A Commitment to Growth & Change
Guiding Principle
On the morning of 9/11, as I called to tell my parents that I would be going with the Red Cross down to ground zero, my father reminded me of something that has guided me ever since:
"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?" – Rabbi Hillel
That has become my guiding principle—to stand for myself, for others, and for what is right in every moment that matters.
PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY & CORE BELIEFS
At the heart of it all, Perspective is Power. We may not always control what happens to us, but we can shift our understanding and that paradigm shift gives us the power to transform what comes next.
The way we see our challenges doesn’t just shape how we heal—it shapes who we become.
If you’re looking for support—whether it’s healing, professional consultation, or just a conversation about what’s next—I’m here.
