Meet Dr. Zev

Dr. Zev Ballen was born in New York City and raised in rural Long Island. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oneonta State College in 1976; earned his master's degree in social work from Fordham University in 1978; and was awarded his doctorate in psychology from California Coast University in Santa Ana California in 2003. In addition, Dr. Ballen studied clinical hypnosis with prominent practitioners from 1980–1984 and received post-graduate training in psychoanalytic psychotherapy at the Society for psychoanalytic Study and Research in Rockville Centre New York from 1988–1992.

Dr. Zev Ballen has the endorsement of the following Rabbinical leaders:

• Rabbi Shalom Arush, Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshiva Chute Shel Chesed, Jerusalem, Israel

• Rabbi Lazer Brody, former Rosh Kollel, Yeshiva Chut Shel Chesed, Ashdod; Founder, Emuna Outreach

• The Nikolsburger Rebba, Monsey, New York
• Rabbi Chaim Leibish Rottenberg, Rav Bais Hamidrosh Netzach Yisroel, Monsey, NY
• Rabbi Yitzchok Frankel, Rav Agudas Yisrael of Five Towns

• Rabbi Dovid Shlomo Mermelstein, Rosh Kollel Tosh, Monsey, NY

• Rabbi Yehuda Jacobs, Mashgiach, Beis Medresh Gevoah, Lakewood, NJ

• Rabbi Chaim Yehoshua Hoberman, Rosh Yeshiva, Mesifta of Long Beach, NY

• Rabbi Tzvi Mandel, Rav Khal Bnei Yisrael, Brooklyn, NY

• Rabbi Mechel Rottenberg, Menahel, Veena Cheder, Monsey, NY

• Rabbi Yochanan Cohen, Menahel, Cheder Ateres Tzvi, Monsey, NY

• Rabbi Hertzka Freidman, Menahel, Klausenberg, Monsey, NY

• Rabbi Yisrael Saperstein, Maggid Shir, Yeshiva Gedola of Bridgeport

• Rabbi Shimon Deutsch, Rosh Yeshiva, Belz, Monsey, NY

In 1995 Dr. Ballen founded and chaired the Clinical Hypnosis Practice Committee of the New York State Society of Clinical Social Work. The Clinical Hypnosis Practice Committee was the first educational and training forum for clinical social workers in New York State; Dr. Ballen served as the Director of Professional Education at the New York Institute for Hypnosis and psychotherapy Research of the Morton Prince Center and as Adjunct Professor of Social Work, Adelphi University Graduate School of Social Work, Mineola, NY

In addition to his private practice, which has spanned more than 30 years, Dr. Ballen has been affiliated with: Creedmoor Psychiatric Center, Mercy Hospital outpatient Department of Psychiatry, the Stepping Stones Program, the North Shore Child Guidance Center, the New Hope Guild, the New York Center for Hypnotherapy, and the New York Institute for Technology, Department of Behavioral Science.

Dr. Zev's publications about hypnosis and psychotherapy can be found in scientific books and professional journals as well as in popular publications such as: The Jewish Press, Community Magazine and The Voice of Lakewood. He has been an invited speaker at professional conferences and meetings sponsored by the American Society for Clinical Hypnosis, the New York State Society for Clinical Hypnosis, the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, and the New York State Society of Clinical Social Workers. Dr. Ballen has also presented his work at Jewish Conferences and meetings sponsored by: Nefesh International, Torah U-Mesorah, and the Brooklyn Youth Council. His book, The Rabbi’s Guide to Crisis Intervention, was published in 1995 — the profits go to charity.

Dr. Zev was a prominent New York psychotherapist for more than 30 years when he discovered Rabbi Lazer Brody's emuna broadcasts and the writings of Rav Shalom Arush.  Once he discovered the Truth, there was no turning back for Dr. Zev.

In 2009 Dr. Zev made Aliyah with his wife and children to Israel. Since then, his whole life has changed. He made a complete "180" from his “comfortable” professional life in New York to becoming a full-time student in the Chut Shel Chesed Kollel and is studying for his Rabbinical Ordination.

Dr. Zev has committed his life to helping people through the teachings of his Rebbe and Spiritual Guide, Rabbi Shalom Arush. Dr. Zev is the  developer of Emuna Therapy, a unique approach to emotional healing based exclusively on the teachings of Rabbi Shalom Arush.

An accomplished writer and lecturer, Dr. Zev was asked by the Chut Shel Chesed Yeshiva to write a weekly column geared to helping families on Breslev Israel's popular web magazine and to give a weekly video-lecture on topics related to Emuna Therapy. Since then, Dr. Zev has faithfully been steering people away from secular-based psychotherapy and helping them to find true emotional healing and happiness in the emuna-based teachings of Rabbi Shalom Arush and Rebbe Nachman of Breslev. 

You can hear Dr. Zev’s weekly live broadcasts every Wednesday at 5pm Israel time on Breslev.co.il at 5pm Israel time. With the Blessing of Rabbi Shalom Arush, Dr. Zev is planning a book on Emuna Therapy.

In the future, Dr. Zev hopes to facilitate workshops and seminars in Emuna Therapy for Parents and families; as well as for mental health professionals who are interested in learning about emuna-based methods of  treatment.