Mitch Jaffe is a licensed marriage & family therapist who has been in private practice since 1986. Mitch received his BA in Sociology with a minor in Human Development and Education from Binghamton University (SUNY Binghamton) in 1982 and received his MA in Marriage & Family Therapy from Syracuse University in 1986. Mitch has taught pre-school for 6 years and was a lead teacher at Head Start in Binghamton and the Bernice Wright Nursery at Syracuse University.
After graduating with his master's degree, Mitch worked at Huntington Family Center (1985-1988) with low income, multi-problem families who were at high risk for having their children placed in foster care due to abuse and/or neglect. While at Huntington Family Center, Mitch, in collaboration with Susan Korzeniewski, developed the Huntington Adolescent Sexual Abuse Treatment Program, and worked with families and individuals in the areas of sexual abuse survival and sexual perpetration.
In 1988 Mitch went to work as a family therapist at Health Services Medical Group (HSMG, also known as PHP Health Centers). While at HSMG, Mitch helped to organize the mental and behavioral health programs, triage and delivery systems and was appointed Assistant Chair of Behavioral Health in 1992. In 1996, Mitch became the Director of Behavioral Health for Health Services Medical Corporation, the parent of HSMG health centers, and was responsible for their mental health delivery system for all of Central New York.
After PHP merged with Health Care Plan of Western New York and created Univera, and their subsequent take over by Excellus in 2001, Mitch left PHP to become the Executive Director of Syracuse Jewish Family Service. In February of 2011, Mitch left Syracuse Jewish Family Service to grow his part time private practice into a full time practice. He is licensed in both NYS and Massachusetts.
PRESENTATIONS
Jaffe, M. & Ramsdell, P. Alternative Dispute Resolution in Separation and Divorce . Guest Lecture: Law 819, Syracuse University School of Law. April 2011.
Cantone, D., Jaffe, M, & Ramsdell, P. Getting from Conflict to Consensus: The Use of Alternative Settlement Options in Reducing Family Discord. Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, Upstate New York 2011 Conference: Tempering the Impact of Divorce on Children: The Paradox of Values, Ethics and Practices in Interdisciplinary Work with Broken Families. April 2011.
Jaffe, M & Ramsdell, P. Collaborative Family Law and the Impact of Separation and Divorce on Children. Syracuse University School of Law: Honorable Michael Hanuszczak. October 2009 Jaffe, M. & Jones, J. Physician Referral to Psychotherapy and Primary Care Use. Poster Session. Collaborative Family Healthcare Coalition Conference. National Institutes for Health; Bethesda, Maryland. February 1997.
Jaffe, M. Working With Disruptive Children. Invited presentation to Oneida County Head Start, Oneida, New York, October 1993.
Jaffe, M. Raising Kids in an ‘R’ Rated World. Keynote address for Syracuse Association for the Education of Young Children. Syracuse, New York, October, 1993.
Jaffe, M. Working With Children From Disadvantaged Homes. Invited presentation to the Onondaga Child Care Council, Syracuse, New York, May 1993.
Jaffe, M. Depression in Young Children. Invited presentation for New York University Resource Access Project; Head Start Annual Conference, Syracuse, New York, March 1993.
Jaffe, M. Child Abuse Risk Assessment and Reporting. Invited presentation to the Onondaga Child Care Council, Syracuse, New York, April 1999, March, 1993, November, 1992.
Arthur, M., & Jaffe, M. Sexual Attitudes Reassessment. Workshop facilitator. Syracuse University Peer Sexuality Program. Syracuse, New York, October 1987.
Jaffe, M., & Korzeniewski, S. Adolescent Sex Offenders: A Call For Family Strength. Conference presentation at the Pennsylvania State University Third Eastern Symposium on Building Family Strengths. State College, Pennsylvania, March 1987.
Jaffe, M. Adolescent Sex Offenders: Interface With Medicine. Invited presentation at SUNY Health Science Center; Pediatric Grand Rounds. Syracuse, New York, 1986.
Jaffe, M. Physician - Patient Communication: Bad News. Invited presentation to SUNY Health Science Center Family Medicine Training Program. Syracuse, New York, 1984-1986.
MEMBERSHIP & AFFILIATIONS
Clinical Member; American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. 1988 - Present
International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. September 2009 – Present
Board of Directors, CNY Collaborative Family Law Professionals, January 2009 – December 2017
CNY Collaborative Family Law Professionals. August 2007 - Present
Board of Directors, Central New York Chapter, NYS Division of the American Association for Marriage & Family Therapy, May 2004 – May 2008, August 2010 - August 2012
Superintendent’s Council, Syracuse City School District, September 2007 – June 2008
Board of Directors, New York State Division of the American Association for Marriage & Family Therapy. May 2006 – 2008
President, Board of Directors, Central New York Chaptor, NYS Division of the American Association for Marriage & Family Therapy. May 2005 – May 2007
Treasurer, Board of Directors, Central New York Chapter, NYS Division of the American Association for Marriage & Family Therapy, May 2004 – May 2005
Board of Directors; Onondaga Pastoral Counseling Center. January 2005 – August 2007
Treasurer; Central New York Chaptor Board of Directors, NYS Division of the American Association for Marriage & Family Therapy. January 2004 – May 2006
Ed Smith After School Program Parent Advisory Council. October 1993 - 1995
Ed Smith Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization. September 1993 - 1995
Oswego County Judicial Forum on Sexual Abuse. September 1992 - August 1993
Board of Directors, Plymouth Day Care Center. January 1992 - September 1993
Advisory Board, Philly Kids Play It Safe, Philadelphia, PA. 1987-1988
Sexual Abuse Study and Research Team (SAST) of Onondaga County. 1986-1989