StepAhead Counseling was created to provide thoughtful, structured support to individuals, families, and those in positions of responsibility navigating complex emotional and relational challenges. Founded by Rabbi Larry Rothwachs, LCSW, the practice reflects a commitment to clarity, steadiness, and meaningful, lasting change and continues to grow in its scope and reach.
Rabbi Rothwachs brings decades of experience as both a licensed clinical social worker and a longtime rabbinic leader, and StepAhead offers two distinct areas of support built on that dual foundation.
The first is therapy and clinical support. In this work, Rabbi Rothwachs provides therapy grounded in established clinical practice, focused on helping people strengthen relationships, manage emotional complexity, and move forward with greater clarity and stability. Trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) as well as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), he works with individuals, couples, and families and also leads parent groups and support groups, helping participants develop practical tools alongside a deeper understanding.
The second is consultation for rabbis and communal leaders. Here, StepAhead provides ongoing support for rabbis, communal leaders, and organizations. Drawing on over 25 years of rabbinic leadership and professional training, Rabbi Rothwachs works closely with leaders as they navigate interpersonal, emotional, and organizational demands, offering practical, nuanced guidance in high-stakes situations.
Rabbi Larry Rothwachs, LCSW, is both a seasoned rabbinic leader and a licensed clinical social worker, with over 25 years of rabbinic experience and nearly a decade of rabbinic training and pastoral counseling. Trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), he specializes in couples and family work, helping couples strengthen connection and families navigate challenges with greater clarity and compassion.
As a therapist formerly at the Center for CBT of New Jersey, and now through StepAhead Counseling, Rabbi Rothwachs works with couples facing marital difficulties, parents in crisis, and individuals managing complex relational dynamics. His approach integrates evidence-based therapeutic models with insights drawn from decades of Jewish communal leadership, enabling him to provide guidance that is both clinically grounded and deeply attuned to the human experience.
Since 2016, Rabbi Rothwachs has served as Director of Professional Rabbinics at RIETS (The Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary), where he trains and mentors the next generation of rabbinic leaders, shaping their approaches to pastoral care, communal leadership, and the practical demands of the rabbinate. This work in rabbinic formation has become a central part of his mission, drawing on his own decades in the pulpit to prepare rabbis for the real challenges of serving a community.
From 2002 through 2026, Rabbi Rothwachs served as senior rabbi of Congregation Beth Aaron in Teaneck, New Jersey, where he and his wife, Chaviva, then an educator at Sinai Schools, fostered a warm and supportive community for 24 years. He is a graduate of Yeshiva College, the Azrieli School of Jewish Education, and the Wurzweiler School of Social Work, and he received semicha from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS).
His educational and communal leadership also includes nearly two decades teaching Talmud at Yeshiva University High School for Boys and the Rosenbaum Yeshiva of North Jersey. He is the head rabbi of Camp Morasha, the largest Orthodox summer camp in North America, and has held leadership roles, including president of the Rabbinical Council of Bergen County and an executive committee member of the Rabbinical Council of America. In 2016, he was recognized by The Forward as one of “America’s Most Inspiring Rabbis.”
Rabbi Rothwachs and Chaviva have since made aliyah to Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel, where he serves as founding rabbi of Meromei Shemesh, a developing Torah-centered community, helping to shape a vibrant and aspirational kehilla.
Beyond his formal roles, Rabbi Rothwachs is passionate about expanding access to care, fostering meaningful conversations on mental health and relationships, and developing innovative ways to support individuals and families within the Jewish community. He also maintains a personal blog (www.larryrothwachs.com), where he shares insights, reflections, and resources on Torah, mental health, and personal growth.
