About Us

Empowering Young People to Heal, Grow, and Thrive

At Free Spirit Experience, we believe that every young person deserves the chance to reset, reconnect, and rediscover their strength. Since 2015, in memory of Sean Carmeli Z"L, we’ve been guiding teens and young adults through transformative experiences that blend therapeutic support with real-life adventure, community, and purpose.

We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. Instead, we create a space where growth feels safe, where struggles are met with compassion, and where every step forward is meaningful.

Our Mission

To provide life-changing experiences for teens and young adults navigating emotional, social, and developmental challenges - helping them build resilience, discover purpose, and reconnect with themselves and the world around them.

Our Vision

To be a global model of therapeutic and experiential programming - where clinical insight meets creativity, community, and courage.

Our Story

Free Spirit Experience was born from a deep understanding of the unique challenges young people face in today’s complex world. Our founders, therapists, and educators saw a gap between traditional therapy and real-life integration - and built a program that bridges that gap with empathy, structure, and inspiration.

What started as a local initiative has grown into a respected international program with campuses in Israel, Cyprus, and Italy, offering a wide range of services including summer intensives, gap year programs, and rolling therapeutic admissions.

Our Approach

We combine evidence-based therapeutic practices with experiential learning, nature-based exploration, and a strong community framework. Our multidisciplinary team includes:

Licensed therapists and social workers

Experienced educators and life coaches

Wilderness guides, creative arts facilitators, and program mentors

We prioritize individualized care, family involvement, and long-term outcomes - helping participants not just feel better, but live better.

Who We Serve

Our participants are young people, ages 14 - 24, who may be experiencing:

Anxiety, depression, or trauma
Disconnection from peers, school, or family
Lack of motivation, direction, or structure
Transitions such as post-rehab, therapeutic boarding schools, or academic burnout
Difficulty launching into adulthood

Our team meets each individual with acceptance, insight, and hope - building a pathway tailored to their unique journey.

Meet the Team

“We don’t just work here — we believe in what we do.”

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Programs Director

Tzahi Billet

M.A. in Public Administration and certified group counsellor-facilitator, DBT specialist, and 12-step group facilitator, Tzahi is an avid educator with vast experience in the field of residential care, at-risk youth and crisis intervention. In the past 10 years and since its inception, Tzahi worked at “Nirim”, a youth village for troubled youth with a focus on outdoor therapy in many roles, including guidance, supervision, and management. Tzahi is a proud father of 5 wonderful children.

Clinical Director

Dr. Tamir Rotman

Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (Clark University in Massachusetts), Tamir is a practicing psychologist, working both inside and outside of the therapy room with youth from various cultures, difficulties and needs. Among others, Dr. Rotman have spent 20 summers at Camp Ojibwa in the Wisconsin North Woods, 2 years as the clinical director at “Lotan’s Way”, a not-for-profit specializes in desert-wilderness therapeutic expeditions for at-risk youth, and a milieu psychologist in residential care settings for troubled youth both in the U.S. and in Israel.

Managing Director

Rami Bader

Rami’s passions are sailing and teaching. A successful and prolific entrepreneur and investor, Rami dedicated much of his spare time to teaching sailing in Israel’s sailing clubs. At Free Spirit, Rami directs our sailing program and heads our amazing Cyprus expedition. He adds a significant value as an instructor and a mentor to our youth, able to reach and teach the secrets of sailing to our various youth and young adults. Rami also brings to the table as a mentor his incredible experience from the world of startups and business entrepreneurship around the globe. In his role at Free Spirit, he focuses on business development, administration and collaborations.

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Staff Member

Yasmin Ra'anan

Born at Kiryat Shmona and raised in Metula, a beautiful town lays on the Lebanese border. Yasmin has a Bachelor in Education, and for the past 16 years she has worked as an educator and a consular for teens (13-18), mostly in Kibbutzim in North Israel and in the Golan Heights. Yasmin personal tool box includes also theater and drama, which she finds useful as an instrument to empower youngsters, as it allows them to express themselves an individuals and as a group in a unique way. For Yasmin, education is a life-long mission, and she enjoys impact the next generation, and equip them with useful skills and positive spirit. Yasmin lives in Kibbutz Hazorea with her husband, kids and their dog, Chello.

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Therapist

Michal Cohen-Hattab

Michal Cohen Hatav is an emotional therapist, group facilitator, and leader in nature-based therapy. With extensive experience working with combat veterans, families, at-risk youth, and parents and children, she integrates therapeutic gardening, healing journeys, and nature therapy into her work. Over the years, she has led a wide range of social and therapeutic projects, served in senior legal advisory roles in the fields of welfare and public law, and guided community and family processes with deep commitment to healing, connection, and humanity. Michal lives in Jerusalem, is married and a mother of four. She holds a law degree, a master’s in expressive arts therapy, and NLP.

Staff Member

Manor (Gato) Moskowitz

Originally from Israel, Gato brings years of experience in personal development, mindfulness, and mentoring young adults outside traditional frameworks. He has a strong background in wilderness travel, logistics, and hands-on work, and is known for his ability to create meaningful connections through practical tasks like outdoor cooking, building, and site setup. Gato believes in authenticity, direct communication, and meeting people where they are—seeing real connection as the first step toward real change.

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Therapist

Myriam Chebat, MSW, RSW

Myriam is a senior social worker with extensive international experience in mental health, trauma-informed practice, and culturally sensitive intervention. She has worked across Canada, Europe, and Israel, supporting diverse populations including Indigenous communities, refugees, and military families.

She has led psychosocial programs for the Canadian Red Cross and Canadian NATO delegate families, trained professionals in remote regions, and developed tools to foster resilience and community well-being.

Myriam holds a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Quebec and is trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Nonviolent Communication, and Psychological First Aid. Fluent in five languages, she brings a deep commitment to inclusion, social impact, and a relational practice grounded in empathy and unconditional positive regard

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Staff Member

Gilad Rotem

Gilead joined Free Spirit after gaining valuable experience working in summer camps across the U.S. With a unique ability to form strong, meaningful connections, he’s known for motivating participants and helping them push beyond their comfort zones. In addition to his core responsibilities as a staff member, Gilead leads juggling workshops, rock climbing sessions, and can often be found jogging alongside participants during early mornings or evening hours - always encouraging, always present.

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Staff Member

Noy Shmaryahu

Noy first joined Free Spirit as a Shin-Shin (Israeli service year volunteer), quickly standing out as a natural leader with a calm and confident presence. His strong connection with participants and sense of responsibility led him to become a full-time staff member. He played a key role in staff training and participant support at our Cyprus facilities, and is now based in Israel, where he continues to bring warmth, insight, and steady guidance to the Free Spirit community.

Want to Leaen More?

Reach out to schedule a conversation or speak with families who’ve walked this path before.

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