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:
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Anxiety, depression, or trauma resilience
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Disconnection from peers, school, or family
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Lack of motivation, direction, or structure
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Transitions such as post-rehab, therapeutic boarding schools, or academic burnout
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Difficulty launching into adulthood
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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.”
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.
Housemother
Carmela Barkai
Carmela Barkai recently joined the Free Spirit Experience team as our House Mother. She brings extensive experience built over many years of working in residential programs and with at-risk youth. Carmela is known for creating a warm, structured, and supportive home environment, and for her deep commitment to the well-being, stability, and daily care of the young people she works with.
Programs Manager
Omri Livne
Omry joined Free Spirit with a strong background in youth work in Israel, particularly with at-risk and delinquent teens. Born in a Kibbutz and shaped by both community life and extensive world travel, he brings a unique combination of cultural awareness, creativity, and hands-on leadership. Omry is deeply committed to building authentic connections and empowering young adults (18+) to discover their strengths and pursue positive growth.
Therapy Director
Michal Cohen-Hattab
Michal was born in France and today spends her time between Jerusalem and Kibbutz Hazorea. Michal is a sensitive and intelligent woman, bringing to Free Spirit first and foremost her therapeutic experience and skills alongside her rich life experience in the worlds of social welfare, public policy, and program development.
Through yoga teaching, Michal also discovered how profoundly working with the body nurtures and strengthens us. She combines this insight with her professional experience in art and nature therapy, always guided by her core belief and practice - an endless love for people.
Over the years, Michal has accompanied youth at risk and families, as well as the elderly, while also engaging in volunteer activities. Passionate about outdoor adventures, Michal loves challenging hikes and cycling.
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.
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.
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.
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.