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Dr. Yosef Peysin’s journey to founding FriendshipABA
Friendship ABA began with a simple but powerful belief: children learn best through connection, trust, and joyful interaction.
Through his work with Friendship Circle of Cleveland, Yosef witnessed firsthand how meaningful relationships and community inclusion could transform the lives of children and families. That experience helped shape his vision for a therapy model rooted not only in clinical excellence, but also in connection, compassion, and real-world growth. That vision became FriendshipABA.
Yosef's Story
I began my career with a simple conviction: real impact happens one person at a time.
At the end of rabbinical school, I spent two years interning in a youth development program for at-risk teens—many of whom had dropped out of high school and were already engaging in dangerous behaviors. The program had remarkable success in changing the trajectory of their lives. What struck me wasn’t just the outcomes; it was the approach. When young people were deeply known, cared for, and supported with the right tools, transformation followed.
That experience shaped everything that came next.
I spent the next five years teaching in preschool and elementary school while conducting behavioral research and earning my PhD in Applied Behavior Analysis and Special Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. I wanted both the heart and the science—the relationship-driven approach I had witnessed, combined with rigorous clinical training that could truly move outcomes.
In 2021, I moved to Cleveland with a position lined up as an educational consultant. Shortly after, I met the director of Friendship Circle, who shared a perspective that resonated deeply with me: not all education happens in the classroom. So much growth happens through relationships, community, and truly knowing a child.
I joined Friendship Circle as Youth and Program Director. Over four years, we expanded from serving under 100 children and just over 100 teens to more than 200 children and nearly 300 teen volunteers. As the programs grew, so did my exposure to families’ deeper needs. I saw how much support children required—not only socially, but clinically and educationally—and how limited options were for frum families seeking high-quality, individualized, culturally aligned services.
In June 2025, I shifted my full focus to building a new department within Friendship Circle: Friendship Education & Therapy Services. We began with a partnership with Beachwood School District, serving 17 students receiving ESY services and integrating them into our social skills summer camp model.
Since then, we have provided ABA services within Friendship Circle and partnered with local schools to support students struggling behaviorally and academically.
We’ve helped Sarah rebuild the academic and behavioral foundations necessary to return to school after nearly two years out of placement.
We developed a creative solution for Shimon, who had no viable school placement, combining 1:1 morning instruction with targeted ABA therapy to build academic readiness.
We supported Ezra in developing the regulation and social skills needed for his first playdate—and even his first successful trip to the pool after years of being unable to tolerate wet clothing.
What makes FriendshipABA different is not just clinical expertise. It’s that we know our families deeply. We are embedded in the community. We collaborate with schools. We integrate therapy with real-life social opportunities. We bring science, relationships, and community together.
We are growing because the need is real. Our goal is clear: to strengthen the depth and quality of Friendship Circle’s programs, expand access to effective ABA and educational support, and partner with schools and families so every child receives exactly what they need to thrive.
One child at a time.