Therapeutic Work in the Shadow of Collective Trauma: Reflections With Colleagues at a Resilience Centre in Southern Israel

Abstract

This study examines the experiences of Israeli therapists in conditions of collective trauma following the devastating events of October 7, 2023. The study is based on eight in-depth interviews conducted with six therapists, a director, and a clinical supervisor at the Sdot Negev Resilience Centre in southern Israel, conducted during the period May to July 2024, 8–10 months after the start of the war between Israel and Hamas. The interviews focussed on (1) the challenges of providing mental health treatment after the October 7 terrorist attacks, (2) adapting professional interventions to the new reality, and (3) personal coping resources of the therapists. A thematic analysis of the interviews raised five main themes: the need for mental flexibility and creativity in therapeutic interventions in emergency situations; the challenge of maintaining professional involvement against the backdrop of the crisis of trust in the state's systems; the impact of strong identification between therapists and clients against the background of the shared traumatic experience; the increased importance of self-care for caregivers; the added value of systemic work with families and communities. The findings of the study indicate the need to develop a new treatment paradigm adapted to situations of collective trauma, while recognising the complexity of therapeutic work when the therapist is part of the affected community.