Weathering the Storm Together: Therapists' Experiences Treating War Trauma Survivors While Managing Their Own Concurrent Trauma.

Abstract

Mental health therapists (MHTs) providing care during shared traumatic reality face distinct emotional and professional challenges, particularly when they are also personally affected. While a central concern is compassion fatigue, emotional exhaustion that arises from prolonged exposure to others' trauma, this concept does not capture the dual nature of the MHT's traumatic experience, both as a citizen of the region and as a helping professional exposed to the traumatic narratives of their clients. This study explores the shared traumatic reality experiences of MHTs working in a war zone, offering support to trauma survivors while navigating their own exposure to the same crisis. Through qualitative, semi-structured interviews with 20 therapists conducted between April and July 2024, three key themes emerged: (1) We're All in the Same Boat-When Boundaries Blur, reflecting how shared traumatic reality erodes traditional therapeutic roles; (2) The Collapse of Everyday Concerns-When Nothing Feels Important Unless It's Related to the War, illustrating how therapists deprioritised non-trauma issues and experienced emotional detachment; and (3) Therapy as Shared Emotional Support, highlighting a shift towards mutual validation rather than structured interventions. From these findings, we propose a model conceptualising the dual impact of shared traumatic reality on therapists: boundary dissolution can both increase distress and foster resilience, especially when cultural values of solidarity and mutual responsibility are present. Although rooted in one cultural context, this model underscores the importance of identifying community-level resilience factors that help MHTs maintain professional functioning during collective crises and when operating in war zones and other high-stress environments.