About Feelings
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About Feelings NATAL,Issue no. 1 0 , l y a r 5 7 6 8 , M a y 2 0 0 8 Colonel (Res.) Dr. Itamar Barnea, Special Interview: The journey of a former pilot and POW who became a psychologist Dr. Rony Berger: "Sderot populates my soul" Dr. Udi Lebel: "It takes public courage to admit that trauma is the lot of an entire society" Udit Sheffer and Hadassah Ashdot facilitate a support group for women married to traumatized men Saar Uziely: Reaching out to released combat soldiers ±∞ years of NATAL From the Chairperson and Founder Judith Yovel Recanati This edition of the NATAL magazine "About When NATAL began, we thought it would Feelings" is being published as NATAL is marking primarily serve victims of the past but reality its 10 year anniversary and Israel is celebrating gave us a rude awakening. With the beginning its 60th anniversary. In the magazine, you will of the Second Intifada followed by the Second find articles presenting personal experiences Lebanon War, NATAL became an active center along with a collective perspective on Israeli that receives requests from victims of terrorism society. The interview with Dr. Itamar Barnea and war, as well as their friends and family, on a is especially moving as he was a fighter pilot in daily basis. They have been joined by residents the Yom Kippur War, who was downed and taken of Sderot and now, to our dismay, residents of captive by the Syrians on the last day of fighting. Ashkelon, communities surrounding the Gaza Judith Yovel Recanati He has served as NATAL’s chief psychologist Strip and the western Negev for whom Qassam since the organization was established and with rockets are part of their daily life. In the reality rare candor, Dr. Barnea speaks about his personal of our uncertain lives, we are called upon to trauma and its impact on him as a therapist. be prepared at all times. Indeed, hardly a day NATAL was founded in 1998, to express a social passes without injuries, including many who statement and take action, on behalf of Israeli suffer from anxiety. On occasion, the activities society and within it. We wanted to legitimatize of NATAL’s volunteers and professional staff emotions that had long been concealed and are visible but our work is mostly done without repressed, because we believed it was no longer publicity, in clinics, community centers, schools, possible to abet denial and the lack of recognition kindergartens, day care centers and factories for the pain, bereavement and loss of so many around the country. In addition, NATAL's Hot people. We were confident that Israel’s national Line, receives innumerable inquiries, especially resilience would only benefit from our work. when the security situation is tense. no NATAL ß s Time Line The Hot Line is As a result of NATAL is a founding In response to terrorist Establishment of the established. Clinical the Intifada, the partner of the Israel attacks, NATAL PR Department and work begins. Community Outreach Trauma Coalition (ITC). expands its clinical, launching of a national NATAL’s first Unit is established to NATAL changes its outreach and Hot Line radio & television professional formalize and expand name to, Israel Trauma activities. campaign, led by the late conference. NATAL's psycho- Center for Victims of The Professional Ehud Manor. The Social educational work. The Terror and War. Steering Committee Event in HaYarkon Park Rehabilitation Club Clinical Unit creates About Feelings 2 and Research with Shlomo Artzi. begins operating. a network of therapists focuses on clarifying Department are About Feelings 5 ±ππ∏ ±πππ ≤∞∞∞ ≤∞∞± ≤∞∞≤ ≤∞∞≥ ≤∞∞¥ ≤∞∞µ ≤∞∞∂ ≤∞∞∑ ≤∞∞∏ Yossi Hadar, psychiatrist, Russian-speaking around the country. the professional opened. focuses on presenting psychotherapist, volunteers join the Hot About Feelings 1 is meaning of national CD Our Hope Endures the activities of NATAL's playwright, poet, author, Line. launched and focuses trauma. Integrated is produced. staff. teacher and researcher, National Trauma on the personal stories use of psycho- About Feelings 3 Group therapy conceived and initiated awareness event, with of victims of national dynamic, cognitive and presents practical techniques are integrated the idea of establishing singer Esther Ofarim. trauma. Event at Eretz behavioral therapeutic techniques for treating into the Clinical Unit’s a therapeutic center Israel Museum, Life in techniques begins. trauma victims. work and a group for for victims of national the Shadow of Events, Second conference for About Feelings women living with men trauma. Yossi passed with singer Gali Atari. therapy professionals 4 focuses on the suffering from PTSD is away suddenly in July NATAL’s web site: on “What is National significance of started. 1998 and didn’t live to www.natal.org.il is Trauma?” Post-Trauma by Integration of “safe see NATAL come into launched. describing symptoms. touch” techniques in the being. His colleague, Clinical Unit. Judith Yovel Recanati, decided to continue fulfilling his vision. On the cover: NATAL's Tree, a Mosaic created by Lauri Recanati, located in the entrance of NATAL's center no no ≤ For further information and to donate: www.natal.org.il; [email protected] The services provided by NATAL, at its always been victims of PTSD but for many years center in Tel Aviv and around the country, are society did not relate to them properly and paid critically important. We work with children, even less attention to the ramifications of the discharged soldiers, professionals working in lack of treatment and support. One of NATAL’s vulnerable communities and adults suffering important functions was and is to work for a from symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress change in the attitude towards these people. Disorder (PTSD). We have always been careful One measure of our success is that every report to maintain a non-political stance and to be from the field now makes routine mention to inclusive, providing a response to any Israeli the number of casualties suffering from anxiety. in need. NATAL treats not only those directly Since NATAL was founded, we have prayed for traumatized by terrorism and war, but also the day that we will be able to close our doors, those indirectly affected, as we recognize their either because the State would provide these pain, suffering and need for assistance. In the services itself or, even more hopefully, the day last decade, tens of the thousands of Israelis would come when there are no more victims of have been treated by NATAL, on the telephone, national trauma in Israel. through individual and family therapy or by Memorial Day Eve, in the sixtieth year of the the Community Outreach Unit that provides State of Israel, is a very sad occasion for us all. psychological first-aid in the field, sometimes Many newly bereaved families have joined the under fire (in the literal sense of the word). In ranks of grief and will mourn their loved ones ten years of activity, NATAL has increased the forever. We cry with them and pray with them public and professional awareness of the term that quieter years will come. We are committed “national trauma” caused by cumulative exposure to continue standing by their side and by the to incidents of the terrorism and war. There have side of everyone who needs us. ∞ ± π π ∏ ≠ ≤ ∞ ∞ ∏ Professional Psychological assistance Immediately after NATAL moves to NATAL marks its conference on trauma for people evacuated the outbreak of The its new home on Ibn 10th anniversary: a opens to the general from the Gaza Strip and Second Lebanon War, Gvirol Street. public. Gush Katif. information about The Community decade in which we About Feelings 6 Professional conference NATAL is broadcast in Outreach Staff begins operated untiringly focuses on “A Multi- on the disengagement. various media outlets; operating the Mobile for the benefit of disciplinary Look Event at Performing the Hot Line’s activity Psychological Care Unit trauma victims at the Concept of Arts Center with is intensified and in Sderot. National Trauma.” Ahinoam Nini and NATAL’s staff aids Research is conducted in Israel. We will ±ππ∏ ±πππ ≤∞∞∞ ≤∞∞± ≤∞∞≤ ≤∞∞≥ ≤∞∞¥ ≤∞∞µ ≤∞∞∂ ≤∞∞∑ ≤∞∞∏ continue to be there Mayumana. thousands in shelters. on the impact of the The Released Soldiers The Released Soldiers Qassam threat on for them in the Project begins, inviting Project is expanded residents of Sderot. coming years, with recently released to include soldiers The Documentation constant hope for soldiers to group who fought in The Center is launched. peaceful days. therapy. Second Lebanon War. The Inter-disciplinary The movie Hidden Cooperation between Center for Trauma Wounds is produced. the Hot Line and Israeli Studies opens & offers Released Soldiers academic institutions, a year-long program campaign is launched. to provide information on trauma-focused About Feelings 7 and assistance to psychotherapy, in focuses on the traumas students who fought in conjunction with Tel of soldiers who served The Second Lebanon Aviv University. in the Intifada. War. About Feelings 8 The documentation focuses on the growth project of the Clinical potential of people Unit is launched. suffering from national trauma The Hotline’s Home Visitation project is launched. no ≥ Special Interview The Journey towards Growth, Healing and Strength Dr. Itamar Barnea, NATAL’s chief psychologist, agreed to reveal his personal story and cast light on the nature and meaning of traumatic experience, explaining how it influences personality and shapes perceptions, as well as how the interaction between the healing elements and the injured elements of both therapist and patient facilitate growth and reconnection. Prof. Avi Bleich met with Dr. Barnea and the following article documents a fascinating encounter between two therapists who treat trauma victims. Prof. Avi Bleich no tamar, we have known each other for and was very active in sports, even playing on approximately twenty years since our the national junior volleyball team.