Israel Trauma Coalition

Background and Evolution of Trauma Care in Israel

• Early Work: Talia Levanon began working with bereaved families in 1973, later expanding her focus to trauma and crisis response.
• Major Milestones:
  
  • 1991 Gulf War: First significant civil society trauma preparedness effort.
  • 2001 Second Intifada: Civilian-targeted terror attacks created nationwide trauma needs.
  • 2001: Formation of the Israel Trauma Coalition (ITC), initially uniting 7 organizations—now grown to 58—focused on trauma and resilience.

ITC’s Structure and Approach

• Multi-Level Support:
  
  • Direct care for trauma sufferers.
  • Training/support for caregivers, first responders, clinicians, and communities.
  • Collaboration with 160 out of 250 local councils in Israel.
• Citywide Model:
  Integrates bottom-up (community-led) and top-down (governmental) strategies for preparedness and response.
• International Work:
  Consulted for the UN; active in disaster and terror-impacted areas such as Japan, Haiti, Boston, Paris, and Pittsburgh.

Principles and Philosophy

• Distinct from Mental Health Services:
  ITC emphasizes resilience-building in the general population rather than focusing solely on clinical pathology.
• Strength-Based Approach:
  Prioritizes empowerment, coping, and resilience over diagnosis.
• Continuous Timeline:
  No strict “before, during, after” model—prevention and support are ongoing, especially post-October 7th.
• Cultural Adaptation:
  Programs are tailored to diverse communities (e.g., Ethiopian, ultra-Orthodox, Arab) and translated into multiple languages.

Response to October 7th and the Ongoing Crisis

• Preparedness and Adaptation:
  
  • Existing protocols were rapidly scaled and adapted.
  • Local councils initiated mass evacuations and support before the government responded.
• Rapid Scaling:
  
  • Expanded from 5 centers with 216 therapists to 300 centers with nearly 3,000 therapists.
• Resilience Centers:
  
  • Established since 2007 as proactive, strength-based care hubs.
  • Currently 15 in Israel and 5 in Ukraine.
  • On October 8th, a National Resilience Center was launched, serving ~10,000 people (including 2,500 NOVA survivors).
• Service Delivery:
  
  • Initial support provided in hotels: screening, emotional first aid, referrals to therapy.
  • Emphasis on leadership communication, community cohesion, and transition assistance for evacuees.

Challenges and Community Decisions

• Return and Relocation:
  
  • Community decisions to return or rebuild depend on trauma exposure, casualties, housing, and cohesion.
  • Government policies (e.g., ending rent support) influence these decisions.
• Cultural Sensitivity:
  
  • Services adapted to specific cultural norms:
    
    • Religious leaders engaged in Ethiopian communities.
    • Gender-matched providers for ultra-Orthodox clients.
  • Rapid adaptation of materials and practices to meet community-specific needs.

Societal and Therapeutic Challenges

• Inequality and Exposure:
  
  • Historic tolerance for attacks in border towns (e.g., Sderot) is no longer acceptable; all of Israel now feels vulnerable.
  • Social media amplifies anxiety and trauma exposure.
• Therapist Wellbeing:
  
  • Shared trauma among caregivers; burnout is a major concern.
• Safe Space in Therapy:
  
  • Physical safety is often uncertain.
  • Focus on helping clients regain internal control, normalize reactions, and build coping skills.
  • Therapy is often remote; parents are supported in co-regulating with their children.

International Collaboration and Support Needs

• Language Barriers:
  The biggest challenge for international support is the lack of Hebrew-speaking trauma professionals.
• Burnout Support:
  ITC is developing hotlines and systems to support overwhelmed therapists.
• Collaboration:
  Open to working with trauma-informed professionals, particularly those fluent in Hebrew or culturally relevant languages.

Closing Remarks

• Resilience Narrative:
  A core message is the refusal to be seen solely as victims—people are seen as active copers and contributors to collective strength.
• Ongoing Uncertainty:
  The situation remains highly fluid. Effective care requires adaptability, collaboration, and meaning-making among both providers and communities.

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Bio

Talia Levanon directs all of the Israel Trauma Coalition initiatives by building collaborative partnerships that form the foundation of sustainable support for trauma victims both in Israel and abroad. Her career began in the IDF as an officer working with bereaved families and wounded soldiers. She then supervised social workers in private practice, and worked in the Israeli National Insurance Institute for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Trauma Widows and Widowers. Talia holds an MSW in clinical social work from Bar Ilan University and a degree in Integrative Psychotherapy from Hebrew University.