Helpline

The helpline at NATAL is a therapeutic resource that allows a higher level of anonymity than direct interaction between the therapist or trained volunteer and the patient. Discussing problems via the phone makes it so that the patient can remain at home and that there a higher chance of being able to keep the matter of seeking treatment a secret, which is integral, because although psychological treatment has been proven to be extremely effective, there is still a negative stigma attached to it. NATAl offers the only immediate treatment to those experiencing distress or symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder as related to terror from war. Whereas most hotlines offer one-time treatment, NATAL's helpline is unique because people can reive ongoing assistance from the the organization. National trauma can have many triggers including media, memorial days, and future terror attacks, so the helpline was created in such a way to try to help people cope with these possible future problems while healing them as much as possible along the way. Dr. Judith Herman created a three step process of healing that NATAL aims to follow: 1) creating security, 2) reliving the trauma, and 3) rebuilding the connection between the victims and their communities. Today I interviewed a helpline volunteer about her experience at NATAl so that I could further understand the intricacies of the helpline. Eleanor made Aliyah after college. She is originally from New York and went to university in Boston. Her parents are Holocaust survivors and it was her fathers dream to move to Israel. Although her parents never ended up moving to Israel, Eleanor completed their dream and has been here since college. She worked as an English teacher before retirement. For th past ten years she has been a volunteer for the past ten years. The idea of working for NATAL sparked her interested when she received the annual newsletter called, "About Feelings," which asked for volunteers. She applied and after many group interviews was selected from a pool of 120 people. Then in her class their were 12 people who began their six-month intensive training. During this time the training is four hours a week and volunteers learn different therapeutic techniques and about different patients. During this time volunteers must also begin to release their own personal baggage. Then after around four months of this, those who have made it this far then begin to listen in on phonecalls until it is accessed that they are ready to take on their own phonecalls and caseload. Every two weeks from then on the volunteers have supervision with a clinical psychologist. During crisis periods NATAL is open all of time. There are around 30-35 volunteers and each one works a four hour shift weekly during normal periods of time. The patients can receive treatment via the phone for as long as needed and if they are ready to be done with all treatment it is deemed so or else eventually patients and be referred to other resources at NATAL or outside organizations. I found my conversation with Eleanor to be very enlightening. She really gave a very indepth perspective on what the helpline does, what goes into being a volunteer, and the importance of NATAL in treating those suffering from PTSD or those who help diagnosed loved ones. I look forward to my next interview in which I can continue my journey learning PTSD.

tel:1-800-363-363

NATAL in the Field: Mobile Unit

NATAl plays a very active role in the field. With licensed therapists, administrators, and volunteers stationed throughout the field and working for the helpline, the goal of the organization, to always be available to those in need has never failed. The mobile unit of NATAL works in conflict zones helping hundreds of victims each year who suffer from varying levels of PTSD including those who are scared to leave their home. The unit goes into these dangerous places and provides first aid care and psychological treatments to ensure a safer more stable environment for one living in these war-stricken locations. The treatments occur at the home in six to eight sessions and include different types of therapy: one-on-one therapy, family therapy, breathing and relaxation techniques or bio-feedback. After these treatments the patients either can work more extensively with NATAL's clinical staff, be referred to an outside organization, or in the best case scenario their symptoms are more or less cured. The Pillar of Defense in November 2012 was the highest usage of the mobile unit since the second Lebanon War and NATAL pulled together their resources to be there for anyone who reached out for the organizations help. I found my research on the mobile unit to be extremely intriguing. The mobile unit reaches out to those in need and the therapists working in these zones put themselves into risky situations. The fact that they are willing to put their necks on the line show the unique character of NATAL as well as the family-like environment in Israel in general, that everyone is each others brother or sister, and are willing to be there when called for. The mobile unit shows the courageousness of the therapists who go out there each and everyday in order to make the life of their fellow citizens easier to cope with in terms of the hard realities present in Israel because of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Reflections After My First Week

I am a junior at Barnard College, Columbia University double majoring in psychology and history and minoring in sociology. I grew up in a reformed/secular household but I have recently felt a strong desire to learn more about Judaism and to develop a stronger Jewish identity. This leads me to my summer in Israel. I am part of CLIP Onward Israel which helped me find an internship placement at NATAL. I grew up as the daughter of a psychotherapist and I never thought I was going to follow him in his footsteps until last year when I realized how much like to talk to people and help them work through their issues in order to build a stronger and more stable base, and to strive for a more vibrant present and future. NATAL seemed like the perfect fit for me. The organization is a nonprofit which helps victims of war and terror with post traumatic stress disorder. Israel is a country that is sadly ridden with many people with this problem. I felt that applying myself to learning about therapy techniques and different issues in a place with such a unique niche of issues as it is a military state seemed like it has the potential to be an extremely enriching experience. I started my internship this past Sunday and have spent the week reading articles and newsletter, and watching videos about NATAL and post traumatic stress disorder. I am very excited to understand the different techniques used to treat post traumatic stress disorder and how each type of treatment is decided based on the individual person and the level of PTSD. The high level of interaction and respect for one another between the patients and the organization is a wonderful relationship and I look forward to begin my interviews and delve deeper into understanding the organization, psychology, and myself as I spend the next two months in Israel.