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