Speaking to a Master in the Field

The following interview is with Sa'ar Uziely who is a clinical psychologist and the head of the Clinical Unit at NATAL. Interview with Sa'ar Uziely on June 30, 2013: Background: Uziely was born in Jerusalem to parents who had both been part of the War of Independence. His father after the war helped to build Jewish settlements in an effort to encourage Jews to move to Israel. He was a combat soldier during his time in the army. Although Uziely was not a top student during high school, after the army he was still accepted to study at Hebrew university, and pursued a Bachelor of Arts in psychology . During his third year as an undergraduate he was called to fight again for half a year during the Yom Kippur war of 1973 as a combat officer. Although during this time he considered living by the pleasure principle and wanted to just pursue fun activities, he ended up deciding to return to finish his degree. After receiving his undergraduate degree in psychology he wanted to continue his academic journey in order to become a clinical psychologist. He was not accepted his first year he applied to graduate school and for a little while he worked at a mental health hospital, but he applied again and was accepted and started in graduate school. After he had received his academic graduate part of the degree, but before the internship process which licenses someone clinically, he was once again asked to return to the army as a psychologist in the tanks and armaments division. He then stayed in the army for twenty years until leaving in 1996. During this time his did end up receiving his full clinical psychology license by receiving the experience necessary to receive his degree through work with the army. When he left the army in 1996 he was the head of the family clinical unit which helps families of professional soldiers and was a lieutenant colonel. Uziely began a private clinical unit and worked there until 2000 when NATAL contacted him and asked him to head their clinical unit. The unit employs a similar structure as in the army. There are psychotherapists recruited all over Israel who either work as freelancers or who are part of clinics that operate as umbrella organizations. There are more than 100 psychotherapists that are part of the clinical team, and currently around 60-70 of whom are active in the field. A case in only for the clinical unit if the person suffers from PTSD as a result of national trauma. The intake is a two-step process in which the psychothersist sees the patient twice and decides whether they are right for NATAL or if the person needs to be referred to another organization. If the case is too heavy they might be referred elsewhere because NATAL only has two psychiatrists- one in Haifa and one in Tel Aviv. There are two surveys completed during the time, one questionnaire that is clinical and about oneself, and one that is a functioning uestionairre that the therapist fills out. The goal of the psychotherapy is not to limit the necessary treatment and to find a secure place forte patients in which they can begin to stabilize and develop a goal-driven future. Thus to bring the person back to a sort of "equilibirum." This might take years and this is well-noted, as well as the fact that not everyone can pay and the organization refuses to turn people away, so whatever the plan in the budget accords for that. Questionairres are completed on a half-a-year basis. There is not one model which is best, but instead a combination of treatments is employed. The person suffering from PTSD might have family that have secondary traumatization and there are therapies and resources at NATAL to help them as well. Treatments can change depending on how the person handles therapy and his PTSD. Uziely can be called by the therapists 24/7 in crisis situations so that the therapists are never alone in making a decision. His motto is similar to that of the army, do not leave the wounded on the field, do not leave the psychotherapists alone. He does not see patients because of time constrictions and vacancy, but his decisions touch everybody which is a rewarding part of the job. Other projects that the clinical unit works with are with children, with released soldiers, and with testimonies. The project with children was officially started four years ago. Working with children builds the community of the future, and thus "influences the while community." The Released Soldiers Project tries to counteract what happened after the Yom Kippur War in which people did not seek treatment until years later. Instead soldiers after their duty are approached in their natural setting like on their university campus. The Testimonial Project has soldiers tell their stories in front of a camera. The entire process is confidential and it gives the person the chance to hear their story from beginning to end. The tapes are a form of closure of the treatment. Uziely wishes his legacy to be always at "service of this country." Wrap up: I had a very successful interview in which I really felt connected to NATAL's purpose. Uziely is a fantastic role model who has devoted his life to the betterment of others and I have a great respect for what he does and what he wishes for the future. I look forward to conducting future interviews and to continue my studies of PTSD.