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Lack of Safe Environment: Emotional Difficulties and Coping Among Clinicians Treating Traumatized Patients Within a Terrorized Society—Israel 2006

Psychology Department and the Swiss Center for Conflict Research, Management & Resolution, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel, shalvish{at}mscc.huji.ac.il

Diana Luzzatto

Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Academic College of Tel-Aviv-Yafo, Yafo, Israel, Luzzatto{at}mta.ac.il

This study examines the experience of clinicians living in a terrorized society, and who treat traumatized victims of terror attacks. It focuses on their emotional reactions and coping behavior. Qualitative data, collected by means of semi-open interviews with 10 clinicians, are the main source of information. The position of the clinicians between two statuses, therapist and potential victim, is examined, in reference to its influence on the therapists’ state of mind and behavior vis-à-vis their patients. Findings indicate that clinicians stress a humanistic and sensitive approach in their work; however, they find the task of constructing a safe environment for themselves and their patients to be exceptionally difficult. They also tend to minimize use of customary professional social-support techniques. The social-anthropological concept of "liminality," as descriptive of the therapists’ state of mind and coping behavior, is employed as a useful analytical tool.

Key Words: trauma • trauma treatment • compassion fatigue • terror • terrorism • Israel • stress • coping • liminality

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