How clowns help Israeli children with PTSD post-Oct.7

Medical clowns in Israel, particularly those from the Dream Doctors organization, have taken on a significantly expanded role in supporting children and adults with PTSD and trauma, especially following the October 7 Hamas attacks. Israel has emerged as a global leader in medical clowning, with organizations like Dream Doctors employing salaried clowns who work as paraprofessionals within hospital teams, even participating in medical procedures. Independent studies have shown that medical clowning can reduce anxiety, pain, and crying in children undergoing hospital procedures. Clowns like Shira Friedlander (Shorty) and Smadar Harpak (Shemesh) emphasize finding the healthy side of patients and creating moments of normalcy and joy. Harpak also helped create the "Clownbulance," a vehicle that takes seriously ill children and those with trauma on fun outings, a model now being adopted internationally. As Friedlander states, "It isn't a nice-to-have. It's part of recovery. We're part of a giant system."