SafeHeart concludes five therapist retreats ahead of third anniversary of October 7

SafeHeart, an Israeli trauma NGO, concluded a series of five retreats in Cyprus for mental-health professionals who have treated survivors of the October 7 attacks. Held in July and August, the retreats gathered hundreds of therapists from SafeHeart's network of approximately 400 professionals, including psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers. The program, titled “The Road Continues to Open,” aimed to help therapists process their experiences, strengthen resources, and prepare for the third anniversary of October 7, addressing challenges like compassion fatigue and secondary traumatization. Reut Plonsker, SafeHeart's clinical director, stated, “for three years, we as mental-health professionals have been on the country’s psychological front line, carrying alongside our patients some of their most difficult stories and unbearable pain.” The retreats included group sessions, mind-body workshops, and rest, with two sessions featuring facilitators from the Center for Mind-Body Medicine. A research study is evaluating participants' burnout, resilience, and sense of meaning to inform future support for therapists.