A psychologist at the Tel Aviv University National Center for Traumatic Stress and Resilience shares stories of struggle and success in battling PTSD

Dr. Michal Kahn, a sleep researcher and clinical psychologist in trauma recovery, is confronting an epidemic of invisible wounds. The survivors of the October 7 attacks and the Iron Swords War arrive at the Trauma Clinic at TAU carrying not just the evident scars of conflict, but the devastating weight of guilt and shame.

How Does Trauma Affect Daily Life?

October 7, the war, and the events of the past two years have left an entire generation of young people traumatized and struggling to cope with deep and complex emotions. The memories they carry are often intrusive, affecting their daily existence and ability to function. These are not merely sad recollections.  Memories of trauma feel raw even years later and cause physical pain and psychological disruptions.

“Many people who come to us carry memories that interfere with every aspect of their lives,” Dr. Kahn shares. “Sometimes it’s a mother who can’t sleep because she hears sirens in her dreams, or a soldier who can’t walk into a public space without scanning for danger. These are stories we hear again and again — and while heartbreaking, they’re also treatable.”

For many, the initial feeling upon arrival at the TAU Trauma Clinic is one of utter hopelessness. “The trauma is so raw that many people feel like they’re broken beyond repair. Our job is to hold that pain with them, and slowly show them that healing is possible,” Dr. Kahn affirms.

What Does Guilt Have to Do with Trauma?

Dr. Kahn notes that one obstacle to healing is the internal battle many patients face. They are haunted by questions that place blame squarely on themselves.

“They ask themselves: ‘Why didn’t I protect my children?’ ‘Why wasn’t I strong enough to fight for my family?’ ‘How did I let this happen?’ These thoughts are devastating,” explains Dr. Kahn.

This self-condemnation is incredibly common, even among those who acted heroically or simply did their best to survive in impossible circumstances.

The crucial work of therapy involves disentangling these emotions, which actively block the path to recovery.

“We help them understand how guilt and shame can prolong their suffering — how these beliefs, while so understandable, actually block growth and recovery,” she says. “And when people begin to loosen that grip, to accept this pretty bleak reality of what happened, and to let go of the fantasy of what ‘should have happened,’ that’s when healing can begin.”

What Does Therapy Involve?

The therapeutic approach at the TAU National Center for Traumatic Stress and Resilience focuses on processing the fragmented, terrifying moments of trauma. “Trauma memories rarely dissolve on their own,” Dr. Kahn explains. “They sit in the mind like unfinished chapters — overwhelming, intrusive, unprocessed. What we do in therapy is help the person walk through their story in a controlled, safe environment.”

The Center utilizes cognitive processing therapy (CPT), an evidence-based, first-line treatment for PTSD. The goal is not to erase the past but to fundamentally change its hold on the present.

“We write it, read it together, say it out loud. Slowly, the brain begins to refile it as something that happened in the past, not something happening right now. They learn to look at their story from multiple perspectives,” Dr. Kahn says.

This structured confrontation is vital to disarming the trauma’s power.

“A big part of CPT is helping people confront the parts of their story they couldn’t bear to touch — the guilt, the fear, the helplessness. When they can finally put words to those moments, the symptoms lose their intensity. The avoidance starts to fall away,” she notes.

The ultimate aim is to restore a sense of control: By taking something that was terrifying and chaotic and giving it structure, patients regain a sense of mastery over their lives and surroundings.

A Deeply Committed and Experienced Team

The urgency and severity of the current crisis in Israel have dictated the Center’s unique staffing model.

“Every therapist on the team is a seasoned clinician with deep expertise in the field of trauma. We don’t have interns and we’re not a teaching facility. We made that choice deliberately, because the level of trauma we’re treating requires experience,” Dr. Khahn explains. “Our team also includes research-practitioners, who are highly knowledgeable in evidence-based treatment, ensuring that the care we provide is both clinically grounded and informed by the latest scientific understanding.”

Moreover, the team’s commitment is personal.

“Our therapists are not only experienced — they’re deeply committed. We have all lived through October 7th ourselves. We know the landscape of this trauma from the inside,” she states.

This combination of highly-trained staff and first-line evidence-based treatments means the Center can offer fast access to high-quality, science-based care, a rarity in Israel right now.

Who Takes Care of the Caregivers?

Despite the immense emotional toll of this work, Dr. Kahn finds profound purpose in her work at the clinic.

“Sitting with these stories means re-living October 7 again and again in many different forms. It’s hard sometimes. There are days when the weight of it sits with me long after I leave the clinic,” she admits.

However, the difficulty is balanced by a powerful sense of purpose:

“I meet people at the lowest point of their lives, and I get to watch them rediscover safety, connection, and sometimes even joy. That’s an extraordinary privilege.”

For Dr. Kahn, every patient’s recovery is a step toward a healthier community.

“I often think: every person who heals here is another thread in rebuilding a healthy, resilient Israeli society,” she says. This sentiment extends to the global Jewish community, whose support provides a crucial message of solidarity to the survivors and to the caregivers who are caring for them.

“When communities abroad stand with us, it sends our patients and us a message: you’re not alone.”