How NATAL helps Israelis heal invisible wounds, rebuild after war and trauma

Established in 1998, NATAL was created to address what Israelis refer to as “the invisible injury” – the long-lasting psychological scars from war and terror. For years, the organization focused on long-term, comprehensive trauma therapy; however, October 7 changed everything. “Previously, many of those seeking help at NATAL did so for trauma that hadn’t necessarily been caused recently,” Shalgi says. “Now we are witnessing tens of thousands of people who experienced trauma simultaneously.”

For Shalgi, trauma isn’t just a difficult event but an overwhelming rupture. “Trauma is when the psyche encounters something it cannot hold, when the experience is ‘too much,’” he explains. Survivors from the Supernova music festival, families in shelters, and soldiers witnessing their comrades’ deaths all live with severe trauma symptoms such as intrusive thoughts, nightmares, hyper-arousal, and despair. “Most importantly,” Shalgi says, “it’s the feeling of ‘I can’t take this. I can’t go on.’” Due to high demand, NATAL had to adapt, as  long-term therapy became unsustainable for many.

“Even after recruiting hundreds of new therapists, we couldn’t maintain the old model,” says Shalgi. Instead, they developed short-term treatment programs of 12, 24, or 36 sessions. Using EMDR, CBT, prolonged exposure, existential therapy, and psychodynamic techniques, NATAL created trauma-specific interventions suitable for shorter durations. “These models are delivering excellent results,” Shalgi affirms.

While much of NATAL’s initial effort involves psychological first aid, the organization also considers the long-term journey. One recent initiative bridges trauma treatment with professional rehabilitation. The Career Development Unit, led by Shaked Arieli, aims to help trauma survivors re-enter the workforce with renewed purpose. Arieli joined NATAL four years ago to establish this unit, after years working with at-risk youth.

Arieli stresses that PTSD often appears like ADHD. “Trauma keeps the brain in survival mode,” she notes. “Your body may feel at home, but your brain remains on the battlefield.” This leads to issues such as poor concentration, memory lapses, mood swings, and exhaustion. “We call our work a ‘gym for the brain’s executive functions.’ Like physiotherapy after an injury, we help clients strengthen the mental ‘muscles’ weakened by trauma so they can manage their symptoms rather than be controlled by them,” she says.

“What’s unique about the current war is exhaustion,” Arieli states. “Reservists return increasingly depleted. Families are strained. Businesses are collapsing. Evacuees are losing homes and communities. Beyond personal impacts, there’s a widespread sense of despair and hopelessness in Israeli society. That loss of future vision makes it harder for people to feel motivated at work.”

NATAL’s career program starts with education. Survivors learn what trauma does to the brain, and this knowledge is empowering. “When people realize they’re not ‘crazy,’ that understanding gives them strength,” Arieli says. The next step involves mapping: Clients complete detailed questionnaires to identify challenges, from procrastination and emotional regulation to difficulty prioritizing tasks. Coaches then customize strategies to strengthen these skills, build confidence, and develop a long-term vision.

Arieli recalls one participant who arrived feeling deeply discouraged, considering a career in real estate or online commerce. A volunteer mentor perceived that these paths didn’t align with his true values. After some reflection, the client admitted he had always wanted to be a barber, though his father had dismissed the idea. With support, he trained as a barber, and the school eventually hired him. “Now he not only works as a barber but also finds meaning in conversations with clients, almost like becoming a mentor himself,” Arieli recounts.

In public discourse, “resilience” has become a buzzword. But Shalgi warns against the superficial use of the term. “After the short war with Iran in June, many people were told, ‘Go back to work. Look how resilient we are!’ But that isn’t necessarily resilience,” he says. “Sometimes it’s dissociation or suppression.” For him, true resilience is about preventing trauma from taking root in the first place, not rushing people back into routine.

He believes that resilience can be strengthened – but only up to a point. “Programs in schools help children respond less severely to alarms and rockets. But in extreme situations – like a mother trapped in a shelter with her daughters while people are being murdered outside – resilience has limits. That’s when rehabilitation is needed.”

The war with Iran exposed a deeper issue. Survivors beginning to recover after October 7 felt pushed back to square one. “It was trauma layered upon trauma,” says Shalgi. “People felt repeatedly knocked down, as if they could never recover. It drained people’s hope.”

Now NATAL faces the task of restoring that hope. For Shalgi, this involves nurturing what he calls “the force of life” – a resilience that goes beyond optimism. “It can manifest through humor, anger, or love,” he explains. “That life force is what we aim to foster now.” Arieli agrees, emphasizing that work can provide a sense of purpose. “There’s a strong link between motivation at work and our overall sense of purpose,” she states. “Helping people rediscover this purpose is crucial.” Both leaders acknowledge the difficulties ahead.

“I hope fewer individuals need our help,” says Shalgi. “But as long as there are those who do, we must continually improve our approaches. Trauma evolves, and so must we.” Arieli also envisions expansion: “We are already scaling our model nationally. Our goal is to make trauma-informed career coaching accessible to all in Israel, so every trauma survivor can get support suited to their challenges.” This mission is human, beyond clinics.

“If you’re struggling with focus, procrastination, emotional flare-ups, or low self-confidence after trauma, you are not alone,” Arieli emphasizes. “This isn’t just personal failure; it’s both a societal and a personal issue. You have the right to fulfill your potential and receive support. With proper help, you can recover your strengths and even pass that resilience on to others,” she asserts.