High Holidays 2000 and Aftermath: Doing Psychotherapy with Holocaust Survivors and the Second Generation in Israel during the Sudden Eruptions of Violence

The potential for countertransference complications in trauma work is generally known by now. “A priori” countertransference demonstrates that thoughts, emotions, and prejudices are evoked by preliminary information about a client even before the first meeting. Insufficient awareness is likely to put both therapists and clients at risk. The literature about therapy with Holocaust survivors amply illustrates this. Less is known about what happens to the therapeutic process at times of armed conflict. Must additional aspects of countertransference be taken into account? Can psychotherapy continue as normal?

The outbreak of violence in Israel on Rosh Hashanah 2000, when peace seemed realistically near, provided an opportunity to explore the impact of therapists and clients sharing real-time, potentially (re)traumatizing conditions. This small qualitative study with therapists who work with clients traumatized by the Holocaust focuses on how they cope with the additional personal and professional challenges, and suggests answers to the above questions.