At a “Home for Every Child”, we recognize that those who care for others also need care. Our latest research report, “Seeing the Therapist”, provides an in-depth look at the well-being of therapists working with at-risk children during wartime. This study reflects our ongoing commitment to evaluating ourselves, ensuring our team receives the support they need to continue their vital work. By monitoring compassion fatigue, burnout, and resilience, we strive to create a healthier, more sustainable therapeutic environment.

The research report, published by the “Home for Every Child” organization in November 2024, examines the well-being of therapists working with at-risk children during wartime. The study explores how war impacts the mental health of professionals providing therapeutic services and identifies factors that contribute to their professional quality of life, including compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue.

Background & Research Objectives: Following the outbreak of the war “Iron Swords” in October 2023, Israel faced a surge in trauma cases, especially among children and families affected by the conflict. The public mental health system, already under strain before the war, experienced a sharp increase in demand for psychological support. Therapists found themselves on the “frontline” of trauma care, assisting children and families under extreme stress while also dealing with their personal and national anxieties. This research aims to assess the professional quality of life of therapists working in “a Home for Every Child” with children at risk, examining both the positive and negative aspects of their experiences. It focuses on two main indicators: Compassion Satisfaction (CS)—the fulfillment therapists derive from helping others, and Compassion Fatigue (CF)—a combination of burnout and secondary traumatic stress (STS) resulting from exposure to their patients’ suffering.

Methodology: The study was conducted through an online survey in February and March 2024, involving 56 therapists from a “Home for Every Child”. Participants were asked to assess their well-being using the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) Scale, which measures Compassion Satisfaction, Burnout, and Secondary Traumatic Stress. Additional demographic data and information on the impact of the war on their work were also collected.

Key Findings

1. High Levels of Compassion Satisfaction:

• 98% of participants reported moderate to high levels of compassion satisfaction.
• Those with more years of experience in the organization reported slightly higher satisfaction levels.
• Single, divorced, or widowed therapists showed higher levels of compassion satisfaction compared to married therapists.

2. Moderate Burnout Levels:

• 98% of participants had low to moderate burnout levels.
• Therapists with children reported higher burnout than those without.
• Burnout was higher among women compared to men, though not statistically significant.

3. Low Levels of Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS):

• 71% of participants reported low STS levels, with no therapists scoring in the high STS range.
• Therapists who explicitly addressed the war in their sessions with children reported lower STS levels than those who did not.

4. Impact of the War on Therapists:

• 74% stated that the war affected their work as therapists.
• 91% believed the war trauma had impacted the children in their care.
• Therapists whose work was affected by the war reported higher burnout and STS levels.

5. Role of Organizational Support:

• Therapists with more sources of organizational support reported higher compassion satisfaction and lower burnout.
• The most significant support sources were individual training (89%), managerial support (83%), peer support (72%), and collective training (61%).
• Therapists who had regular group training showed significantly higher compassion satisfaction and lower burnout and STS.

Conclusions & Recommendations

• Addressing the War in Therapy May Be Protective: Therapists who acknowledged the war in their sessions with children experienced less secondary traumatic stress, suggesting that integrating national trauma into therapy may be beneficial for both therapists and patients.
• Providing More Support Systems is Critical: Ensuring access to supervision, professional training, and peer support can help reduce burnout and increase compassion satisfaction.
• Continuous Monitoring is Necessary: Regular assessment of therapists’ well-being, especially during crises, can help identify those at risk of burnout and compassion fatigue.

Final Thoughts: Despite the immense challenges of working with traumatized children during wartime, therapists of a “Home for Every Child” demonstrated high levels of resilience and professional satisfaction. While burnout and secondary trauma exist, organizational support plays a vital role in mitigating these effects. Continued investment in therapist well-being is essential for sustaining effective mental health care for at-risk children.