Yael Lahav

My Research:  Trauma of captivity, perceived health and attachment – a longitudinal study

Understanding and Accepting: I grew up in a home where the therapeutic field was central. My mother worked as a teacher with at-risk youth. I think that the therapeutic aspect of my mother’s work influenced me. I understood from a young age that all people are vulnerable and may suffer from emotional pain, and I dealt with the question of whether there was a better way to understand and cope with distress.

“I understood from a young age that all people are vulnerable and may suffer from emotional pain, and I dealt with the question of whether there was a better way to understand and cope with distress.”

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A Vicious Cycle: My research reveals that soldiers taken prisoner during the Yom Kippur War are trapped in a vicious cycle:  They suffer from health issues that affect their ability to establish normative relationships and their lack of close social ties negatively impacts their health. Therefore, treatment for interpersonal relationships or for physical issues alone is not enough. A holistic treatment approach that addressees both aspects is needed to break the cruel cycle.

Ease the Pain: I hope to continue working in the therapeutic field and to continue developing my research. I would like to develop a theory and treatment tactic that will help many people, especially trauma survivors, better understand what brings them to painful places and what will help ease their pain.

Yael is a PhD student at the Bob Shapell School of Social Work at the Gershon H. Gordon Faculty of Social Sciences.

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