From Crisis to Growth: A Introductory Digital Course on Guidelines for Treating Trauma using the Dialogic-Tsimtsum Approach
Since the outbreak of the Iron Swords War on 7.10, many members of the public are experiencing various degrees of trauma, both on a personal and on a national level. To meet the growing need among therapists to provide an adequate therapeutic response, and amongst the general public to receive an introduction to trauma, we developed the course “From Crisis to Growth: The Dialogic-Tzimtzum Approach to Treating Trauma”, which aims to provide the general public with an introduction to dealing with trauma from the Dialogic perspective, as well as to enrich the therapists’ toolset and add an extra dimension to their treatment of trauma.
The course was created by the Rotenberg Institute’s senior team together with outside academic consultants, and is based on the model of Jewish Psychology devised by the institute's president, Israel Prize laureate Prof. Mordechai Rotenberg. The model offers unique therapeutic tools and processes, as well as a robust lexicon of key therapeutic concepts - which encourage growth and development through contacting the trauma (Tzimtzum) and creating a dialogue with other parts that exist within the patient and his or her environment.
At the beginning of the therapeutic process, the therapist allows the patient to recognize the dialectic and the rupture that occurred following the trauma, and at the same time to contact the rupture (Tzimtzum) and recognize other beneficial and strengthening elements. Tzimtzum becomes a source of strength and of vacating space for "Shilchun" - a retelling of the difficult traumatic story. Tzimtzum even allows for "Shikdum" - the fostering of new elements that can grow out of the rupture, including the Sikdum of the spirit - the forging of spiritual meaning and the rehabilitation of self-identity.
The course is intended to provide an instruction to the topic for both the general public, as well as for all therapists, especially those treating cases of trauma and post-trauma.
Organizations have the option of a discounted centralized purchase, and of requesting training/supervision sessions for their team of therapists.
This booklet presents a model and guidelines for coping with trauma and post-trauma. Please note that these chapters are not designed to be a substitute for a comprehensive program of trauma treatment. Our aim is to expand and enhance your existing treatment toolbox by adding an extra layer based on the unique dialogical approach developed by Israeli Prize laureate Professor Mordechai Rotenberg. This approach represents a worldview of the soul and includes tools and applied therapeutic principles for treating trauma, all based on the rich world of Jewish wisdom, Jewish tradition, and Jewish heritage. You are invited to apply these tools in your own therapeutic work. Although these trauma tools were created in direct response to the events of 7 October 2023, they are of course relevant for any trauma treatment.