The past eight months since the outbreak of the war have posed significant challenges to Israel’s mental health system due to the increasing need for psychological support among Israeli citizens. In response, the Merhavim Medical for Brain and Mind Treatment has launched a new initiative: an art therapy clinic, the first of its kind in Israel.
The new clinic, located in Rehovot, aims to assist both adolescents and adults dealing with various mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, and provide specialized support for those coping with trauma and complex trauma during this challenging period.
"Around October 7, we saw widespread distress. Anxiety patterns increased, and functioning became more difficult," explained Dr. Shiran Pines, head of the Arts Therapy Sector at Merhavim, on the idea behind the clinic. "At that time, many 'safe' studio spaces operated by arts therapists began to open across the country on a voluntary basis. Alongside other treatments, they became central in working with trauma victims."
Arts therapy is a form of mental health treatment that relies on the human urge to create, whether through music, movement, drama, or painting. The creative process can help individuals understand and express themselves in non-verbal ways, making it easier to access and process psychological material that might be too difficult or anxiety-inducing to discuss directly.
Dr. Pines believes that during such a complex time, arts therapy can achieve things that standard psychotherapy may not. "In recent months, we’ve seen how significant work in these studios can be, reaching places where words cannot. The therapy allows patients to be in spaces that don’t require strong defenses, enabling them to process trauma without verbalizing it, expressing it in other ways," she said.
"We decided to give this type of therapy a larger role in our hospital and to open a dedicated clinic focusing solely on arts therapy. Although we have had arts therapists in various units of the hospital for many years, we wanted to establish a specialized clinic," she added. Prof. Hilik Levkovich, the hospital's director, has long employed arts therapists as part of a growing sector founded by Daniela Finkel, an arts therapist at the hospital.
How will it work?
Dr. Pines: "The clinic will have studio rooms dedicated to different artistic mediums: movement, art, psychodrama, music, and more. It will offer individual treatments and, if needed, group sessions. While there will be a psychiatrist on staff, all treatments will be based on the arts."
"We have therapists with extensive experience and deep understanding in working with various anxiety disorders, depression, and trauma. Initially, patients will be referred by health funds, but we are developing a plan to involve additional entities. The goal is to serve patients needing community-based treatment or those suffering from trauma and complex trauma. I invite anyone in need of treatment to come."
What are the future aspirations?
Dr. Pines: "Our plan is to establish a center entirely based on arts therapy. Unfortunately, this field is not yet legally regulated in Israel. Over the years, we have seen the effectiveness of this therapy. We aim to expand our existing training center to include the new clinic, and starting next year, second-year master’s students in arts therapy will begin their clinical training here. YAHAT, the Israeli Association of Creative and Expressive Therapists, supports and tirelessly promotes this field, ensuring that those in need receive professional and beneficial mental health care, even during these challenging times," she concluded.