Videotherapy - from a traumatic space to a healing space

2024 9th Videotherapy Conference Schedule:

Lecture and workshop summaries:

workshop

The role of dreams in the expression and resolution of moral guilt in three films dealing with war trauma – Ms. Ruth Netzer

The workshop will deal with the distinction between post-trauma of a war victim and post-trauma of the aggressor in war, which is in fact moral guilt for the soldier's conduct that is contrary to the moral code and his humanity. We will refer to excerpts from the films: 'Waltz with Bashir' (Pullman), 'Dreams' (Kurasawa), 'Cut the Pain' (Nir and Gelman). We will see how the dreams in these films that deal with moral trauma serve to express the traumatic situation but also serve the healing process. In the workshop, we will watch excerpts from the films and discuss them, from the perspective of Jung's depth psychologist on the role of dreams.

Ms. Ruth Netzer

A clinical psychologist, Jungian analyst and senior instructor, intensive instructor in the videotherapy curriculum at the Sharon Israel Center and the Ono Academic College, teaches at the Jungian Psychotherapy Schools at the Kabbatzim Seminary, Oranim College and Bar Ilan, as well as at various Jungian trainings in Israel. Also an artist (painting and photography), poet, and researcher of literature and film. She has published ten books of poetry, an autobiographical book, and written six non-fiction books, three of which are about therapy and film, published by Resling.

workshop

Reframing and cinematic narrative work with the other story in trauma treatment – Mr. Avi Heller

The narrative approach speaks to the fact that our identity is built through stories and that we tell ourselves about ourselves all the time. Our identity is dynamic, evolving and our lives are multi-narrative. Often, a person has the habit of telling a dominant story that may reduce, harm and not give room to other stories that have the power to expand the human experience. In many cases of stress and trauma, the dominant story is a story of guilt and shame. Finding alternative stories in these cases can be life-saving.

Just as the camera lens changes the image seen through it with the change of the lens or frame, so too does the use of reframing on the story change the person's internal image. Each change of frame will change the story, the experience, and the emotion.

How can I find other stories?

How do we bring them to light and create a different reality using video and docu-therapy tools?

The workshop will include a presentation of cases and examples filmed from the field, including stories from a survivor whose home was attacked by terrorists on 7/10, soldiers who experienced difficult combat events, and more. In the workshop, we will experience practical practice of photographing participants in reframing.

Avi Heller –

Graduate of the videotherapy curriculum at the Sharon Israel Center, lecturer in the videotherapy curriculum at the Sharon Israel Center and the Ono Academic College, extensive experience as a facilitator of docotherapy workshops, extensive experience with a variety of populations.

workshop

The Healing Owl. Video Therapy Workshop with Power Animals to Build Resilience – Ms. Iris Rubin

In shamanic practice, working with our "power animals" or "power animals" is common. Due to our biological proximity to the animal world, we are able to understand symbolic messages that are embedded in animal representations. The term "power animal" describes the power to activate the inner power within us, or to reunite it. Through the representation of the animal, we are able to identify parts of ourselves that require understanding and appreciation. Through this recognition, the inner expression represented by the animal is balanced and strengthened. In this way, working with power animals reminds us of the inner power that has always been present within us.

About the workshop.

The workshop combines video therapy and working with power animals.

During the workshop and through guidance, we will meet our power animal, and explore in depth the animal's behavior habits in nature. The hours it is active, its unique movement, its diet, its hunting habits, its family structure, the way it raises its offspring, the pace of its movement, its developed senses, its connection to other elements in nature (water, vegetation, soil, air), and more.

After the research, we will create a film about our animal and our dialogue with it.

Creating a film about a power animal strengthens the emotional connection with our source of inner strength. The process allows for a connection and a supportive and spiritual accompaniment that strengthens the sense of resilience and creativity in the process of rehabilitation and personal development.

The goal of the workshop is to provide a tool for self-resilience with trauma victims, or people who are in crisis, a crossroads, etc. When the participants themselves film a film about their power animal, it allows them a deep, personal process. And helps them gain resilience in healing on several bikes.

Improving Self-Awareness: The photography process offers participants the opportunity to observe themselves, their experiences, and the emotional connections with their power animal. This allows them to look within themselves, understand themselves better, and feel more aware and empowered.

Improving expression and communication skills: By photographing and portraying their power animal, participants organize and express their feelings and experiences. This can help them strengthen their expression and communication skills and deepen their ability to cope with difficult feelings and experiences.

Improving the feeling of belonging and connection: The process of creating a film about their power animal inspires in participants feelings of belonging and connection to their power animal, and they gain a companion on their healing path, which gives them the feeling that they are not alone.

Improving courage and self-confidence: Learning about the animal, its strengths, and its ways of coping in different situations gives strength and understanding for personal coping.

The entire process of creating a film about the participants' power animal can be challenging and fascinating, and using video as a tool helps participants carry out this process in a creative and profound way, making them active in their healing process.

Ms. Iris Rubin

Lecturer in the videotherapy curriculum at the Ono Academic Center and the Sharon Israel Center, filmmaker, videotherapy group facilitator, owner of a private videotherapy clinic in Zichron Yaakov, and veteran of the field.

workshop

Reducing anxiety and strengthening resilience through smartphone creation –

Unique tools for workers with children and youth

How to strengthen personal connections with children and youth? How to inspire greater motivation and cooperation in the pedagogical or therapeutic space?

An experiential workshop that includes learning and experimenting with unique tools developed at the Sharon Israel Center to reduce anxiety and strengthen resilience while using smartphone creation. In the workshop, we will experiment with tools and exercises that can be applied in the field with children and youth and with work teams.

The workshop is led by facilitators from the Assisted Cinema Program and the Media Active Program.

workshop

Understanding and Treating Post Traumatic Stress Through Cinematherapy – Thoughtful Parents from 7.10 in the Secret Forest in Cyprus

The workshop is based on a cinematherapy workshop that Israel gave to bereaved parents from 7.10.

In the secret forest in Cyprus.

By watching film clips and observing them individually and as a group, we will try to understand some of the important issues for dealing with trauma and post-trauma.

Trauma is recorded in the body and mind and triggers unique survival reactions in each person.

After going through a traumatic event, everyone has their own unique style and survival defense mechanisms that are different from each other.

In the workshop we will address the following topics:

The importance of understanding and accepting the differences in coping styles and the difficulties that these differences create in relationships and families.

What kind of support is right for everyone and how difficult is it for us to get help?

How can post-traumatic stress symptoms be reduced?

Awareness of others in the family and their different needs.

The use of cinematherapy to clarify these issues allows for emotional connection and sharing, each according to their ability, in the dilemmas and difficult places they find themselves in after trauma.

Mr. Israel Rosebaum – Lecturer in the videotherapy specialization program at the Sharon Israel Center and the Ono Academic College, Senior Clinical Psychologist – Certified Instructor. Specializes in treating adults and adolescents with a variety of life crises, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Extensive experience in treating victims of sexual assault, and working with bereavement.

Film screening and lecture

Alex's Group. A meeting on Docotherapy and Post-Traumatic Growth – Mr. Jonathan Nir

In this inspiring lecture, combined with the screening of the film "Alex's Group," Jonathan Nir will speak about documentary film as a tool for social change and personal empowerment, about ethics, aesthetics, and everything in between, and will tell behind-the-scenes stories of complex productions in extreme areas, which require dealing with situations of uncertainty, frustration, and fear, and which require teamwork, patience, faith, and hope.

The film "Alex's Group" was shown for about six months in Lev Cinema and cinemas across the country, in dozens of screenings in preparation for the anniversary of the Yom Kippur War. In a chilling twist, it was removed from theaters exactly a week before October 7th.

Israel is a post-traumatic society, saturated with bereavement, anxiety, and pain.

Israeli post-traumatic stress disorder has long since become a social phenomenon whose consequences are widespread and permeate almost every home.

But is it possible to grow from post-trauma as individuals and as a society? And what role can photography and documentary film play in this kind of growth?

And how, in this current era – the “age of storytellers” – can we make good use of the developing technology in this context?

About this and more in a fascinating meeting with Jonathan Nir, an award-winning documentary producer and director and an expert in docotherapy – documentary creation as a therapeutic tool.

Alex's Team – Jonathan Nir

60 Minutes | Israel

Movie synopsis:

Four women and four men, who constitute a mosaic of Israeli society, meet for a therapeutic photography group led by Israel Prize-winning photographer Alex Liebeck for a year.

Each and every one of the group participants is related in one way or another to post-traumatic stress disorder.

It has a mother of a PTSD sufferer, a wife of a child of a woman, a woman who served as an observer, and four men of various ages, some of whom are not diagnosed or recognized as PTSD sufferers.

From Lübeck's iconic images and from photographs that participants bring themselves, an intuitive and authentic discourse develops about post-trauma as a social phenomenon that has penetrated every home in Israel, about audiovisual images as shapers of consciousness, and also about the path to growing from trauma through sharing, recognition, creation, humanity, and compassion.

"Heartbreaking Monologues"

Nirit Anderman, Haaretz

"Come and see!"

Reno Tzror, Galatians

"'Alex's Group' is an important film that embraces post-traumatic stress disorder, and shows that traumatic damage is also environmental damage."

Danny Dagan, here 11

"A film that won't leave you"

Itzik Yoshua, here is culture

Produced with the support of: Yes Docu, Rabinowitz Foundation, Gesher Foundation for Multicultural Cinema, Charter For Compassion, Yaffe Maritz, Gard Jameson, Uri and Mirit Eisen, Friends Association – Lev Hasharon Medical Center

Producers: Elad Peleg, Hagai Arad, Aharon Peer, Yonatan Nir

Participants: Alex Libeck, Dr. Shmuel Hirschman, Dr. Adiel Doron, Assi House, Orian Glaster-Oren, Nathan Margalit, Naama Haro, Gilad Vital Shimon, Bashmat Sela, Ahuva (Ahovik) Doron, Yair Waller, Rami Yulzari

Screenplay: Jonathan Nir, Eyal Tzarfati

Editing: Eyal Tzarfati

Photography: Yoav Kleinman, Ran Aviad 

Soundtrack Designer: Ami Arad

Original music: Gilad Vital Shimon

Animation and graphic packaging: Yoni Goodman

Marketing and Distribution Management: Almog Gurvitz – 052-8853854 | info@yonatannir.com

Mr. Jonathan Nir-

Director and producer of award-winning documentaries and a sought-after lecturer.
His films " The Dolphin ", " Cut the Pain ", " My Brother is a Hero ", " The Disappearing Man - The Story of Wilfrid Israel ", " The Picture of His Life " and "Alex's Group" were broadcast on the world's leading television channels, watched by millions of viewers in more than 60 different countries and won critical acclaim and dozens of awards at prestigious international festivals.

lecture

"WE ARE THE TREE OF LIFE © and Your Digital Storytelling Project2 ©: Stories of Post-Traumatic Growth"- Dr Joshua Lee Cohen

The lecture is delivered via Zoom in English.

 Overview:

This 20-minute treatment expands the script into an engaging classroom experience. It focuses on an in-depth exploration of post-traumatic growth through discussions, interviews, and interactive elements.

Content Structure:

1. Opening (1 min): Visual montage with uplifting music introduces the concept of post-traumatic growth and the WE ARE THE TREE OF LIFE© Foundation.
2. Introducing Contributors (2 min): Detailed introductions of Jackie Gmach, Rose Mapendo, Evan HUGME, Sascha Sneider, and Skip Rizzo, highlighting their contributions and insights on resilience.
3. Deep Dive into Stories (15 min): 3-4 minutes per story, enhancing narrative depth and emotional connection.
4. Connecting Stories (2 min): Narration discusses connections between individual stories and post-traumatic growth, setting up for classroom discussion.
5. Conclusion and Call to Action (1 min): Summarizes key messages, emphasizing transformation from trauma to growth; directs viewers to further resources, including Trailer to the Video click here - password is Oct7 .
6. Classroom Discussion Setup: Introduces a discussion facilitator and encourages active participation after the presentation.

Objective:

The treatment is designed to inspire and engage viewers, fostering deep discussions on overcoming adversity and achieving personal growth.

Font: David 12, Space 1.5

This concise proposal ensures academic integrity and aligns with educational goals. It promises an immersive experience that combines personal narratives with theoretical insights into post-traumatic growth

Dr. Joshua Lee Cohen-

Dr. Joshua Lee Cohen is a media psychologist specializing in Virtual Reality and Digital Storytelling. He is the author and lead co -editor of the book Video and Filmmaking as Psychotherapy: Research and Practice which was published by Routledge in 2015.

He was also trained as an Avid and FinalCut Pro editor in Burbank, California, and worked in Hollywood with notable people before turning back to healthcare. He has a doctorate in clinical psychology with an emphasis in depth psychology, and is license eligible.

He works in the mental health field with clients and colleagues all over the world in both education and collaboration on the book. He provides non-therapeutic services such as the trademarked "therapeutic advertising" for his company "Your Digital Storytelling Project" based in Long Beach California.

lecture

The impact of emotional therapy through communication on elementary school students during times of war – Ms. Yasmin Matar Ketora

In the new technological era, and following complex events such as those following October 7, there is increasing importance in implementing therapeutic approaches tailored to elementary school students. Combining emotional therapy through online media, such as cinema video therapy, animation and radio, can be a perfect work program for personal empowerment, self-expression and strengthening mental resilience. Yasmin Ketora, a communication teacher and emotional therapist with extensive experience, will present in her lecture the implementation of resilience approaches and their impact on students, including those with behavioral or mental difficulties, while observing the tension that exists between the traumatic experience and the healing space of video therapy.

Key topics:

1. Emotional therapy through media – video, animation, radio
2. Self-confidence and its impact on elementary school students
3. Ways to integrate emotional therapy into schools
4. Interventions tailored to each individual student

How does creating video communication help in times of war?

On October 7, at the school where Yasmin teaches, which is a school for behavioral special education, increased cases of anxiety, fear, rage, and anger appeared among the students, towards themselves and towards the staff. This led Yasmin to add the use of video therapy, animation, and radio to the therapeutic work in addition to the use of cinema. These means helped the students express themselves in additional ways and express themselves better.

In the lecture, Yasmin will share tools and insights from case stories from the field.

Ms. Yasmin Matar Ketora

Graduate of the videotherapy program at the Sharon Israel Center and the Ono Academic College, an emotional therapist using video, animation and radio. Graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and marketing from the University of Indianapolis, USA. In addition, a master's degree in youth at risk and exclusion from Oranim College in Israel.

lecture

Videotherapy group for Jewish and Arab women in Jaffa – a chance to work together in a turbulent reality. Is it possible? – Ms. Rakefet Lapid

Rakefet Lapid has lived in Jaffa for about 30 years and over the years has been active in various ways in the community. She has worked for years with girls from the extremes of the spectrum and has even sung in an Arab and Jewish women's choir for 16 years.

Following a connection to the cultural coordinator of the Beit Cherner Community Center in Jaffa, an opportunity arose to dream together about this group at the community center.

The goal is to establish a local women's group in Jaffa as part of the process of strengthening community and connecting the different populations.

The formation of the group – To our delight, a very diverse group came together. Three Muslim women, one Christian woman, and seven Jewish women, aged 35-70, in a very wide social, economic, and educational range. From the very first meeting, there was an exciting connection and a deep dive into personal content.

The tools used were video recordings such as: a place I like/dislike in the house, what helps me make a decision? What inspires me? etc. During the meetings, the women watched the videos they had filmed together, and from this, a discussion developed on a variety of topics from the world of women's content.

Final film – The group members created a film from the parts of the videos they created during the activity. The result was presented to them as a concluding film that moved them greatly and strengthened the sense of connection created in the group. The connection of the videos, the diversity in the group added a subtle but interesting statement about the similar and the different.

This is a process that allows women to decide what comes out of the final version, and the censored result was screened at a meeting of the municipality's managers and was received with great curiosity and surprise.

In the lecture – Rakefet will share and tell the story of the unique group, demonstrating how video therapy can create a bridge between people. The group film will also be screened during the lecture.

Ms. Rakefet Lapid 

Video therapist and group facilitator. Graduate of video therapy studies at the Ono Academic Center and the Sharon Israel Center,

In the past, she worked for 13 years in the film industry ("Her Father's Summer", "Snow White"), and for 10 years she worked with women and girls at risk and exclusion as an employment and advocacy coordinator at the Women's Courtyard in Jaffa. Active in education issues in Jaffa.

Presentations by videotherapy students from the videotherapy training

First session:

Research Buds – 3rd and 2nd year videotherapy students

3rd and 2nd year students presenting seminar research papers from the research seminar "Therapeutic, Educational and Community Intervention through Video" taught by Mr. Sharon Israel. The students will present topics they have recently researched such as; video therapy in the treatment of anxiety, coping with post-trauma, video therapy as a rehabilitation space, and more... A rare opportunity to peek into research buds.

Second session:

Case stories. Presentation of products and processes that were meaningful during the war from the practicum – a third-year videotherapy student.

Presentation of case stories from the practicum as part of the videotherapy specialization studies, presentation of products and processes that were meaningful during the war. Super Vision Mr. Sharon Israel.