February 5, 2025 – An innovative, three-year program incorporating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) to enhance trauma treatment across Israel has trained over 100 therapists in the public health system.

The program, jointly managed by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Center for Trauma Recovery and the Israel Ministry of Health, trained clinicians with evidence-based practices to treat serious mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and PTSD. Participants received intensive weekly supervision and follow-up support, ensuring high standards of care and sustainability within the mental health system.

The final program year was completed during the challenges of the October 7th attacks and ongoing wartime conditions, making trauma treatment training more urgent and impactful than ever. This initiative forms a cornerstone of the National Mental Health Program, which aims to fortify Israel’s mental health system, particularly by increasing the number of therapists available in community clinics.”

Professor Jonathan Huppert, Director of the Center for Trauma Recovery at Hebrew University, emphasized the program’s lasting impact: “This training initiative marks a significant milestone in improving the accessibility and quality of trauma care in Israel. By empowering clinicians with cutting-edge tools, we aim to create a sustainable and adaptive system to meet the growing needs of trauma survivors. I would like to thank my colleagues at the Ministry of Health for their close collaboration and the shared path we have been walking together for almost a decade.”

“As we conclude these three transformative years, I want to express my gratitude,” said one program participant. “This project has been truly remarkable—I’ve gained so much from it! We now have a cohesive and highly professional clinical CBT team, even drawing interest from psychodynamic colleagues, who now want to learn from us. We’ve established a sustainable framework within the clinic, integrating focused and short-term therapy into our daily practices, and we are already seeing numerous patients benefit.”

At a conference in Israel where the program was discussed, the Israel Minister of Health, Uriel Buso, said, “The program stands as a prime example of in-depth cooperation between academia, the public health system, and clinical practice. This collaboration, spearheaded by Prof. Jonathan Huppert, Dr. Gilad Bodenheimer, and Yonatan Amster from the Ministry of Health, alongside the leaders of mental health systems within the health insurance funds, exemplifies the seamless integration of research, clinical knowledge, and practical implementation in public clinics and hospitals.”

Plans are underway to expand the training program in 2025. Additional cohorts will include advanced methodologies and specialized training in grief and loss, developed in collaboration with international experts. The program also aims to integrate digital tools, such as a culturally adapted app for CPT, into the public health system. The Center for Trauma Recovery continues to lead the way in addressing the mental health challenges faced by Israel, ensuring trauma survivors receive the care and support they need. In addition to the extensive training program, the center is working on developing an app that will enable self-treatment using CPT, as well as working on a campaign to raise public awareness about PTSD treatment with evidence-based methods.