Rachel Dekel, Ph.D. is a Full Professor at the Louis and Gabi Weisfeld School of Social Work at Bar-Ilan University, Israel and was the Director of the School between the years 2012-2016. In October 2018 Professor Dekel began her position as the academic head of the International School at Bar-Ilan. She is a member of the Israeli Excellence Center (I-CORE) of mass trauma. Over the last two decades she has been involved in various research projects that examined different facets of human coping with traumatic events such as war, terror, road accidents and family violence. Professor Dekel's research focuses on individuals who have been directly exposed to these events as well as on those who are close to them, such as spouses of veterans, children of fathers with PTSD, and therapists who work in areas particularly exposed to acts of terrorism and war. Professor Dekel is also the founder and current director of the Bar-Ilan clinic for conjoint intervention for couples in which one member suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Professor Dekel has published over 120 articles and book chapters and has supervised more than 50 students. Professor Dekel's work can be found on ResearchGate, LinkedIn, Google Scholar, or her Bar-Ilan website. Professor Dekel can be reached at Rachel.Dekel@biu.ac.il.
DOCTORAL CANDIDATES
Shira Berger, M.A.A.T has completed her Bachelor's degree at Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem and a Master's degree with outstanding excellence in Art Therapy from Seminar Hakibutzim in Tel-Aviv. Shira is currently pursuing her doctorate in the program for Hermeneutics and Cultural Studies in the Psychoanalysis and Hermeneutics Track, studying Trauma Repetition in light of psychoanalytic, philosophical and artistic disciplines (co-guidance by Prof. Efrat Biberman). Shira worked in a mental-health clinic in Barzilai Hospital and currently works as an art therapist in Amcha with Holocaust survivors and also treats patients of all ages in her private clinic.
Merav Dadia, M.S.W. completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Work at Bar-Ilan University. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in Social Work, writing her dissertation about "An examination of meaning-making processes among female survivors of childhood sexual abuse". Merav has worked with victims of childhood abuse and neglect for many years, while her focus in recent years has been promoting their welfare through public policies.
Yair Krinkin, M.S.W. graduated with his Bachelor's and Master's in Social Work with highest-honors (summa cum laude) from the University of Haifa, and was awarded the Folks Foundation Prize for Excellence in Studies. Yair is a Ph.D. student in the President’s Scholarship program for Outstanding Doctoral Fellows in the School of Social Work at Bar-Ilan University. His doctoral thesis is on: "Sexual abuse by a rabbi: The consequences on the religious male victim, on his significant others, and on the relationship between them". In January 2018, Yair joined a small group of social workers and psychologists to establish a unit for the treatment of ultra-Orthodox men who were victims of sexual abuse. This unit is part of the Psychiatric Department at the Mayanei Hayeshua in Beni Brak.
Idit Oz, M.S.W. received her Bachelor's and Master's in Social Work from Haifa University. Idit served for 24 years as a Mental Health Officer in the Israeli Air Force. During her last position in the army (2013-2016), she served as the Head of the Psychology Branch (L.T.C), Currently she is serving as the Manager of Social Services in the Rehabilitation Department, Ministry of Defense. Her doctoral thesis is on: "Factors that facilitate and hinder rehabilitation and posttraumatic growth among Operation Protective Edge veterans".
Maya Rose, M.A. has completed a Bachelor's degree at Bar-Ilan university in Sociology and Criminology and two Masters degrees: One in public management and policies from Tel Aviv University and the other from the Bar-Ilan University’s program for Gender Studies. Maya is currently pursuing her doctorate in the same program, studying “Sexually abused teenage boys: The men they grow up to be". Maya currently works as inspection manager at the government inspection ministry.
Yael Shapira (Shimoni), M.A. received both her Bachelor's and her Master's degrees from the department of Psychology at Bar-Ilan University. She graduated both degrees with excellence. Yael's doctoral thesis is entitled: "Women’s experience of trauma disclosure and its impact on motherhood and the emotional-social functioning of their children". Yael is a Developmental and Educational Psychologist working for years with children, women and families.
Limor Zitronblat, M.S.W. received her Bachelor's degree in Social Work from Haifa University and her Master's degree in Social Work from Hebrew University. Limor formerly served as a mental health officer for the IDF, and retired as head of the clinical unit for military personnel and their families. She is currently part of our CBCT clinic. Limor's doctoral thesis is entitled: "Adjustment profile among military commanders and their spouses."
Gadi Cohen is a clinical social worker and psychotherapist, who recently retired from professional army service in the IDF as a mental health officer. He received his bachelor's degree in Social Work from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and his master's degree from Bar-Ilan University. His thesis was entitled: “A Retrospective View on Yom Kippur Veterans Seeking Help 30 Years After the War: Symptoms, Combat Exposure, and Psychoactive Substance Use.” Gadi is currently a PhD candidate at Bar-Ilan’s School of Social Work. His dissertation is about clinical and personal recovery among combat veterans, with a specific focus on the impact of proactive assessment and early intervention. Gadi completed the psychoanalytic psychotherapy program at Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University. His scientific interests include combat PTSD, clinical and personal recovery from PTSD, and posttraumatic growth.
Yoav Levinstein M.S.W is a clinical social worker and psychotherapist in the IDF Medical Corps. He received his bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Tel Aviv University, and his master’s degree from Bar-Ilan University. His thesis was entitled: “Secondary traumatization among wives of IDF combat soldiers: The contribution of ambiguous loss.” Yoav is currently a PhD candidate at Bar-Ilan’s School of Social Work. His dissertation is about PTSD symptom trajectories among combat veterans, with a specific focus on the impact of moral injury on these trajectories. Yoav completed the psychoanalytic psychotherapy program at Bar-Ilan. His scientific interests include combat PTSD, moral injury, resilience strategies, and mental fitness.
MASTERS CANDIDATES
Efrat Ben Attar-Ferencz, completed her Bachelor's degree in Social Work at Bar-Ilan University, and is currently working on her research proposal, which focuses on disclosure and concealment experiences of adults from the Jewish orthodox population who were exposed to Inter personal violence in their childhood. Efrat is also a certified Cognitive Behavioral Therapist, and works as a social worker in a mental health clinic.
Adi Zamostiano received her bachelor's degree in Social Work from Bar-Ilan University and is currently pursuing her master's degree in Social Work at Bar-Ilan as well. Furthermore, Adi is a mental health officer and is experienced in treating soldiers suffering from post-traumatic symptoms. Adi is a member of the clinical assessment team at the cognitive-behavioral conjoint therapy (CBCT) clinic at Bar-Ilan University. Adi is investigating the relationship between homework engagement and CBCT results.