Being the parent of a soldier in regular service
can feel like a never-ending roller coaster.
Sometimes coming home isn't what we imagined –
distance. Outbursts. Sleeping for hours. Shutting themselves in their room.
Isolation. Sleeplessness.
How can we get closer?
If you have asked yourselves:
What is he/she going through? What can I do to support them right now?
How can I strengthen the bond and build closeness? How can I communicate well with him/her?
You are invited to a group of parents who, like you, share thoughts, worries, struggles and challenges.
In the group we will focus on developing the ability to be more present in the moment,
recognizing the values that matter to you and how to act on them even in a complex reality.
Together we will cope with intrusive thoughts, anxieties and difficult emotions, and gain tools for self-regulation, better sleep and finding an island of inner quiet.
The war has brought difficult times, and the group's goal is to offer belonging and an opportunity to grow through the challenges –
to better understand what your child is going through, strengthen the bond and get closer,
learn tools and techniques for self-soothing and meet other parents who share the journey.
What does the process include?
An active approach
Where do we have influence over our experience and over how we cope with the situation?
Tools for self-regulation and presence
Calming down, finding inner quiet and coping with anxieties, worries and thoughts
Strengthening the bond with my child
A better understanding of my child's experience and ways to strengthen the bond.
Finding anchors in everyday life
Practical tools that can support our well-being as parents
Belonging and community support
Meeting other parents who share similar challenges, creating a support network and an opportunity for growth
Connecting to my values
Defining and acting according to personal values, even in a complex reality
The Meeting Program
Seven weeks of a shared journey – building resilience and gaining skills for managing stress, combining mindfulness and yoga
The autopilot
Automaticity and reactivity versus pausing and presence – what mindfulness is and what the gateways are to the one reality that truly exists in this moment
01
Values, strengthening resources and nourishment
What matters to me these days and which actions will bring me closer to it – how to pave the way to a meaningful life even in the face of a difficult reality
02
Thoughts – reality or imagination
How to work with intrusive thoughts, overthinking and preoccupation with the past and future
03
Coping with anxieties and worries
How to find an island of quiet in the eye of the storm, how to calm the body, sleep better at night and regulate ourselves
04
Coping with painful emotions
How to accept and make room for unpleasant emotions – uncertainty, fear and helplessness; how to make the unbearable bearable, move from battle to closeness and reduce the inner struggle
05
Self-compassion and compassion for others
How to recognize our own humanity and move from judgment and criticism to compassion and acceptance, and why it is good to cultivate positive emotions
06
Gratitude and seeing the good as a key to release and freedom
How we continue from here – taking better care of ourselves, cultivating beneficial states of mind and growing our resources within the current reality
07
About the Facilitator
Keren Yerushalmi
Clinical social worker, psychotherapist and mindfulness teacher
As the mother of a combat officer son who served in Duvdevan and a daughter about to enlist as a combat soldier, I feel that in the current reality we are all in the same boat. In the group I will bring the knowledge and tools that help me cope as a mother and support myself in a different way than in routine times.
A clinical social worker and psychotherapist, senior Vijnana Yoga teacher and mindfulness meditation teacher, I have been exploring the field of body and mind for over three decades. From the exploration, journey and development I have gone through in my personal life, I share my knowledge and accompany people in processes of development and growth, individually and in groups.
Read more
Register for the group
*After registering, you will receive an email with an introductory questionnaire
Meeting dates
We meet on Tuesdays 19:00–20:30. Dates:
25.11 – Kfar Sarah, opening meeting
2.12 – online meeting
9.12 – online meeting
— Hanukkah break —
23.12 – Kfar Sarah
30.12 – online meeting
6.1 – online meeting
13.1 – Kfar Sarah, closing meeting
About Kfar Sarah
Kfar Sarah is a space for guidance and growth for security forces personnel and their families in a natural setting, through a connection between people and land that lets them experience the very best and opens a new chance for a full and meaningful life.
The village is intended for women and men alike who, during their military or security service, were exposed to threatening, dangerous or traumatic events, sights and experiences.
The village's programs are built on four cornerstones:
The group: a shared experience of belonging and mutual recognition, in which trust is built and a sense of togetherness grows stronger.
The body: body-mind work and trauma-sensitive yoga, which help reconnect with sensations, attune and regulate, and restore a sense of control and safety.
Productivity: carpentry, wood carving, mosaic and gardening, ending in a tangible product and an experience of capability, choice, persistence and completing a process.
Nature: time among trees and earth, in a quiet and protected space, connecting participants to growth and to the cycles of life.
Together with an experienced professional team that combines short-term therapeutic methods, participants receive a unique and beneficial experience.
The village is located at the Aaronsohn Farm, Atlit (directions).
