When the Therapist is Also Under Fire: Reflections from a War Zone
Jeanne Lankin, LCSW
The siren starts mid-sentence. My client, hearing the siren, freezes in our shared Zoom space. I have a minute and a half to get to my safe room in my location as my phone is buzzing with alerts. But I try to stay clinically present while preparing to shift locations. This work, helping others hold their trauma, is what also helps me hold my own.
Since October 7th, I have been living and working in Israel and the US as a trauma therapist. I continue to support clients through their grief, fear, and flashbacks, while also navigating an unrelenting war that now includes ballistic missile attacks from Iran and Yemen. I have been a clinician for decades, but never have I felt as emotionally connected to the topic of trauma and the people I treat because of this shared experience.
When the Therapist Becomes the Survivor
In one recent session, a couple who have done years of trauma work with me opened our call with hesitation. “We have a lot going on,” she said, “but it feels like nothing compared to what you’re going through. We don’t want to burden you.”
I felt the weight of their compassion and the complexity of our shared concerns, although each experiencing it somewhat differently. I took a deep breath and replied:
“If I’ve learned anything while living through war, it’s that every moment matters. Continuing to do this work is not a burden. It keeps me aligned with purpose. It is a privilege to be with both of you as you navigate your challenges.”
That moment reminded me how deeply interconnected our healing journeys can become. My clients don’t just receive support. They offer it too, often without realizing it.
Holocaust Echoes and Collective Fear
My parents were Holocaust survivors. I was raised in the United States, sheltered from the trauma they carried in their bones. Their pain was unspoken but ever-present. And now, as missiles fall in Israel, I feel those same ancestral traumatic memories come alive in my own nervous system.
This is what intergenerational trauma looks like. It lies dormant until crisis reawakens it. I now better understand the clients I have treated for chronic PTSD. I know what it means to walk through the world with a body that does not feel safe, even when the danger has passed. I know what it means to carry history in your soul.
Trauma in the Body: When Hypervigilance Becomes the Default
Living in a war zone has taught me that trauma is not just something we remember. It is something we live. It shows up in the body long before it makes sense to the mind. Tight shoulders. Racing thoughts. Sleepless nights. A constant fear that something bad is about to happen.
This is the nervous system doing its job by preparing for threats. But it becomes unsustainable when there is no pause. For my clients, and now for myself, regulation is the health-affirming task.
I proceed with self-regulation using these tools:
Clinical supervision and peer consultation
Grounding practices such as breathwork and meditation
Time with family and community
Nutrition, movement, and adequate rest
Early Intervention is Everything
One thing I know both as a clinician and now as a someone impacted by war is that trauma must be addressed close to the point of impact. If it is neglected and untreated, it embeds itself into our bodies and personalities. It shapes beliefs, identities, affects relationships for decades and our sense of safety.
For some, early support might include EMDR therapy. For others, it might be traditional psychotherapy or short-term medication. The treatment may vary, but the response should be the same. You do not have to wait until the crisis is over to begin the healing process.
