War-Related Trauma in Israel with Maayan Aviv

Show: The Trauma Therapist

Maayan Aviv is a nonprofit executive and the CEO of American Friends of NATAL (AFN), the U.S. partner of NATAL: The Israel Trauma and Resiliency Center. Established in 1998, NATAL is an apolitical, internationally recognized organization specializing in war- and terror-related trauma, having served over 450,000 individuals. Under Aviv’s leadership, AFN has mobilized critical funding and strategic partnerships to address the unprecedented mental health crisis stemming from recent conflicts, with a specific focus on scaling up crisis operations, workplace reintegration, and helping the surged demographic of traumatized young adults and first responders.

NATAL AFN on IGLiving Alongside Trauma (Post-Traumatic Growth): Aviv champions a shift from merely "fixing" PTSD to fostering post-traumatic growth (PTG). She emphasizes that successful therapy empowers individuals to rebuild meaningful lives and safely coexist with their history, rather than waiting for its complete erasure.
Non-Traditional Innovation (Healing Ink): Highlighting the need for multi-sensory healing, Aviv advocates for innovative, somatic therapies. A prime example is NATAL’s support of initiatives like "Healing Ink," where terror survivors use tattooing as a cathartic, physical vehicle to externalize internal pain and reclaim ownership over their bodies.

https://www.afnatal.org/post/healing-ink-x-afn-february-26-2026

Cross-Border Innovation (The TURN Model): Demonstrating the universal language of trauma, NATAL’s clinical architecture serves as the blueprint for Chicago’s South Side via The TURN Model (Bright Star Community Outreach).

https://www.brightstarcommunityoutreach.com/turn-model

Peer Support & "Helping the Helpers": To combat strained clinical infrastructure, Aviv champions NATAL's Peer Support networks, which train trauma survivors to deliver immediate emotional first aid.