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Prevention and Treatment of Post Trauma
About a year after the founding of the Rimon Farm, and as a result of the personal experience of Nir Amitay, the CEO of the association, decided to establish an additional farm which will deal with treatment and prevention of trauma. The first plan was to create a daily therapeutic framework, that people could join if they suffer from PTSD. The work on the farm gives those participating in the program the ability to heal and regain their feeling of self-worth and their sense of security.
On October 7th, the manager of the Lahav Farm, Liran Almosnino z”l, went out to fight, and protect the western Negev. Liran fell in the battle of the Kibbutz Holit, while he was saving the lives of hundreds and thousands of citizens. Lahav Farm is now named after Liran, and we are obligated to continue his way and legacy, the love of the Negev and country, honest and determination.
The October 7th events made us learn, quickly, that the needs compel us to change the purpose of the farm, to provide services for the army and security services who works on that Saturday and are fighting n the war.
The understanding that processing combat experiences, in close proximity to the traumatic events, can prevent the formation of PTSD, or diminish its affects as soon as the symptoms begin, led us to expedite the establishment of 2 farms- Lahav and Shekef, we began taking groups as the farms were being established.
The person who oversees this area is Amir Dloomy. A licensed clinical Social Work and psychotherapist. Amir served as the CEO of the Elem Organization in the past and had plenty of experience in the development and establishment of therapeutic services and holds a rich clinical background.
Since we began our work in the Lahav and Shekef farms, we hosted hundreds of combat units, form the various IDF divisions. As well as Medical teams, emergency response units, City and town emergency response teams, police forces, search and rescue units, all for processing workshops which include, conversations, agricultural work, body and mind work and team building activities, in a therapeutic agricultural setting
In addition to our work which is all based on agriculture, ecology and strengthening the Negev, the area of Post Trauma leans on an additional therapeutic principle.
In every medical intervention, we make use of tools from nature therapy, and work in an open space, while using existing resources to promote processes of healing and building resilience.
Herding sheep, taking care of the sheep, and taking them out to the meadow, are used as an integral part of the therapeutic process. Taking caring of others, caring for animals and the ability to spend time in the open fields, while taking responsibility for leading the herd, feeding it, and bring it back to the farm, are elements that help with returning the sense of control, strengthening a sense of self worth and creating positive experiences of success. Aiding in new births of sheep and feeding the newborns, gives those visiting our farms an ability to engage in creating a new and healthy life, new feeling of life, for those have experienced trauma, loss and grief.