Charlotte B. and Jack J. Spitzer Department of Social Work
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
My life before BGU:
I was born and raised in Yahud. After living in Europe for a few years, I returned to Israel to study social work, all the way through to doctoral studies about murder in the family at Ariel University. Specifically, I investigated the loss experienced by women whose mothers were murdered by their fathers. Presently I am a research fellow at the Social Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis, focusing on research about trauma and stress.
Why BGU?
I’ve heard a lot of good things about Ben-Gurion University, going back to when I was a student, especially about the important efforts of the Department of Social Work to promote social change and educate the next generation of social workers. When offered the opportunity to join the Department, I felt very fortunate!
My research:
My research field encompasses trauma, loss and bereavement, and I focus on understanding the implications and coping methods of individuals with traumatic loss and other traumatic life events in both childhood and adulthood. My goal is to expand and deepen knowledge about such human experiences in order to develop appropriate interventions and give voice to population groups that are usually silenced or unrecognized in society.
An insight from my research:
In both my work as a researcher and my clinical experience as a social worker, I am constantly amazed by people’s emotional resilience and ability to cope with crises and traumatic situations. This insight gives me hope and motivates me to carry on with my research in the belief that research can contribute to improving resilience and quality of life.
