Arab Arts Therapists in Israel’s Education System: Experiences of Challenge and Coping Amid the October 2023 War

This study explored the experiences of Arab arts therapists in the Israeli education system following the start of the October 7, 2023, war, highlighting the unique challenges they faced within a complex cultural and political context. Sixteen therapists with eight to 26 years of experience participated in semi-structured interviews, where they discussed the emotional, social, and professional difficulties they encountered and the impact of the events on their work. The interviews were analyzed using the consensual qualitative research (CQR) method. The analysis yielded three domains: participants’ lived experiences as Arab women in the Israeli Jewish-majority education system (five core ideas); challenges in navigating therapist–client and professional relationships under the shadow of war (two core ideas); strategies and sources of support that promoted coping (two core ideas). Across these domains, participants described initial reactions of pain and anxiety, experiences of silencing and identity tension, and challenges in maintaining professional neutrality in multicultural environments. They also shared strategies that supported their resilience, including collegial solidarity, supervisory support, and the use of the arts for self-expression. The results call for culturally and politically informed frameworks for mental health practice in conflict-affected settings. The study underscores the need for tailored support, including professional supervision and emotional assistance, to help Arab-Israeli therapists navigate certain complex situations. It also calls for enhanced collaboration between Jewish and Arab therapists to foster mutual understanding and strengthen social resilience, as well as specialized training for therapists working in politically sensitive environments.