Sexual Abuse Fellowship
Coordinated by Bilha Fruchter, M.S.W.
The two-year Sexual Abuse Fellowship Program offers a paid position which includes professional advanced training, supervision, office space and a caseload of around 5 clients per week.
It is a unique unit for seasoned therapists who have clinical mileage with clients from different age groups. Dealing with sexual abuse is a challenging pursuit as the therapist must understand the dynamics of secrecy, time being accelerated and stopped at one and the same time, loss of physical control and a wounded sense of agency, among other factors that can come into play.
The unit will provide ongoing supervision which will deal with understanding the individual client’s situation and therapeutic need. A didactic piece will present relevant tools and techniques as well as state of the art interventions. The work in this unit is comprehensive and holistic and, therefore, there will be room for each therapist to bring him/herself through any countertransferential responses which may come up.
Meet the Supervisor
Bilha Fruchter, M.S.W.
Bilha Fruchter is a social worker (MSW) and a therapist with over 20 years of experience in Israel, Canada, England and the U.S. She works with individuals of all ages who are coping with anxiety, depression and other mental health issues, and to explore and develop coping strategies to deal with various forms of abuse and trauma. For the last 8 years, Bilha has worked for Mercaz Meital, where the focus is working with children who have experienced sexual abuse and their families. She also currently supervises practicing therapists who are in a two-year training program at Mercaz Meital, specializing in therapy with children who have experienced sexual abuse. For the last few years, Bilha supervises students studying in the School of Social Work department at the Hebrew University. Lastly, Bilha is part of a team of therapists who provide short term therapy for teachers through the national teacher’s union.
Bilha combines various therapeutic approaches including psycho-dynamic therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TFCBT), and task-oriented psychotherapy focused on understanding behaviors, choices or struggles that arise. Her methods are strength based, goal-oriented, based on her many years of experience.
Bilha is centrally located in Katamon, Jerusalem.
Admission Requirements
Therapists must have the following in order to be considered for admission to the specialized Trauma Unit at The Family Institute:
- Master's degree in a field related to mental health from an accredited university.
- 4 years of supervised clinical experience.
- Adherence to cultural and religious sensitivities.
- Ability to offer psychological services in Hebrew.
- Completion of application process.
What is the weekly time commitment?
3 hours
Group Supervision
Groups will meet on a designated day, determined by the group supervisor.
5 hours
Client Contact
A minimum of 5 client contact hours, with some being seen in the evenings.
Q and A with the
Unit Supervisor
Your questions answered
What does working with this population mean? Who usually comes and what are the overall presenting problems?
You will be working with children, teenagers and adults who have experienced sexual abuse.
There are a variety of initial presenting problems. Anxiety, depression, body image issues, challenging relationships and questions around sexuality. Adults who experienced sexual abuse as children may come in to talk about parenting without a trauma lens. The list is virtually endless because sexual abuse impacts so many aspects of a person’s life.
As therapists we see people at their most vulnerable and most guarded. This population can be even more guarded and vulnerable than the ‘average’ client. With an overabundance of self-doubt, fear of stigma, embarrassment, guilt and confusion there is a lot of trepidation in talking about this. They’re looking for a place to explore these questions and emotions in a safe environment.
What kind of time commitment would a typical caseload include?
This work is not systems-heavy. Typically, you will see your clients once a week.
What could I expect from the group supervision? What is the structure?
Group supervision includes educational and supervisory components.
The advanced educational component will be focused on literature, discussions and guest lecturers. Topics will include theories about general trauma, the trauma of sexual abuse, the impact on attachments and relationships and more. Experiential education will include how and when to use expressive and creative interventions, self-care as a therapist and different modalities.
The supervisory component includes weekly individual case notes and group supervision. The group is a professional and safe space to discuss dilemmas, delve into difficult topics, get support and guidance, and learn from one another. You will also learn how to sit with intense emotions and experiences, how to delve into painful stories in a respectful way and how to help your clients understand their story.
Can you talk about your journey in working with this population?
I’ve been a social worker for over 20 years.
I found that when it felt as though I was missing a part of the client’s “story”, it was often related to sexual abuse. That’s very significant when treating survivors. I also would notice that every place I’ve worked in and with all ages, there was sexual abuse present. Understanding that sexual abuse can happen anywhere and seeing how it impacts almost every element of a client’s life, I knew that this is what I wanted to specialize in.
It’s a topic that a lot of people don’t like dealing with, both therapists and clients. It brings up a lot of anxiety, discomfort, and deep sadness. I wanted to have a better and deeper understanding of how to best treat my clients.
Has your experience in working with people with sexual abuse transformed your perspective on other clients and how you understand them? In what way?
I’m much more sensitive to it. There is not as much guess work in trying to know if this is part of the client’s life story. But it also makes my ability to talk about sexuality in a much more comfortable way. This can be a game changer for clients who need to be able to ask uncomfortable questions and have difficult conversations.
Why is working with this population different than what I've already learned in my years of work?
There is something about working with people who have experienced sexual abuse that makes it more complicated and more rewarding. This kind of abuse has an impact on so many elements of life. The more a therapist is educated and trained, the more effective and sensitive they will be. Since sexual abuse is an interpersonal trauma, the relationship between therapist and client is crucial. Understanding how a client in this population will relate to the relationship will change your ability to help.
How will this broaden my professional opportunities?
I think that as a therapist, it will make you feel more comfortable and confident to relate to and work with clients around this topic.
What book do you recommend reading before joining this unit?
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk
I have a history of sexual abuse, how will working on this unit impact that?
There is a high chance that working with sexual abuse will trigger something from your past. But I rely on the professionalism of the people coming in. With foreknowledge, I will be able to help the therapist and group in a respectful way.
What would I be missing out on if I don’t join this unit?
Hopefully a very supportive, nurturing, professional group that can help provide balance and a sense of unity and camaraderie around working with this population. You won’t be alone. The two-year advanced training will give you the education, tools and skills that are imperative for working with those who have experienced sexual abuse.