Nargish for a voluntary response system in the English language during the October 2023 War

You start by simply calling the national call center of Nargish help center to schedule an initial meeting, which in professional language is called “intake”. This meeting will be arranged at the client’s convenience in one of the help centers located in Israel, in a convenient geographical layout or remotely (via Zoom). Please note that this does not mean that the time or day of the initial meeting is the permanent weekly scheduling from now on. During the intake meeting, clients share what is interfering with their quality of life and what are the issues that particularly bother them. Following that, a path is outlined and expectations for the future are being coordinated, while the identity of the treating agent is sometimes determined, according to the contents that are discussed in that initial meeting (psychologist, psychotherapist, clinical social worker, arts therapist, and sometimes even a doctor).

It is important to clarify that this is not an admissions interview or just a friendly conversation, but already in that meeting there is a therapeutic component that may accompany the additional meetings.

Nargish help centers have the entire therapeutic and emotional spectrum that a person needs at their disposal. Starting with psychologists, clinical psychologists, psychotherapists, clinical social workers, arts, expression and music therapists, community therapists and even doctors. Every therapist at one of the Nargish help centers has at least a master’s degree and also passes an admissions committee.

Each meeting cost is proportionally and significantly reduced from the market price (NIS 279 for an individual, NIS 299 for couples). In this way, Nargish neutralize any marketing interest, and focuses on the effectiveness of the meetings themselves, and on the significant contribution to the clients.

When it comes to the first time, one always must deal with the personal and intimate question of whether it is the right time to seek help from another, to try to improve the quality of life and to deal with every issue and situation, even if it was accidental and only happened once. The hard truth is that people often try to deal with events that happened in their lives, or ones they have witnessed, whether voluntarily or not, and they really don’t have the emotional tools or strength to deal with and ease their own suffering. Therefore, the clients of the Nargish help center do not need to think twice, they simply come and try it out, when it is important to note that part of the help center’s policy is to schedule an initial meeting, within about a week, from the day of the initial contact. This is followed by the continuation of the meetings within about a week, and continuously.

No. There is no financial commitment. The payment, which amounts to only NIS 279 for an individual, and a total of NIS 299 for a couple’s session, is made at the end of each session.  There is no meeting limit or any commitment for a minimum number of meetings. However, it is clear that in order to properly exhaust the process, it requires a certain commitment from the client, and motivation to deal with certain events. So naturally, the issues are not resolved during one session.

Already today, there are clients who come for months and months, to centers nationwide or remotely (via Zoom), every week, continuously, and sometimes there are also those who ask to take a break or take extra time between sessions. However, in the end, not only do all of them come back to use the services of the Nargish medical center, but they also recommend it to family members, and even to friends and acquaintances.

You understand correctly! Nargish help center has been operating for several years, and its goal is to be the leading body in Israel for reunification and recovery, for those dealing with Long Covid and their families, as well as other populations that need emotional support, even without any connection to the coronavirus pandemic, such as, for example, the victims of the October 2023 war, but not exclusively.

One of the therapists at the Nargish help center says that he used to work at a certain health maintenance organization. There, after a client’s contact regarding an emotional matter, it turns out there is a waiting list of at least six months, until an initial meeting (intake) is scheduled, whereas the meetings themselves can only begin after nearly two years. As already mentioned, the clients of the Nargish help center do not need to think twice, they come and try it out, when it is important to note that part of the help center’s policy is to schedule an initial meeting, within about a week, from the day of the initial contact. This is followed by the continuation of the meetings within about a week, and continuously.

It is also important to point out that the Nargish help center maintains close collaborations with institutional bodies and organizations, municipalities, and even hospitals. The leader among them is “Schneider – Children’s Medical Center” in Israel.