Caring in crisis: Clinicians' experiences with children released from captivity in armed conflict

The abduction of children in armed conflict is a pervasive global problem with severe physical and psychological consequences. Such traumatic events affect not only children and their families but also the clinicians responsible for supporting recovery. This study examines the subjective experiences and coping strategies of clinicians in Israel who worked with children, adolescents, and their caregivers immediately after release from war captivity. Data were drawn from in-depth interviews with 37 clinicians, including social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, and pediatricians, complemented by participant observation field notes. Clinicians reported intense emotional and somatic reactions, including anxiety, intrusive thoughts, crying spells, nightmares, stomachaches, and disgust. Participants also faced complex and at times distressing ethical dilemmas, particularly around balancing nonintrusive versus directive approaches and fostering autonomy while ensuring children's safety and best interests. At the same time, many clinicians described experiences of empowerment, renewed purpose, and profound professional meaning, often linked to the resilience of children and families. Coping strategies included team solidarity, shared reflection, reliance on previous professional experience, adaptability, and supervision. Findings underscore that working with children and caregivers released from captivity is uniquely demanding, as the characteristically interpersonal nature of the trauma complicates treatment and is further intensified by uncertainty, public visibility, and shared traumatic reality. To mitigate the emotional burden of clinicians and strengthen clinical effectiveness, cohesive multidisciplinary teams, clear intervention frameworks, ongoing supervision, and long-term follow-up are recommended. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).