The program | Home Within The Heart

ABOUT

home within the heart workshop, a family participating

Program Structure

The Home within the Heart program is a short-term therapeutic intervention for parents and children aged 3–6, grounded in the RPP – Reflective Playfulness Psychotherapy model, a unique approach integrating mentalization and playfulness. Designed for early childhood, a critical developmental window, the program strengthens emotional regulation, secure attachment, and long-term familial resilience.

Through four parent–child dyadic sessions in a small-group setting, followed by one closing session for parents only, dedicated to deepening their understanding of the core principles encountered in the program and supporting their integration into daily family life, the intervention deepens communication and bonding, enabling both parents and children to access and build upon their inner strengths. The program reinforces the parent–child relationship as a central resource for coping with stress, trauma, and change, while supporting emotional recovery and prevention.

home within the heart green map for workshops

Therapeutic Narrative Framework

The intervention is accompanied by a therapeutic narrative framework developed specifically for the program. Through a symbolic story of a family of bunnies who must leave their home and journey through a forest, parents and children are invited to explore themes of transition, uncertainty, challenge, and resilience in a developmentally attuned and emotionally safe manner.

The narrative framework is thoughtfully adapted to the specific community in which the program is implemented, whether working with families who were displaced from their homes, families of reservists or service members who were absent for extended periods, families directly affected by the war, or communities living in areas of ongoing conflict. This adaptation allows the story to resonate with the lived experiences of participants while maintaining a protective and symbolic distance.

Throughout the journey, the characters encounter obstacles and supportive figures, creating space for the processing of fear, inner strength, and connection. The narrative serves as a containing structure that allows children to engage with complex emotional experiences indirectly, through imagination and play.

To enhance continuity and a sense of agency, each child receives a handcrafted bunny plush during the first session. The bunny becomes a transitional and symbolic companion, supporting emotional expression, caregiving capacities, and the integration of the therapeutic experience between sessions.

a child plating with plush home within the heart bunny

Impact and Recognition

Data collected from a sample of over 300 families, including families of reservists and service members, indicate significant improvements in the quality of the parent–child relationship, strengthened parental self-efficacy, and enhanced parental capacity to cope with change, stress, and crisis. Findings demonstrate significant reductions in parental depression, stress, and post-traumatic symptoms, alongside increased life satisfaction and parental confidence. Concurrently, reductions in children’s stress levels, decreased parent–child conflict, and strengthened emotional closeness were reported.

The tools acquired through the program are integrated into daily family life, enabling sustainable change beyond the intervention and supporting long-term family resilience and early prevention of distress patterns.

The program was awarded first place by the World Association for Infant Mental Health (WAIMH) in recognition of its contribution to the field. In addition, Home Within the Heart received the Yaffa London Yaari Award for Female Entrepreneurship in response to the Iron Swords War. These recognitions reflect the measurable impact and professional significance of the program. The program was included in the JDC’s national database of social interventions, enabling municipalities across the country to implement it within their communities.

Program Structure

Impact and Recognition

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