The unic NatureTherapy and BasicPh Models we apply,
make the defference for the famelies and for the community.

Stories of success from the Ta'am Hachaym pilot project:

The Smiler and the Painter
Shalom, the father of Amir, 10 years old diagnosed with ADHD, was sick with Cancer.
At the forest camp, after the first chapter of the Ta'am Hachaym frame story was told,
the group was invited for a role- play: 
each one chose a title, and showed it to the group
Shalom chose to be the "Smiler" - "because I smile, no matter what",he said.
Amir chose the "Painter" role- "because I want to do what I can do best" he said.
At another time, they were playing around the fire shalom had built between the woods- and Shalom said:"
this reminds me of my childhood- I used to stay out for days and was not afraid of anything.
Tomorrow every bone of my body will soar, but I'm glad I could be here."
At the next session, Shalom arrived with Amir and his younger brother Ron.
Amir climbed on a rock and waved a branch stick. Shalom took it from him, so he will not hurt anybody. Amir run away from the group and Shalom went after him.   When they came back, Amir found a large bone and suggested they should use it as a "Talking stick".
That was a beautiful change from aggression to communication.

Thanks to group working in nature, Shalom could connect to his strengths,
showed Amir that he doesn’t leave him, and fulfill his  parent's role by holding the limits required
Amir could see his "sick\wick" father takes a very strong and important role in the group as the fire keeper.
He obviously did not like the presence of his young brother at the group,
but it encouraged him to re-find his independence and the ability to engage with the other participants too.

The Olive trees
Tamra, a mother of an 8 years old mentally ill chilled, attended a group of Arab Parents
with the patient's sibling, at an Olive's plantation, by their village.
Olive trees are a symbol for long leaving and good health. 
Traditionally, In order to enjoy their fruits, the pickers hit them with sticks and often brake their brunches,  
  Tamra and her healthy son have built a home in nature, made out of broken branches.
  "There's no room for any one else" The boy declared, "Let's make it just for you and me".

Tamra could hear his wish to spend quality time,
away from the chronic stress, and respond to it effortlessly.
She told her son and the other participants about the good fruits the olive tree grows
the next year; after its branches are being broken,
as a way to prove the benefit of suffering in life or to conect to Hope..
Tamra and her Family suffered from a negative stigma,
often accompany chronic illness in general and mental illness specifically.  
It took a few sessions until they both were willing to let go of each other
and meet other group members too

The frog that sings again
A group of chronic patient's offspring's were cleaning trash that suffocated
a water stream at the valley next to their home.
  As they gathered to celebrate the success of their work,
Rafael, a teenager who attended that  group said:"
I'm so proud of us.. this stream got sick with all that trash and we have cured it.
I only hope the frogs will comeback to sing now...
Every night when I go to bed I listen and hope to hear them".

Being able to rehabilitate the stream must have strengthen their belief of their ability to give a hand,
to be usefull, to be able to heal .
There is no certainty that the stream will stay clean, or that their parents will get better,
but at least the group's participants were full of new hope.

The Wishes Mountain
Sara, a mother of 6 years old diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes,
who attended a group of Parents and Partners of chronic patients,
went on a journey with her new group.
After a long walk by her self and with company, lying at the bottom of the dry river,
  watching her friends covered with stones, she climbed a hill that  was called:" the mountain of wishes".
  Standing up there, circulated by her friends, touched by the wind,
She made a wish: "I want to be berry by my children" she said, "and not the opposite".
This is the first time since my child got sick, that I had the courage to leave her alone
(with my husband). She said."
 When I will return home I will give an honor prize to my husband…"
That day's events allowed Sara to express her worse fear and lack of hope,
that were carried inside for a long time.
But she wasn’t alone: her friends and husband were there too.
Another member of her group, who was acting like "Supermen" up until that day,
said: "I want to wish my wife lots of love. We have a child suffering from Crohn disease at home,
and  I realize just now what she is going through"
.Please" he turned to the group-" join hands and send my child a sun ray from this mountain".
The group turned West and called altogether:" get well Jonathan!".