Research Report Summarizing the Eden Preparatory Program
What happens when young women are provided with a safe environment, emotional-regulation tools, and guidance from people who believe in them?
The findings of the study that accompanied the young women participating in the Eden Preparatory Program reveal a profound process of change—one that begins in survival mode and leads toward a life filled with hope, meaning, and possibility.
Analysis of the findings presents a consistent picture. The program enables young women to move beyond survival toward an improved quality of life, strengthen their self-worth and sense of capability, and acquire practical tools that continue to support them after leaving the program. Participants described deeply internalizing the principles of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mindfulness, boundary-setting, strengthening interpersonal relationships, compassionate communication, and managing daily routines.
Alongside these achievements, the study also identifies several important needs. Participants emphasized the need for individual guidance, ongoing monitoring of their goals, and further development of practical skills in areas such as financial management, sexuality and gender, employment skills, and adapted physical activity.
The participants’ voices tell a story of genuine transformation. Recurring themes include renewed hope, connection with inner strengths, an increased ability to cope with distress, and changes in self-perception and relationships. For many participants, the program was “the best thing that has happened to me so far.”
The full research report presents the study’s central themes, mechanisms of change, differences among participants, and practical recommendations for the program’s continued development. It reflects our commitment to creating environments that promote resilience, independence, and a life worth living for young women in Israel coping with emotional challenges, particularly complex trauma.