Sigal Vax, MScOT, received her bachelor’s degree from Tel-Aviv University and her Master of Science in OT degree from Haifa University, both located in Israel. Sigal served as the Employment Services Manager of Israel’s largest Psychiatric Rehabilitation Agency – Enosh Society. Later in her career, she moved on to teaching in the Occupational Therapy Department and in the National School for Rehabilitation, Inclusion, and Recovery, both at Ono Academic College in Israel. She was part of the leading team translating and implementing the Readiness for Rehabilitation intervention across Israel and supervised employment teams in various settings. Her 17 years of experience in training, supervising, and implementing psychiatric rehabilitation models has led her to collaborate with the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University. She now works with Dr. Marianne Farkas and Dr. Kim Mueser on scaling up rehabilitation employment interventions for people with psychiatric disabilities. Sigal has published her work in the Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy and in several book chapters, and she has presented at conferences across Israel and in the United States. Her interests include knowledge translation and implementation of rehabilitation interventions, as well as ways for engaging people in their rehabilitation process. She is also interested in the application of knowledge across disabilities and cultures. Through her work, she hopes to create significant change in rehabilitation services, which will result in more people with disabilities living the lives they want.
Areas of Expertise
- Knowledge translation and application of knowledge across disabilities and cultures
- Implementation of rehabilitation interventions
- Engaging people in their rehabilitation process
Selected Publications
Golos, et al. (2016). Occupational Therapy Practice Framework in Israel: Domain and Process (2nd edition), Haifa: Israeli Sociaty of Occupational Therapy.
Vax, S. (2016). Summary of PRA summit in Boston and the Israeli representation. ISPRA magazine (Hebrew).
Cohen, G., Azulai, L., Vax, S., Ungar, A., Moran, G. (2015). Assessing Readiness for Rehabilitation – Adaptation and Implementation in the Bait Cham Supported Employment Services. “Shekulo Tov” Rehabilitation Magazine (June issue), p. 9-18. (Hebrew).
Vax, S., & Elbaz-Shneiderman, A. (2013). Combining Supervision Tools from the Business World and the Rehabilitation World. In: H. Yerushalmy, & Balush-Kleinman, V. (Eds.). Recovery Directed Supervision in Mental Health Rehabilitation. Quiriat Ono: Ono Academic College. (Book-Chapter, Hebrew)
Hadas-Lidor, N., Paley-Altit, T., & Vax, S. (2012). Occupational Therapy in the Field of Mental Health Rehabilitation – Processes of Learning and Growing. Israeli Journal of Occupational Therapy, 21(2). H101-H118. (Hebrew)
Vax, S., Sachs, D., & Schreuer, N. (2010). Work-Related Self-Efficacy of Occupational Therapists in Mental Health. Journal of Scandinavian Occupational Therapy, Posted online November 14. 1-7. (Peer-Reviewed, English)
Dudai, R., Leitner, R., & Vax, S. (2007). Work as the Key for Recovery. In: N. Hadas-Lidor, & M. Lachman (Eds.). Rehabilitation, Integration and Recovery in Mental Health. Kfar Yona: Litam (Book-Chapter, Hebrew)
Fruchter, N., Freemerman, G., & Vax, S. (2007). Supported Employment for People with Mental Health Disability – the Special Point of View of Occupational Therapists. Israeli Journal of Occupational Therapy, 16(1), H31-H46, (Hebrew)
Weissbrem-Padan, D., Vax, S., Naor, R., Sahar, N., Askayo, H., Tsabar, O., Austin, O., Soffer, A., Bouni, O., & Hadas-Lidor, N. (2006). Occupational Therapy Practice in Israel Following the Community-Based Rehabilitation for People with Psychiatric Disability Act 2000. WFOT Bulletin, 53, 36-56. (English)
Presentations
Vax, S. The Israeli Psychiatric Rehabilitation System. Global Minds session, Drexel University, US, May 2016 (Presentation)
Lachman, M., Derhy, O., Vax, S., Graber-Epstein, P., Aharonov, N., Oren, A., & Barak, D. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Law in Israel: 15 years of development – Training the PSR workforce. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Summit, PRA, Boston, US, May 2016 (Experts Panel & Presentation)
Hadas-Lidor, N., Lypskaia, L., Vax, S., Regev, S., & Sahar, N. Translation & Cultural Adaptation of the Action over Inertia Model Developed by the CAOT. Israeli Society of Occupational Therapy Conference, Israel, June 2015 (Presentation)
Vax, S., & Tene-Rinde, M. The Terms of Spirituality and Human Spirit in OT Practice Frame Work. Israeli Society of Occupational Therapy Conference, Israel, June 2015 (Hosted a round table)
Katz, N., & Vax, S. Teaching Mental Health – From Theory to Practice. Israeli Society of Occupational Therapy Conference, Israel, June 2015 (Poster)
Vax, S., Linder-Katz, N., Kashi, M., & Reich, A. New Perspective on OT Fieldwork. Israeli Society of Occupational Therapy Conference, Israel, June 2015 (Poster)
Unger, A., & Vax, S. Teaching and Implementing Rehabilitation Readiness Assessment in a Religious Organization Delivering Supported Employment Services. Conference on Rehabilitation Readiness, Beer Sheva, Israel, February 2015 (Presentation)
Moran, G., & Vax, S. Rehabilitation Readiness Assessment. Israeli Society of Occupational Therapy Conference, Israel, February 2012 (Presentation)
Vax, S., Sachs, D., & Schreuer, N. Self-Efficacy among Occupational Therapists in the Psychiatric Field in Hospital and Community Settings. American Occupational Therapy Association Conference, Houston, Texas, US, April 2009 (Poster)
Vax, S. Uniqueness of Supervision in Vocational Rehabilitation. National Conference on Supervision and Training in Mental Health Field. Ministry of Health, School of Mental Health Rehabilitation and Recovery, Israel, September 2008. (Presentation)
Hadas-Lidor, N., & Vax, S. Key Roles in Mental Health Rehabilitation – Challenges and Opportunities. Israeli Society of Occupational Therapy Conference, Israel, July 2006 (Directed a session)