I think, for one, there may have been a great deal of support within their own synagogues, other survivors, etc. that served that purpose for them. I had family members and close family friends who fled Germany just prior to the war. That generation, I have found, had incredibly strong faith that became their rock to rest upon. This also occurred in the very early years of psychotherapy. It was not commonly used, so people had to find other ways to manage their pain and trauma (again, churches and synagogues very often served that communal purpose).

Even my parents' generation (they are in their 80's) aren't generally comfortable with therapy. I remember my mother talking about the three years when she lost two pregnancies followed by losing a newborn to congenital leukemia. She relied on the support of my father and close family and, again, leaned heavily on her faith to make it through.