All news
31.05.2024
Foundation news

Helping Here and Now: A Year-Long Crisis Counseling Program for Psychologists "Voices of Children" has Concluded

The practical psychologists of the "Voices of Children" Charitable Foundation have completed a year-long advanced training program titled "Crisis Intervention and Psychotherapy Techniques for War-Related Trauma", and received state standard certificates.
The program was developed by Ruslana Moroz, a member of the Center for Psychological Expertise and Methodology "Voices of Children." She spoke about the course and the results of the training.

Providing Targeted Assistance

Over the course of two years of large-scale war in Ukraine, the number of people, particularly children, in need of crisis-related psychological assistance has significantly increased. When providing this assistance, it is essential to immediately understand how to proceed based on the principle of "here and now". It is crucial to refrain from delving deeply into a person's emotional state, as this may only cause additional trauma.
I tried to teach them how to work more focused, work smarter, not harder to achieve their goals,
explained Ruslana.
Participants practiced providing crisis psychological assistance by analyzing fictional cases. In particular, they considered cases of violence, loss, and suicidal thoughts. The participants’ qualification work was to independently analyze one of these cases.

Results of the program

During the past year, the psychologists participating in the program have demonstrated significant professional growth. This was evident in their case analyses and overall work performance,
Ruslana observed.
This isn't just theory – the participants themselves put it into action. They were able to systematize their knowledge and use their new skills effectively.
It was very important to understand that crisis interventions are primarily about emotional stabilization, not therapy. I received effective tools that I immediately apply in my work,
shared one of the participants.
The participants also praised the content-rich and well-structured presentation, highlighting the extensive use of examples from Ruslana's practice.
The program "Crisis Intervention and Psychotherapy Techniques for War-Related Trauma" was recognized by the Ukrainian Scientific and Methodical Centre of Applied Psychology and Social Work at the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine.
Share:
Facebook LinkedIn Twitter (X) Copy link
Latest news
August at Voices of Children: Youth Retreat, Celebrity Visits, and the End of the Camp Season

August was a really eventful month at the Foundation, even as Russian attacks across Ukraine intensified and children and their families spent many nights in shelters. Sessions continued at our regional centers, along with outreach visits to communities. For the first time, alumni of all our art residencies came together in the Carpathians, while Liev Schreiber and Katheryn Winnick visited our Kyiv center. Well-known Ukrainians read poems by our teenagers, the “Thread” photo exhibition set off on a tour through Ukrposhta branches, the summer camp season came to an end, and together with the band Hyphen Dash, we completed a fundraiser for psychological support. Here is a closer look at each of these events.

“Hold Fast to Life”: Actress Katheryn Winnick Meets Ukrainian Children Affected by the Russian War in Kyiv
Canadian actress and director of Ukrainian descent, best known for her roles as Lagertha in Vikings and Hannah Burley in Bones, came to Kyiv ahead of Ukraine’s Independence Day. While here, she visited our center and met children, including those who had lived through Russian occupation and those forced to leave their homes because of the war. The night before the visit was a difficult one: air raid sirens woke the team in the middle of the night. Katheryn recalled that her “heart rate was pounding, coming out of her chest.” 
For the First Time Ever: Voices of Children Brings Together Alumni of All Its Arts Residencies
For six days in August, a bar appeared in the Carpathians where you paid for tea not with money, but with leaves from the trees. Nearby, teenagers flew kites against the mountain backdrop, while every evening brought live music. This was the Youth Retreat — a major gathering that brought together alumni of the Voices of Children Foundation’s arts labs from across Ukraine. Each of these teenagers had previously taken part in one of our creative residencies. This time, for the first time, they all came together in one place.