War is undoubtedly an unprecedentedly traumatic experience for any human being. And everyone copes with this trauma in their way. Why is it that people react so differently to traumatic events? Why are some able to lead essentially normal lives while others become addicted to drugs or struggle with aggression, sometimes even directed at their closest family? Why do children who hid in the same bunker from bombing raids behave differently afterward? Someone plays outside, while others are afraid to go out even after moving somewhere safe?
The answer to these questions lies in childhood. Childhood is when our life attitudes, views, and values are formed and developed. That happens through our parents, friends, and other people around us. As a rule, children tend to adopt their parents’ behavior style, interpersonal model of action, and parents’ worldview. They often judge events using the example of their parents.
Unfortunately, we often overlook that our children want to be heard daily. We provide for their material well-being through food, a warm bed, and valuable toys, but our children’s spiritual harmony is often overlooked. We forget to ask how our child is doing today. Making the time to do this is especially difficult when we’re burdened with other vital things to take care of, getting used to life in another country, overcoming the language barrier, looking for financial means to support our family, constantly dealing with paperwork, getting groceries, clothes, and other necessary items, etc. However, the war has shown us that material things are not the most crucial reason for our well-being.
It is therefore important to remember that we must ensure and support the psychological balance of our children and our own (!). Sometimes we may lack the right words to answer our child’s questions about the war without hurting or intimidating them. We may also not have the tools and skills to deal with our or our child’s emotional distress. That is when we have to realize that we need outside help. This help should be immediate. We should treat the need for psychological help with the same urgency as going to the dentist when we have a toothache. Left untreated, distressing or anxious mental states can lead to the development of destructive habits or mental disorders. Instead, we wish for a happy future for ourselves and our children. A future in which the horrors of war do not rule our lives.
Our community of the UKRAINIAN FUTURE Aid Association has a highly qualified team of Ukrainian-speaking psychologists with comprehensive professional experience. Also, they fled from the war and would like to help your family to process the traumatic experiences of the past few months. Like no one else, they understand what is most difficult for you.
We would like to invite you to take this opportunity to participate in the group meetings for parents and the art therapy sessions for children. We offer you a safe place to express your emotions and feelings, thoughts, or fears. Just check out our psychological help calendar.
We look forward to meeting you!
Psychological support program for Ukrainians from the UKRAINIAN FUTURE Aid Association.
Starting May 31, 2022, we are organizing an additional offline Women’s Support Group meeting on Tuesdays from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., led by Olga Domra, an analysis-oriented psychologist.
Location: Flurstrasse 1, 22549 Hamburg
14:00 – 15:30 – Art therapy for preschool children.
Victoria Latsuk, Child Social Therapist, provides the training.
Location: Flurstrasse 1, 22549 Hamburg
14:00 – 15:00 – Art therapy for preschool children.
The event is provided by Oksana Fedchenko, a child social therapist.
Location: Flurstr 1, 22549 Hamburg
6:30 – Art therapy for children aged 7-10 years.
Daria Kunchenko provides the event.
Location: Flurstrasse 1, Hamburg, 22549.
17:00 – 18:00 – art therapy for children aged 10-14.
Lyubov Tereshchenko, the trauma therapist, provides the event.
Location: Flurstrasse 1, Hamburg, 22549.
We are carrying out individual consultations offline or online by appointment.
14:00 – 15:30 – Art therapy for children aged 8-11.
The event is provided by Victoria Yatsuk, a child social psychologist.
Location: Flurstr 1, 22549 Hamburg
5:30 – offline meeting.
Psychological Support Group for Parents;
The consultation is provided by Oksana Fedchenko, a child social psychologist.
Location: SOS Children’s Village Family Center, Strassburger Str. 19, 22049 Hamburg.
We are carrying out individual consultations offline or online by appointment.
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Offline meeting “Sunday tea gossip.” Purpose of the meeting: cozy conversation over tea and discussion on various topics.
The event is organized by specialist psychologists of our Center for Psychological Help for Ukrainians.
Location: Flurstrasse 1, Hamburg, 22549.
