Post-release – Scientific and practical seminar «War and Trauma: International Experience, Ukrainian Approaches and Practice»

Scientific and Practical Seminar “WAR AND TRAUMA: INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE, UKRAINIAN APPROACHES AND PRACTICE”

On 21 February 2025, the Scientific and practical seminar “War and Trauma: International Experience, Ukrainian Approaches and Practice” took place.

The seminar was organized by the Institute for Social and Political Psychology of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine in partnership with Rivne State Humanitarian University and the NGO “Professional League of Traumatherapists”.

More than 70 participants from various regions of Ukraine (Kyiv, Kharkiv, Rivne, Zhytomyr, Lviv, Dnipro, Poltava, Chernihiv, etc.) took part in the event. The seminar participants included representatives of research institutions, universities, and non-governmental organizations of Ukraine, practicing psychologists, postgraduates, students, and specialists in the fields of psychological assistance, trauma therapy, and social psychology research. The event was aimed at discussing current approaches to working with psychological trauma in wartime conditions, as well as exchanging experiences regarding the support of the mental health of Ukrainians both within the country and abroad.

The welcoming remarks were delivered by:

• Svitlana Chunikhina, Candidate of Psychological Sciences, Senior Research Associate, Deputy Director for Scientific and Methodological Work of the Institute of Social and Political Psychology of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine.

• Roman Pavelkiv, Doctor of Psychological Sciences, Professor, Acting Rector of Rivne State University of Humanities.

The first part of the event included thematic presentations that addressed the theoretical-methodological and empirical aspects of the psychological problems of the individual in wartime conditions: “Psychological Assistance to Ukrainians in Germany: From Trauma to Resource” (Oksana Kredentser, Doctor of Psychological Sciences, Professor); “Mental Health and the Adaptation of Ukrainian Refugees to New Living Conditions as a Subject of Research in the European Union Countries” (Natalia Korchakova, Doctor of Psychological Sciences, Professor); “New Vectors in the Formation of Personal Identity under Conditions of War” (Olga Halytska, Military Psychologist, Psychotherapist).

Recordings of the plenary sessions can be viewed at this link.

In the next part of the seminar, under the leadership of Hanna Hromova, Doctor of Philosophy in the Field of Psychology (PhD), Ambassador of Ukraine in the European Association for the Study of Traumatic Stress (ESTSS), a panel discussion took place on the topic “The Practice of Applying Trauma Work Protocols and the Difficulties in Exporting One’s Own Contributions.” The discussion included presentations by leading experts, among whom were representatives of trauma therapy practice, crisis psychology, and sociological research. The discussion was aimed at sharing experiences in using recognized intervention techniques in trauma work, exchanging experiences, the need for modification of many existing protocols, and identifying key challenges in the implementation of innovative methodologies.

Recordings of the discussion part can be viewed at this link.

An important part of the seminar was a series of practical workshops, which allowed participants to immerse themselves in specific aspects of working with psychological trauma:

• Workshop “Working with Psychological Trauma in Wartime Conditions.” Presenter: Kseniya Vittenberg, Candidate of Psychological Sciences, Psychotherapist, EMDR-Therapist, Supervisor, Lecturer.

• Workshop 2 “Clear Language: Working with One’s Own Client Metaphors in the Practice of a Trauma Therapist.” Presenter: Hanna Statyvka, Psychotherapist specialized in Trauma Therapy, Lecturer, Reserve Lieutenant of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

• Workshop 3 “Development of Internal Resources as a Source of Resilience to Ongoing Traumatic Load.” Presenter: Olesya Druzhyna, Crisis Psychologist, Trauma Therapist, EMDR-Therapist, Supervisor, Trainer.

Recordings of the workshops can be viewed on the website of the NGO “Professional League of Trauma Therapists”

Certificates were issued to all seminar participants.

The event demonstrated its effectiveness, receiving numerous positive reviews and substantial feedback from the participants. The seminar contributed to the formation of an integrated approach to the issues of psychological trauma, to the enhancement of practitioners’ qualifications, and to the expansion of scientific discussion in the field of social psychology and trauma therapy. The exchange of experiences among specialists from different countries and representatives of various practical areas provided a solid platform for future research and the implementation of new methodologies in the field of assistance to those affected by armed conflicts.

Based on the results of the presentations and the overall discussion, the following recommendations were formulated and approved:

1. Continue the work on creating a scientific and practical hub for the development and validation of Ukrainian protocols and methods for working with trauma under conditions of prolonged traumatization.

2. Create working groups for networking and organizing the process of validating the contributions of Ukrainian specialists.

3. Support initiatives for exporting Ukrainian scientific developments and practical methodologies internationally. It is proposed to intensify participation in international conferences and publications, as well as to explore the possibility of obtaining research grants.

4. Recognize the necessity of adapting international trauma work protocols to the conditions of the Ukrainian environment. It is recommended to conduct joint research to determine optimal approaches and further validate new methodologies.

5. Continue integrating the experience of international experts into both scientific and practical approaches to mental trauma work by implementing innovative technologies and methodologies that are evidence-based.

6. Implement the aforementioned developments in the training of practical psychologists in Ukrainian educational institutions by delineating the specifics of domestic and international protocols in the work of mental trauma therapists.

7. Strengthen cooperation between academic and practical psychologists in addressing the outlined issues.