Advanced Mental Support: ІI part of the training course for psychologists working with people suffered from war held in Lviv

On June 27-30, the second part of the second training course for practicing psychologists and specialists working with people suffered from war was held in Lviv.

Providing First Psychological Aid in crisis situations is crucial for stabilizing the emotional state of individuals who have experienced stress. The primary goal of First Psychological Aid is to offer support, reduce anxiety and distress levels, and facilitate the beginning of the recovery process.

Over four days, participants learned how to properly support individuals affected by crisis events. During the theoretical and practical work, participants established that the first rule in providing help is "do no harm!"

Our trainers Olena Sudakova and Olesia Druzhyna informed participants about the main principles of providing First Psychological Aid and Crisis Intervention. Specifically, empathy is crucial when interacting with people in crisis situations, showing them that their feelings are understood and not undervalued.

It is also important to remember unconditional acceptance - allowing clients to express themselves freely without fear of judgment.

Additionally, it's important to provide comprehensive information to an individual - this may include explanations about the recovery process, available resources, additional help, etc.

A special emphasis during the training was placed on always remembering the importance of respecting personal boundaries while providing psychological assistance, identifying one's limitations and competence boundaries.

The role-play exercise "Help People Calm Down" helped improve skills in interacting with potential clients experiencing acute distress. Such tasks aim to reinforce the theoretical knowledge provided by the trainers.

The event was held in the frames of the "Peace Building and Conflict Resolution in Ukraine – Step Forward" project, implemented with the support of the German Federal Foreign Office’s funds by IFA (Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen), Funding programme zivik.