How to help individuals with experience of gender-based violence

Violence is something that cannot be tolerated in the modern world under any circumstances. This conclusion was reached by participants of the training "Psychosocial support for victims/survivors of gender-based violence during military actions". The event took place in Lutsk from July 2 to July 5. Thirty psychologists from various regions of Ukraine participated in the training.

The topics addressed during these days were incredibly important: ethical aspects of spreading information about violence during the war, using adult and child cases as examples, emotional support for victims during disclosure of information, listening algorithms for individuals with experience of violence, group work programs for victims of violence, ethical norms for working with such clients, and much more.

The training helped specialists in psychology gain new knowledge and skills regarding psychosocial support for individuals with experience of gender-based violence. Participants learned effective strategies for working with such clients and gained a deeper understanding of support aspects.

The event helped psychologists gain a deeper understanding of the context of military actions and their impact on personality and the psychological state of people. This can be useful when working with veterans or people who have suffered from the military conflict.

The training included teaching specific psychological techniques to assist individuals with experience of gender-based violence. In particular, these are therapeutic strategies aimed at overcoming trauma, developing self-affirmation, and restoring psychological well-being.

Moreover, the event served as a platform for communication and planning future cooperation among specialists.

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.