During war, not only children but also adults need support. Every day, many people live with anxiety, exhaustion, and the constant responsibility of caring for their families.
In Kyiv, a psychological support course has been recently held by trainers Olha Posternak and Tetiana Holovko as part of the “Helping Hand for Ukraine” project. Over the course of 7 therapy sessions, participants had the opportunity to speak openly about their emotions, experiences, and the challenges they face daily during wartime.
The group included 10 women, most of whom are raising children with special educational needs. For many of them, the everyday challenges of caring for their children are combined with the constant stress of war, air raid alarms, and emotional exhaustion.
The trainers shared that even air raid alerts did not stop the participants from attending the meetings. The women patiently waited for the danger to pass and hurried back to the sessions, worried they might be canceled. The final meeting even had to be held twice because air raid alarms lasted for several days in a row.
At the beginning of the program, many participants found it difficult to talk about their pain and experiences. But gradually, the group became a place of trust and openness. By the end of the meetings, the women were able not only to share their emotions, but also to speak about hope, dreams, and the wish to see their children happy in a peaceful future.
Support groups like these become spaces where adults can feel that they are not alone in their struggles. And when adults receive support, children around them gain more safety and stability too.
