Photo: Journalist
In Kyiv second stage of training for veterans to work with shock experience and prevent the development of post-traumatic stress disorder took place. Specialists work with military women on the basis of system of body-oriented psychotherapy and help women who returned from the war and now search themselves in civil life again. One of the sessions was attended by The Journalist crew.
During the first specialized training for veterans, body-oriented therapy is conducted, during which women are given a resource, knowledge, skills, tools primarily to work with themselves, which will help them effectively cope with their own psychological conditions and support other veterans and veterans, and will also help share experiences and support each other.
«The question of a veteran woman is not yet formed, and we are just doing it. We show that girls serve in the army, girls take part in combat conflicts, girls return and adapt. We are present and there is an image of a veteran woman and we also need help and support.
This training is in essence support each other. This is the opening of trust to each other and, in principle, to people. This is emotional disclosure, emotional help. Guys and girls who return from the zone of any conflict have a difficult task – to adapt to what is here. After all, you were in very different conditions, difficult conditions … There is a reassessment of values … Therefore, coming back here, it’s difficult to get used to certain things and it’s important that there is someone nearby who would say: «I understand you, I was in the same situation. Feel it. Do not extinguish it in yourself.» And now there are such opportunities. All who are here – we feel that we are not just people who gathered in the conference hall, not just veterans … we rallied, we are emotionally receiving support from each other. We can share our thoughts and know that they will understand us … We are like a family …»- says the participant of the training Alina.
Training consists of four stages (now the second ed.), total duration of which is 18 days for four months. Trainings are conducted according to the principle «Equal- to equal».
«Often, because of things people go through the war, they do not understand what happened, what happens to them afterwards, and how to proceed with it. And the training gives a tool – explains what happened then, what is happening now and gives an opportunity to understand how to deal with this and how to improve your life, how to make a springboard from a traumatic experience, instead of falling … It’s cool that only girls, cool that only veterans, because some things cannot be said in the presence of man … I feel more safe when there are only veterans here. We have more in common», – said the veteran, participant of the training Olha.
To participate in the training individual interviews were held. Training is free, but the organizers want to work with those people who are already ready for it, for which the training will be of great value and help to get a tool to work with themselves, not with someone else.
«First module is so general-inductive. We tell what happens to our brain, our body, when we experience some or other stressful events, psych traumatic events, shock events … we analyze everything and give an explanation that any reactions after that are normal. These are normal reactions to abnormal circumstances in which a person appears. Actually at this stage we get acquainted.
Second stage has the working title «Resources». We say what resources are, where to take them, how to save, where to spend. And it’s not we tell the girls. And we only give the instrument when they, when united in small groups, explore it. Each person is unique, and we cannot say that what works for me will be 100% working for you. So we give the instrument.
Next stages will be held in Vorokhta. The third stage will consist of five days and will be dedicated to approaching the nucleus of trauma. The fourth stage will also take place in the Carpathians. It will be devoted to such a topic as reorientation and will help answer the question «What’s next? ». We will dream, we will plan, imagine, build a structure. And at this training will end. But as usual it turns out: the training is coming to an end, but everything is just beginning», said Artem Denysov, chairman of the Ukrainian public association Pobratymy .
It should be noted that earlier work was carried out in three groups: two for veterans and one for wives of veterans. This time target audience were women veteran and, as a consequence, have specific issues and topics that are raised at this training.
«There is a well-developed program that was practiced on mixed groups. Now we practice it in a group of veterans. It is certainly difficult to work, but it is interesting. And curiosity conquers complexity», said veteran coach Oleksandr Chamorsov.
«Actually, this is the beginning of the way back from the war. And here it is important to support those people who have the same experience, can understand at least about what is happening and provide support. I was very pleased that I came to the second module and saw that there were virtually no military items on the girls, which indicates that the return process started. And secondly, the girls change externally. I did not even recognize one of the participants … the person begins to return», said coach Larisa Radkevich.
More detailed training in video of The Journalist:
Author: Lina Doroshenko
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