In January, a group of adults and teenagers from Ukraine came to us under the program “Sleep in silence’. Volunteer psychologists Yulia and Anastasia held an art therapy meeting with them and asked the participants to draw a Christmas tree. In all the details: with roots, branches, trunk, balls and snowflakes.
Why draw a tree?
Anastasia: ‘When you draw, we suggest that you concentrate and think about the roots (people, traditions that support us), branches (hopes for the future), trunk (skills and abilities that help us). Balloons, stars, snowflakes – achievements and successes, joy and warmth.
Yulia: ‘And the main goal is to see what you can rely on, realize it and take it with you. It helps to reduce anxiety and improve your psychological state”’
Having drawn this tree, people were supposed to tell what they see as their fulcrum?
Anastasia: ‘On request. You could tell a psychologist, or you could tell a neighbor”’
Yulia: ‘Some of the participants didn’t want to talk at all, and this is normal.”
Did the art therapy work?
Anastasia: ‘I think so. After the lesson, there was some kind of community, collaboration. The tension is gone. And people seemed to feel safer. We drank tea, sang songs, it was great”’
Yulia: ‘People felt trust in the world around them. They began to share their personal stories and recollect their pre-war life: ‘I started practicing karate, but I only managed to go twice. And then the war started”’ Show photos on your phone: ‘Here is my daughter going to the 1st grade… and here we are weaving camouflage nets for the front”’
What was the main outcome?
Anastasia: ‘This is a sense of security and unity, perhaps. And yet, when it came to hopes for the future, almost all participants drew their families, loved ones, the end of the war and a quiet peaceful time”’
Yulia: ‘And we were able to tell them: we want it too.’
We thank our volunteer psychologists and remind you that everyone in the Pristanište community can receive psychological support. To do this, you need to leave a request on our website. Feel free to ask for help when you need it.
