Ukrainian Psychotherapist Aids Displaced Persons in Ireland Through Irish Red Cross Program
A Kyiv psychotherapist, displaced to Ireland, found stability by working with the Irish Red Cross, providing trauma-informed psychotherapy to Ukrainian and Arabic-speaking migrants. The program helps clients navigate uncertainty and emotional distress using native-language therapy and Narrative Exposure Therapy, fostering hope and reconnection.
A psychotherapist from Kyiv, displaced by the war, arrived in Ireland with her daughter, initially hoping for a temporary stay. As the conflict continued, she sought to resume her profession and found stability through the Irish Red Cross's trauma-informed psychotherapy service.
This initiative, supported by the EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), provides vital mental health support to Ukrainian and Arabic-speaking forced migrants. The therapist observes increased depressive tendencies and anxiety among clients as the war prolongs, replacing initial hopes for a quick resolution. Many struggle with uncertainty about their future, leading to emotional exhaustion.
The program utilizes Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) and is delivered in clients' native languages, which is crucial for emotional expression. Therapists, many of whom have also experienced displacement, share a common understanding with clients, fostering trust. The therapy helps clients focus on the present, process traumatic experiences, and reconnect with their life stories, fostering renewed confidence and hope.