Healing through art in Ukraine: A child’s therapeutic journey

 

Nadiia* is a 10-year-old girl whose family left occupied Kupyansk a year ago. She witnessed brutal acts of violence against her family members and the destruction of their neighbour’s home by a rocket. 

 

Due to the ongoing conflict, the young girl had been suffering from high anxiety. She developed a sleeping disorder – having a hard time falling asleep and remaining asleep through the night. She also flinched in fear at any loud sound that could be heard in and around her house, a reminder of the shelling that affected her neighbourhood.  

 

Natalia, a psychologist with the mobile mental health clinic in Kharkiv, tells us about her first encounter with the young girl: 

 

"My first encounter with Nadiia was during a group activity with a few other children this Spring. I immediately noticed her overexcitability and shuddering at sharp, loud sounds. I talked to her mother and suggested one-on-one sessions, and it didn’t take long for Nadiia to open up about her fears – her fear of explosions, darkness and violence, but also a deep fear of loss, mistakes, and loneliness. 

 

At first, sand therapy and the fortress art technique were introduced to Nadiia, and it was an instant success. She learned to build a protective fortress using kinetic sand while simultaneously creating a similar fortress in her mind. From there, other techniques were used, selected based on Nadiia’s needs and personality. This included teaching her the exhaling fear technique and using various other forms of therapy, such as happiness and fairy-tale therapy. She was taught breathing and relaxation exercises, such as the wet dog, lemon, candle-flower and axe. Nadiia especially loved doing those exercises with music. 

 

To support her mental health and wellbeing, Nadiia was given homework in the form of daily exercises. The psychologist also met with her mother, strengthening her capacity to help her daughter recover. 

 

“My work with Nadiia is not yet over, but after four one-on-one sessions, her progress has been encouraging. Her mother shares that she now sleeps through the night and is more rested in the mornings. She is calmer, more grounded, and more optimistic about her future," shares Natalia. 

 

Read more: Ukraine program update: Mobile mental health clinic in Kharkiv

 

With your ongoing support, SOS Children’s Villages Ukraine has provided services to more than 385,000 people during more than two years of war. 

 

We thank the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, and the Ptarmigan Charitable Foundation for their generous support. 

 

*Names changed to protect privacy.