On June 23, 2025, in Room 318 c at the National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”, PhD in Psychology, Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy, Viktoriia Shevchuk, conducted another art therapy session as part of the Erasmus+ KA220-ADU project “TRUST”. This session focused on the topic of anger – a complex yet fundamental emotion that, when approached with care and awareness, can become a source of strength, change, and inner transformation.
In the challenging realities of today, young people are experiencing significant emotional pressure due to loss, uncertainty, fear, and frustration. In such circumstances, art therapy offers a safe space where emotions can not only be expressed but also transformed into constructive resources.
The core method of the session was the “Letter of Anger” – a therapeutic technique that allows participants to bring their emotions to the surface through writing. It provided a space for maximum honesty, where anything was allowed: screaming on paper, crying, raging, expressing resentment or helplessness, without fear of judgment or misunderstanding. The letter was not meant to be read aloud or sent to anyone; it served as a personal tool for internal cleansing.
The uniqueness of this technique lies in its combination of catharsis (emotional release) and creative transformation. After writing their letters, students progressed to a stage of visual transformation, expressing their anger through colour, shape, and symbolism. Initially, anger appeared as a heavy, dark, chaotic energy, but it gradually transformed into a resource: black lines became geometric order, fire turned into light, and a burden became wings.
This process reflects one of the core principles of art therapy – creativity as a bridge between emotion and awareness. When anger becomes part of a creative act, it loses its destructive edge and becomes understandable, even manageable. Participants gained a sense of control over themselves, an understanding of their profound experiences, and ultimately, a feeling of relief.
A symbolic farewell to anger was another meaningful part of the session: participants were invited to tear up their letters, safely burn them, or seal them into a collage. This ritual of release gave many a sense of closure and a fresh emotional start.
The session concluded with a reflective circle – a group discussion where students shared insights, feelings, and emotional shifts. Many admitted it was the first time they had allowed themselves to fully express anger without fear, while others said they felt a deep sense of calm for the first time in a long while.
The “Emotion Barometer” method, in which anger was the central emotion of the day, enabled participants not only to “measure” their emotional state but also to interact with it creatively. This is a crucial step toward developing emotional competence – the ability to recognise, express, and transform feelings.
This experience confirms a powerful truth: art holds immense therapeutic potential. And every letter written in anger can become the first step toward healing.
The session was held within the framework of the international, large-scale EU-funded Erasmus+ KA220-ADU project “TRUST” – Trauma of refugees in Europe: An approach through art therapy as a solidarity program for Ukraine war victims (Grant No. 2024-BE01-KA220-ADU-000257527).
The project title is decoded as follows:
TRUST
T – Trauma
R – Refugees
U – Ukraine
S – Solidarity
T – Therapy
The project is co-funded by the EU and led by the Centre Neuro Psychiatrique St-Martin from Belgium, in partnership with the National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” (Ukraine), Greek Carers Network EPIONI (Greece), Fondazione Don Luigi Di Liegro (Italy), Lekama Foundation (Luxembourg), EuroPlural Project (Portugal).
As part of the Erasmus+ “TRUST” initiative, such art therapy sessions continue as a component of a long-term strategy for providing psychological support to individuals affected by war. Poltava Polytechnic continues its series of art therapy sessions aimed at helping young people not only restore their psychological balance but also feel that – even in the darkest of times – they are not alone. Every emotion, when experienced mindfully, can become a powerful source of inner strength. The project aims to create a social-emotional environment where participants learn to respond to the challenges of the modern world through inner strength, empathy, and creativity.
The upcoming events within the TRUST initiative promise even more hands-on practices, innovative techniques, and, most importantly, the care and support that Ukrainian youth need now more than ever.
Media Centre of
National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”
