In times when the outside world is filled with anxiety and the ground seems to be shifting beneath our feet, the most crucial task becomes finding inner stability – that unbreakable core that helps us remain standing. It was this journey towards one’s source of strength that lay at the heart of the art therapy session “Resource Tree: An Art Therapy Journey to the Self”, held on July 22, 2025, at the National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” (room 311-c). In a safe and welcoming circle, internally displaced persons gathered to use art as a means of finding balance and peace.
The event was organized by Associate Professor, PhD in Pedagogy, Acting Head of the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy, Lesia Klevaka, and Associate Professor, PhD in Psychology, Viktoriia Shevchuk, as part of the large-scale international 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).
The session began with a gentle introduction. Instead of the usual verbal self-presentations, each participant was asked to create a visual self-portrait. This offered a unique opportunity not only to present oneself to others but also to see oneself from a new and unexpected perspective.
“How do I see myself today? What do I want to show the world? What feelings do I want to express through colour or symbol?” – These questions became the starting point for self-reflection.
Unique portraits began to appear in the circle – some vibrant, some subtle, some simple, and others deeply layered. Creativity became the bridge between each individual’s inner world and the shared group space. Discussing the artworks helped establish a deep emotional connection, awaken empathy and a sense of community, and create an atmosphere of complete trust.
The central exercise was the creation of a “Resource Tree” – a metaphor for one’s life and inner world. On sheets of paper, using paints, pencils, and markers, beautiful trees began to grow. Each element held deep meaning:
- the roots symbolised our foundation: life experience, support from family and friends, values, faith, and memories that give us strength.
- the trunk represented our present: how we feel “here and now”, our resilience and adaptability.
- the crown, branches, and fruits reflected our dreams, achievements, hopes, talents, and the resources we cultivate.
Important realisations emerged during the creative process. “I never realised how much strength I draw from my friends’ support until I painted this tree…” shared one participant. Another added: “My roots are my values, and I suddenly saw clearly how firmly they hold me even in the toughest times”.
The next step was working with metaphorical associative cards (MACs) from the “Wheel of Life” set. These are not fortune-telling cards, but a tool for connecting with one’s intuition. Each participant chose a “card of the day”, guided only by inner impulse. The images on the cards became silent dialogue partners, prompting questions such as: “Why did I choose this card? What does it say about my current state?”
The responses were robust. “My card shows a staircase leading upward. I realised I’m already on that path, even if I’m moving slowly. But I’m moving, and that’s what matters”. Another reflected: “My card is silent. That’s a sign I desperately need peace – and I have the right to give it to myself”.
At the end of the session, we gathered in a symbolic circle where each participant chose a “gift to self” from their experience. It could be a word (“calm,” “confidence,” “hope”), a colour (yellow like sunlight, green as a symbol of renewal), or a symbol (a bird, a heart, a stone). This gift became a kind of resource anchor – a small reminder of the strength we always carry within us, even when it feels lost.
The closing circle of the session marked not an end, but the beginning of a new phase – a conscious commitment to self-care. Each participant left not empty-handed, but with a personal “gift” – a feeling, an image, or a word that would become a reliable compass in moments of fatigue or anxiety.
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Sessions like “Resource Tree” are an integral part of the mission of both the Erasmus+ “TRUST” project and Poltava Polytechnic: to create spaces where healing begins, trust is strengthened, and solidarity is born. This work is our contribution to nurturing the resilience of Ukrainian society, because a strong, healed individual is the foundation of a strong nation.
We are sincerely grateful to each participant for their incredible openness, courage, depth, and warmth. This session reminded us once again: all the resources we need are already within us. All we have to do is pause, listen, and allow ourselves to see, feel, and accept them.
More journeys of creativity, self-discovery, and healing lie ahead.
We warmly invite everyone to the next session on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. in room 315-C.
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