An art therapy session titled “Harmonizing the Psycho-Emotional State” was held at the Separate Structural Subdivision “Poltava Oil and Gas College of the National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”.
The event was organised by the academic staff of the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy as part of the Erasmus+ KA220-ADU TRUST project: Trauma of refugees in Europe: An approach through art therapy as a solidarity program for Ukraine war victims (Grant Agreement 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).
All activities carried out under the project are united by the goal of implementing innovative art therapy methods to support the mental health of internally displaced persons (IDPs).
This time, the participants included children, young people, and elderly individuals currently residing in the college dormitories. Psychologist, PhD in Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor, and Acting Head of the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy Lesia Klevaka worked with participants on reducing emotional tension, stabilizing the psycho-emotional state, and discovering inner resources through artistic self-expression.
- The event began with an exercise titled “My Self”, a technique aimed at self-exploration, identifying personal strengths, dreams, and desires, as well as alleviating anxiety at the beginning of the session.
- Participants then engaged in the neurographica method by completing the “NeuroRain” technique. Through artistic depiction of emotions, they explored inner barriers that hinder a happy life, self-realization, or learning. During the activity, they also identified personal resources that help maintain a positive mindset, resilience, and inspiration.
The special atmosphere of the event was enhanced by elements of music therapy – calming nature sounds, rainfall, and birdsong – which facilitated relaxation and deeper emotional openness.
Children among the IDPs recalled their homes, schools, favorite teachers, friends, and classmates from whom they were separated due to the war. A heartfelt conversation became the basis for creating drawings titled “School of the Future”. In their drawings and stories, the children imagined a school with a friendly atmosphere, free from fear of gunfire, explosions, or sirens, where every student feels safe. Their vision of a future school included rest areas, emotional relief rooms, creative studios, and play zones. The teachers were described as kind, caring, and always ready to support. These depictions reflected the children’s deep need for stability, love, and support. At the same time, this creative exercise was another step toward emotional healing through imagination and art.
At the end of the session, participants took part in an activity using metaphorical associative cards titled “Wisdom of the Heart” – “My Resource for the Week”. Each person intuitively selected a card with a quote about life values, read it aloud, and reflected on its personal meaning. This promoted emotional resilience and helped shape a positive life outlook.
The participants sincerely thanked the organizers for their care, openly shared their emotions, and emphasized how important it is to feel supported in their new life circumstances.
“Healing through art” is not just a beautiful phrase, but a real path to inner stability, self-belief, and the restoration of life energy – emphasized Lesia Klevaka.
Three art therapy sessions have recently been held at Poltava Polytechnic under the TRUST project. During the first session, IDP participants completed two key art therapy exercises (“Draw Your Personal Coat of Arms” and “Tree of Meanings”), the theme of the 2d session was“Draw Your Mental Health”, while in the third session, they focused on expressing emotions, reducing inner tension, and discovering personal resources.
Media Centre of
National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”
