How to see new paths when it seems all roads are familiar? How to hear one's own desires amidst daily worries? Where to find the strength to make a choice and move forward? On August 13, 2025, within the walls of Poltava Polytechnic (room 322-C), the answers to these questions were not sought in theory but felt through images, by working with a powerful tool of self-discovery – metaphorical associative cards, as part of the art therapy session “Where New Opportunities Open Up”.
This meeting was a continuation of a series of events within 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).
Under the careful and empathetic guidance of Maryna Teslenko, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy, and Olena Kryvenko, the university's practical psychologist, the participants engaged in a profound process of self-reflection. The event was not just valuable, but vitally necessary, as it was held for mothers raising children with cerebral palsy. From the first moments, the trainers created a unique space – a quiet shelter, free from judgment, haste, and the usual sense of duty. It was an atmosphere of absolute trust and safety, where each woman received a rare luxury for herself – permission to turn inward, to her own needs, not those of her children.
The “Windows and Doors” metaphorical associative cards, as the specialists explained, are not fortune-telling or entertainment, but a subtle and ecological psychological tool. Their power lies in their ability to speak the language of images – the language of our subconscious. Bright, multi-layered images help to gently bypass rational blocks and psychological defences, which are especially strong in mothers under chronic stress (“I must be strong”, “It's not the time to think about myself”, “My problems are not important”). The cards become a safe “mediator” between a person and their hidden feelings, fears, desires, and, most importantly, their inner resources.
For mothers who live daily in a state of hyper-responsibility, facing physical and emotional challenges, the “windows and doors” metaphor takes on a sacred meaning. A life dedicated to a child with special needs often leaves a painful feeling that many “doors” of opportunity – professional, social, personal – are forever closed. A career, hobbies, spontaneous travel, even the simple chance to be alone – all this can be perceived as a lost world behind closed doors. In this context, art therapy becomes not just an activity, but an act of reclaiming oneself.
It transforms into that very “window” through which a woman can look at her own life not as a series of limitations, but as a space where there is still light. It is a window into her own inner world, where one can see not only fatigue but also incredible strength of spirit; not only pain but also boundless love; not only daily difficulties but also small, yet so important, joys. It is an opportunity to remind herself that her identity is not limited to the role of mother and caregiver but is multifaceted, valuable, and alive.
During the session, the participants underwent several stages of a symbolic journey, each with profound therapeutic significance. First, each chose a “window” card that intuitively resonated with her current state. This choice became a safe mirror, reflecting her inner world without the need to verbalise complex feelings, and allowed for a gentle start to a dialogue with herself. The next step involved working with “door” cards, which allowed individuals to explore their own desires and fears. For women whose lives are primarily dictated by external circumstances, this stage became a powerful practice for restoring their internal locus of control – the realisation that even in the most challenging conditions, they retain the right to choose. The key stage of integration was the creation of their own drawings at the end of the meeting. By transferring images from the cards and their own feelings onto paper, each woman not only recorded an insight but also created her own visual story – a metaphor for her new outlook on the future, which became a personal artefact and an “anchor” of strength.
The atmosphere of the meeting was filled with warmth, silence, and deep reflection – the psychological oxygen that is so often lacking in everyday life. The participants shared that it was a rare opportunity to pause, breathe, and gain clarity on perspectives that had seemed blurred. The main conclusion was the realisation that although we cannot change all external circumstances, we can change our perspective on them. Art therapy showed that the key to many “doors” is within us, and the “windows” of our perception can let in much more light if we allow ourselves to see it.
This creative journey demonstrated that even in the most challenging circumstances, art therapy can become a powerful tool for restoring resources, preventing emotional burnout, and regaining a sense of value in one's own life. Poltava Polytechnic, in collaboration with its international partners, continues to create this vital space for recovery and mutual support.
As a reminder, faculty members of Poltava Polytechnic are eligible to participate in academic mobility and internship programs. Students can study abroad through Erasmus+ credit academic mobility grant programs for a semester or a full academic year at leading universities in Austria, Greenland, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and the Czech Republic.
For more detailed information on current internship, teaching, and academic mobility programs abroad, please get in touch with the International Relations Office (office 213-C, interoffice@nupp.edu.ua) or the coordinator of international activities at the National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” – Anna Pavelieva, Ph.D. in Philology, Associate Professor of the Department of Germanic Philology and Translation (email: kunsite.zi@gmail.com, phone: +38-(095)-91-08-192).
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National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”
