Listen, feel, support: professional resilience and crisis support
April 23 Psychologist's Day is celebrated. For the NGO "La Strada-Ukraine", this is an opportunity to highlight the activities of professionals who are the first point of safety for those in difficult situations.
Crisis intervention: from stabilization to inquiry
The work of a psychologist on the Hotline requires an instant assessment of the emotional state of the subscriber. A key stage at the beginning of each conversation is psychological stabilization.
Stabilization at the beginning of the conversation is critical for moving to a constructive dialogue. This helps the subscriber to cope with panic and stress, so that later they can clearly formulate their request. Only after the condition is stabilized, we can proceed to professional work with a specific case, – says the line consultant.
To restore emotional balance in critical situations, psychologist Linia recommends using grounding techniques.
Psychological barriers
Most often, a woman who has experienced violence is stopped by fear of judgment, feelings of shame and guilt. These emotions form a false belief in her own responsibility for the actions of the abuser.
Social stereotypes and stigma often become barriers to seeking help. Victim-blaming by those around them reinforces internal barriers, forcing victims to keep their experiences silent, sometimes for years.
Professional support on the Line is based on on the principles of anonymity and confidentiality, which allows us to eliminate these fears and create a space of trust.
Psychologist Olga Zinchenko emphasizes that validating feelings is the stage that helps a person better understand their needs, notice their own condition, and regain contact with themselves and reality.
Any change begins here—the moment we acknowledge how we really feel. By noticing our shame, guilt, and fear—and getting support—we can to break out of the cycle of violence, – Olga emphasizes.
Validation helps reduce internal conflict and, with the support of a psychologist, creates a safe space for restoring and exploring one's boundaries and boundaries.
It looks like this: I am afraid to say it because I feel ashamed and afraid of being judged → I find the strength to share with a psychologist/therapist → I receive support instead of judgment → this forms a new experience. It is this new experience that becomes the basis for recovery, — the psychologist explains.
A resource for those who help: about burnout and supervision
Being around someone else's pain every day is a resource-intensive job. And one of the most important issues of professional ethics is how psychologists/others take care of themselves.
Supervision for psychologists — is a professional consultation during which a more experienced specialist/practitioner analyzes the work of another psychologist/practitioner with clients. It is a method of professional development, support, prevention of professional burnout and ensuring ethical standards, which helps to sort out complex cases and improve work efficiency.
Regular supervision is an integral part of our practice. To be a support for those who come to us, you need to have a great emotional resource and remain stable, especially when working with traumatic topics such as violence. In working with clients, difficult experiences inevitably arise - including feelings of powerlessness.
Supervision makes it possible to work through them in a way that doesn't transfer to the person you're helping and doesn't get "stuck" in the process." — says psychologist Olga Zinchenko.
Today, on Psychologist's Day, we thank every professional who has chosen this job. Those who hold space for other people's pain and prevent it from becoming endless.
If you have been a victim of domestic violence or gender discrimination, please contact the National Hotline for Prevention of Domestic Violence, Human Trafficking and Gender Discrimination for advice and assistance:
116 123
0 800 500 335
Telegram: NHL116123
Instagram: lastradaukraine
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