Psychological support training for volunteers of Ukraine was organized at Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University. The action lasted two days. The trainers were guests from the USA – emeritus professor of Psychology John Thoburn, adjunct professor Jeff Holguin, and Christopher Tobey, clinical social worker and psychologist.
According to the dean of the Faculty of Psychology, Tamara Duchyminska, the purpose of the event is to study the experience of combating post-traumatic syndrome and prepare specialists from Lutsk and Volyn to work with war victims.
Representatives of the Lutsk City Council, Deputy-Mayor Iryna Chebeliuk, Roman Kravchuk, a deputy, Vitaly Bondar, Director of the Department of Education of the Lutsk City Council, Nataliia Blahovirna, the vice-rector for educational work and communication of Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University, the dean of the faculty of Psychology Tamara Duchyminska, teachers, students, and all those interested in the problem were attended the opening ceremony.
The coordinator of the event was Myroslava Mushkevych, a Professor at the Department of Practical Psychology and Psychodiagnostics.
The deputy mayor of Lutsk, Iryna Chebeliuk, stressed that the full-scale invasion of Russia into Ukraine changed the plans and lives of many Ukrainians. But we must overcome it providing psychological support for people directly affected by the war.
“I am sincerely grateful to everyone involved in the organization of this event for the work that is already being done today. It was not an easy role for you. You have to be strong because you work with the people who have suffered a lot. Therefore, I hope that this training will be beneficial and we will work together for the benefit of Ukraine,” said the deputy mayor of Lutsk.
John Thoburn, professor emeritus from the Seattle Pacific University, thanked those present for the invitation to come to Ukraine and to Volyn. He apologized to the audience for not being able to speak Ukrainian and joked that Americans find it very difficult to learn new languages. The guest from the USA said that he would be happy to share his knowledge and experience to help Ukrainians.
“We have knowledge and experience, but you also have the knowledge and the experience that we do not have. Our goal is unification. We did not come to teach you from above – we seek cooperation,” said the American professor.
Dean of the Faculty of Psychology, Tamara Duchyminska, emphasized the value of joint work with American colleagues: “As Professor John Thoburn aptly said, the work can be most effective when local psychologists work with people. Therefore, the information provided by foreign guests is very valuable for us. We will use this experience.”
The guests from the USA visited the Rector’s Office. Rector Anatolii Tsos thanked the American professors for the visit and emphasized the positive feedback of the participants of the training on the trainers' work. Anatolii Vasyliovych also talked about the activities and achievements of the university community and expressed his hope for establishing partnership relations with Seattle Pacific University.
“As a rector, I am interested in comprehensive cooperation. I mean the participation of leading scientists in conducting classes, academic mobility of students and teachers, and involvement of Lesya Ukrainka University in serious global science,” said Anatolii Tsos at the meeting.
The guests from the USA gladly accepted the offer of joint work and promised to study thoroughly all possible points of contact in which higher education institutions can cooperate.
Information Policy Department
