The Art Therapy for Ukraine: fundamental educational course brought together practitioners working at the intersection of arts, psychology, and cultural work during a period of heightened social and psychological pressure in Ukraine. Over last 12 months, the curriculum combined trauma-focused lectures, applied creative practices, and structured supervision sessions, enabling participants to work more confidently with military personnel, veterans, displaced families, and individuals affected by war. An important component of the course was its emphasis on safety, professional ethics, and sustainable self-regulation for practitioners themselves — a critical aspect when working with traumatic material on a daily basis. The first cohort of students completed their studies in October 2025, the second cohort is studying from October 2025 to April 2026, and the third cohort will be selected to participate in the course from February to June 2026.
The program also integrated in-person training modules, which participants consistently described as a transformative experience. Students highlighted the combination of theoretical knowledge, supervision, and live practice as the core value of the training, noting that it allowed them not only to expand their competencies but also to feel part of a wider professional community engaged in long-term trauma work in Ukraine
Beyond the classroom, the course generated concrete professional outcomes. Members of the first cohort later applied for and received personal micro-budgets to strengthen their ongoing therapeutic work with military and veterans – for example by purchasing therapeutic materials, musical instruments, or enrolling in further specialized training programs aimed at deepening trauma-focused expertise. As part of the project, the book “Art Therapy for Military Veterans: Trauma & Image” by renowned British scientist Janice Lobban was also published in Ukrainian.
“The course came at a difficult time for the country. It gave me not only knowledge, but also inner strength to continue my work.”
“Live sessions were one of the strongest parts of the program - the atmosphere of support helped me feel part of a community. .”
“Supervision created a safe space to work through doubts, difficult cases, and strong emotions. I now understand my own limits and resources better.”
“I will directly apply the psychotraumatology block in my work with veterans and displaced families. The content is highly relevant to today’s Ukrainian context.”
For further information you can contact Victorya Limar (vlimar@gip-global.org)
