Fear, guilt, anger—these emotions have become constant for children affected by war. A child’s psyche is especially vulnerable to traumatic events. But there are ways to help them process these experiences and begin to heal 😔 → 😊.

At the Kyiv Hope and Healing Center, psychologist Valentyna Lishchenko works daily with children who have been through such hardships. In her sessions, children learn to recognize their emotions using cards with images of various feelings, share their stories, and draw what they feel.

Ivan (name changed), one of Ms. Valentyna’s young clients, endured the horrors of occupation and a difficult journey to freedom. Before his eyes, he witnessed the death of a lifelong neighbor, a trauma that left a profound scar on his heart. For a long time, Ivan couldn’t talk about it, keeping his pain inside. It was during a session with our psychologist that he finally opened up.

As he shared his story, Ivan was able to express what he felt—grief. With sensitive psychological support, Ivan drew his feelings and asked to take the drawing with him. This simple act of visualizing his emotions helped him take the first step toward healing.
When a child understand their emotions, learns to name them, and can express them, their resilience to stress strengthens. It is crucial to talk to children about their experiences, helping them recognize and process their feelings.

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These consultations are part of USAID Public health system recovery and resilience activity, supported by Pact, and focused on providing psychological support to displaced adults and children who have experienced trauma.