2022. március óta alapítványunk munkatársai aktív és folyamatos támogatást nyújtanak az ukrán háború áldozatainak. A segítségnyújtás kezdetben humanitárius segítséget jelentett, 2023-tól pedig fokozatos épülnek ki a szakmai kapcsolatok, melyeken keresztül az ukrán pszichológus, terapeuta, segítő szakemberek kapnak tőlünk szakmai támogatást, képzéseket, terápiás együttműködésben segítséget a megvalósuló rehabilitációs programjaik során.
Erről a tevékenységről bővebben tájékozódhatnak a következő oldalakon:
Nature-Adventure Therapy - UKRAINE - az ukrajnai egyesület a természet-és kalandterápiáért
Facebook - Nature-Adventure.Therapy UKRAIN
Adománygyűjtő kampányunk folyamatos - köszönjük ha velünk tartanak és részeseivé válnak missziónknak
"Healing in the Wild: Nature-Adventure Therapy for Ukrainian Professionals Supporting Veterans and Trauma Survivors"
https://youtu.be/wEK2jeRN6JQ?feature=shared
The devastating impact of the war in Ukraine is deeply felt, and while the urgent need for humanitarian aid is clear, we must not overlook the long-term mental health challenges that will endure for years to come. Hundreds of thousands of individuals will need support, and with a shortage of trauma-informed professionals, it's vital that we also prioritise assistance for those providing help. Investing in both caregivers and comprehensive therapeutic programs is essential for fostering healing in this affected community.
Why is this Important?
The war in Ukraine has profoundly impacted countless lives, leaving families to grieve the loss of their loved ones, veterans to navigate the challenges of both physical and emotional wounds, and children who silently bear the heavy burden of trauma. These brave individuals often find themselves grappling with feelings of despair, isolation, and hopelessness, frequently without the support they need. Although Ukraine is home to many dedicated mental health professionals, a significant challenge remains: there is a continued lack of practical methods specifically designed to address the complex trauma that war inflicts. Many existing approaches do not fully meet the unique needs of veterans and families affected by this crisis.
Adventure-Nature Therapy emerges as a promising new method, harnessing the healing power of nature alongside well-established psychological and active techniques. However, the training programs required for professionals to become certified in this innovative field demand substantial resources and expertise. Compounding this issue, financial constraints- made worse by the suspension of USAID operations in Ukraine- limit professionals' access to crucial training programs. This, in turn, restricts the options available for those in desperate need of support.
Mental health professionals in Ukraine are:
• Overworked and under-resourced
• Experiencing secondary trauma themselves
• Limited in their therapeutic toolkit for severe trauma cases
• Unable to afford specialized international training due to economic hardship
Why Adventure-Nature Therapy?
Research demonstrates that nature-based interventions combined with adventure therapy elements are particularly effective for trauma recovery, especially for veterans and survivors of violent conflict.
This approach:
• Reduces PTSD symptoms by up to 60% in veteran populations
• Builds resilience through controlled challenge experiences
• Creates embodied healing experiences that bypass verbal processing limitations common in trauma
• Fosters group cohesion and peer support networks
• Provides sustainable skills that participants can continue using independently
• Support reintegration processes of veterans into their communitiesoffers children and families an enriching, new experience.
• For a culture traditionally linked to nature, offering new perspectives on healing
The Solution - What Are We Doing to Help?
Our project aspires to deliver accredited Adventure-Nature Therapy training to at least 35-40 Ukrainian mental health professionals within 2 years. While some organisations and individuals have begun to explore forms of nature therapy, such as ‘forest therapy’ and ‘mountain therapy,’ a lack of specific training in Ukraine remains an obstacle, and adventure therapy is largely unknown. The program will be led by international university lecturers and experienced practitioners, offering participants hands-on training and certification accredited by the Ukrainian National University.
The training is tailored to Ukrainian professionals and their target population and consists of 5 modules (180 formal hours) over one semester, 20 days in total, plus 30 hours of e-learning. The groups will take place in a residential format in a peaceful mountainous setting in Western Ukraine. The foreign lecturers will work mostly in person, on an experiential basis, with the assistance of interpreters.
This comprehensive program will:
• Be officially accredited by Uzhhorod University's Psychological and Social Sciences Department
• Feature international experts and university lecturers at the forefront of trauma-informed adventure therapy
• Provide theoretical basis and hands-on experiential learning with practical application methods
• Equip participants with a complete toolkit they can immediately implement
• Create a professional network of practitioners across Ukraine
• Include ongoing supervision and support.
Background to the organisation of the first training since 2022
• From the very first moments of the full-scale Russian invasion, Natalia Rakar-Szabo, the crisi and trauma psychologist with Ukrainian origin and leader of the Kette Foundation, has been actively working as a psychologist with Ukrainian professionals and refugees, both on an official organizational and project basis and as a volunteer.
• Since 2023, Natalia has been actively seeking and volunteering as a mentor, helper, and professional liaison with nature-based therapy programs and professionals.
• Since January 2024, she has completed several training courses in Ukraine, which trained her to work with veterans and traumatised families. In the second quarter of 2025, she performed volunteer psychology and support work in Kharkiv, in frontline zones, and at several organizations across the country.
• In early July, at the 10th https://10iatc.org/ (IATC) International Adventure Therapy Conference, she gave a keynote presentation on the consequences of Russian aggression on Ukrainian society, sharing her experiences and describing the programs that work with veterans, families of soldiers who have disappeared or been killed in the war, people who have returned from captivity, and women who have been raped by Russian occupiers. She also introduced the two Ukrainian experts who, thanks to him, will be able to join an international professional association comprising representatives from more than 45 countries. She concluded his presentation by calling for donations, as our initiative has not yet received any grant or donor support, either domestically or internationally. The audience expressed their solidarity with a standing ovation, also in recognition of the heroism of the Ukrainian people.
Impact
Each trained professional will be able to help at least a hundred people a year, and even more complex groups, creating a multiplier effect that will reach thousands of trauma survivors. Trainees will include psychologists and therapists working with veterans, as well as mental health professionals helping families and young people. The skills acquired are sustainable and can be adapted to different contexts with minimal resources, making this an effective long-term solution for communities in need. The very first training courses in Ukraine will select future trainers who, having acquired sufficient skills in the application of the methodology, will be able to provide further training in the methodology to future AT professionals. The keTTe Foundation, a Hungarian NGO (www.tapasztalati-tanulas-alapitvany.hu), was intended as the implementing organization.
The funds raised will be used to
• Cover professional training fees,
• Pay some honorariums for international trainers who develop and deliver the courses,
• Provide essential learning materials and tools,
• Provide interpreters and all their expenses,
• Offer as much part as possible of the accommodation and meals iof the participants
• Manage organisational and administrative expenses, and
• Cover some travel and other additional costs.
KÖSZÖNJÜK HA ÖN IS TÁMOGATJA UKRAKNAI MUNKÁNKAT!
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