Essex psychoanalyst helping Ukrainians with trauma of war

Ukrainians living in Essex, who are dealing with the psychological stress of the war, will receive access to support.

The move is being led by Professor Renos Papadopoulos from the University of Essex who is training other specialists in his field by sharing approaches so they can help grieving and suffering Ukrainians.

Professor Papadopoulos is the Founder and Director of the Centre for Trauma, Asylum and Refugees, and began offering guidance when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 by providing support to thousands of education professionals, including teachers.

“I have been responding to several other Ukrainian professional organisations of psychotherapists, psychoanalysts, creative arts therapists," says Papadopoulos. "Offering them specific thematic training sessions as well as open sessions, responding to their immediate concerns of how to work effectively with adversity survivors when they, themselves were also experiencing high levels of distress.

“My activities have also been including responding to individuals, groups and organisations in the UK who are offering hospitality to Ukrainians, assisting them not only with how to help those under their care but also with identifying early indicators of the emergence of dangerous dynamics and potentially destructive elements in their relationships.”

With no end in sight of the war, Professor Papadopoulos continues to provide other assistance in Ukraine, including offering ‘staff support’ and ‘caring for carers’ training to all other IOCC offices in Ukraine that are engaged in other activities such as distribution of food and home appliances.