Oksana Implements ACHF Training with Soldiers who have Deep Trauma

Mariia Ivanova, Oksana D. of NGO "Atlant Support Center" and Lena Denman

Oksana D. attended our training in May, sponsored by the United Methodist Committee on Relief. She is implementing the prolonged exposure training she learned about with patients and has found it to be transformative.

Oksana had an interest in learning about psychology. Originally, she studied Economics earning a PhD in that field. Oksana is currently teaching Economics at the university level in a marketing department. Her focus in Economics is studying consumer behavior. In 2014, she became an internally displaced person, who had to leave her home in Luhansk due to conflict raging in that area. She needed help herself at this time and saw that the people surrounding her also needed help. She is now a volunteer clinical psychologist working with the NGO “Atlant Support Center.”

Oksana first helped other people who were displaced by the war. 90% of the people she knew in Luhansk left the region. She visited one last time before the full outbreak of war. Her city was changed and seemed strange to her now. She still has an apartment there.

Oksana now works with the military who serve on the frontlines. Soldiers can call her or meet with her in person to discuss their issues. Troops are rotated from one area to another, and Oksana sees soldiers from areas such as Kyiv, Poltava and Kharkiv. Oksana told us that her nonprofit was on site after the strike on Okmatdyt July 8. Oksana works with the Hospital #8 in Kyiv, She tells us that 90% of the patients at this facility are now soldiers. The hospital has been transformed into a facility that focuses on injured military personnel.

Oksana told us the story of how she works with 3 soldiers whom she visits twice a week. These soldiers are opening up about their deep trauma to her. All of these soldiers wanted to get better. They were of differing ages. Oksana knew from her education that the avoidance of trauma that this is the biggest issue when she will work with soldiers. “Until they work on the trauma, they will not forget it,” Oksana said.

Oksana told the story of a soldier she worked with to provide psychological help. After a year on the frontline, one soldier experienced a very serious injury. His best friend came to assist him, trying to evacuate him. The friend who tried to evacuate him was killed by a drone, leaving the soldier Oksana working with to have a deep trauma to work through.