Despite the missile attacks in Mukachevo the previous night, our two-day professional workshop for helping professionals working in a war environment was successfully completed. War-related uncertainty is an all-pervading “background noise” that burdens the nervous systems of both children and professionals. Since the quality of assistance depends on the helper’s internal stability, the training focused on preventing secondary traumatization and burnout, in addition to developing professional competencies.
The main pillars of the workshop:
- Nervous system stabilization: Immediately applicable self-regulation exercises for helper stability, serving as the first point of intervention.
- Trauma-focused decision-making: Differentiating between natural stress reactions and clinical risks.
- Neuroaffirmative approach: Understanding the connections between trauma and neurodiversity (ADHD, autism), as well as creating a sensorily safe environment for children.
The program was implemented as part of the “Visegrad Support Under Pressure” project, supported by the International Visegrad Fund.
