Challenges of psychologists during the war: the body as a tool of work

- Скнар, Оксана Миколаївна (orcid.org/0000-0001-7883-680X) (2022) Challenges of psychologists during the war: the body as a tool of work Простір арт-терапії, 1 (31). pp. 89-100. ISSN 2310-3159

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Abstract

Challenges of the war are defined as those related to the safety basis of the established existence of people, the need for significant transformations and rapid adaptation to new living conditions, rethinking of instructions that do not fit into the limits of human value civilisational worldview, and also with the search for effective tools for mastering the stressful experience of super-powerful intensity, which is intensified by a large number of shocking threats. The main challenges for psychologists during the war are highlighted. Among them: new experience of high intensity with a lot of uncertainty at the ‘entrance’ with psychologists’ personal involvement that makes the work both easier and more complicated; psychologists haven’t been taught to work with trauma specifically during the war, and it has its own specifics; non-standard client requests; lack of ready action algorithms; having to face a lot of clients’ pain; the need to review one's capabilities and limitations as a specialist; being aware of one's role – it is important to act from the position of an Adult and an Expert, not a Rescuer or a Victim; significant violation of all possible types of boundaries (including emotional and physical ones) by a large number of people simultaneously, including psychologists. The peculiarities of the boundaries of interaction in the ‘therapist – client’ plane during the war have been determined. The main productive ideas for psychologists, which we relied on in our work during the war, are outlined. Caveats that psychologists should pay attention to are emphasised. The main criteria for the expediency of using the body as a psychologist's work tool are highlighted: accessibility, effectiveness, efficiency, practicality, simplicity, resourcefulness. It is noted that body self-regulation techniques are an effective tool that helps a person cope with the body stress reactions, ‘manage’ intense emotions, restore a sense of stability, balance and order, find internal support; develop the ability to rely on oneself. The algorithm and detailed description of the ‘4 Elements’ protocol are given, which allows a person to quickly achieve a stable psycho-emotional state in extremely difficult situations. It is shown that body-oriented techniques are an effective tool of psychological assistance which serve to acquire the skills of emotional self-regulation of the individual. The need for regular practice of skills in a stable state is emphasised, which will make it possible to use them even under stress and provide a person with significant support.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	challenges of psychologists, challenges of war, trauma, traumatic experience, regulation of stress, reactions of the body, ‘4 Elements’ protocol
Subjects:	Science and knowledge. Organization. Computer science. Information. Documentation. Librarianship. Institutions. Publications > 1 Philosophy. Psychology Science and knowledge. Organization. Computer science. Information. Documentation. Librarianship. Institutions. Publications > 3 Social Sciences > 304 Social questions. Social practice. Cultural practice. Way of life (Lebensweise)
Divisions:	The Institute of Social and Political Psychology > Department of Psychology of Youth Political Behavior
Depositing User:	СНС Оксана Миколаївна Скнар
Date Deposited:	18 Jan 2023 14:51
Last Modified:	18 Jan 2023 14:51
URI:	https://lib.iitta.gov.ua/id/eprint/734030

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