“Trauma: impossible to ignore”: a reflective workshop for employees of Resilience Centers took place in Chernihiv

On April 21-22, a reflective workshop titled “Resilience: Support, Development, Interaction” took place in Chernihiv. The event brought together specialists from Resilience Centers and regional social service providers to reflect on their experience of working in challenging life circumstances.

This meeting was particularly significant given the context in which participants work – many of them operate in frontline communities. In their daily practice, they face serious challenges: from supporting survivors of gender-based violence to assisting people experiencing ambiguous loss – the specific pain endured by families whose loved ones are missing.

Participants engaged in a series of interactive panels and practical sessions focused on a resource-oriented approach in social work, family support, and the prevention of domestic violence. One of the key events was the panel “Trauma: Impossible to Ignore,” moderated by “Dialogue in Action” educational programs expert Olena Kopina.

The discussion on trauma highlighted an important need – caring for one’s own resources. Working daily with people experiencing pain, loss, and disorientation requires significant emotional resilience.

“Trauma work is not about ‘fixing’ someone; it’s about having the capacity to hold it. In our work, it is important not to lose sensitivity to ourselves and to recognize our limits: how much of others’ experiences we can hold without losing the ability to remain a source of support,” shared one of the participants.

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Special attention was given to supporting children experiencing loss. The session included not only practical tools, but also a broader discussion on the culture of grieving and attitudes toward death in Ukrainian society. This topic often remains overlooked, yet it is critically important for providing effective psychological support.

According to participants, the interactive format of the event not only contributed to professional growth but also strengthened the sense of support, the value of their work, and their connection to a shared mission.

We are grateful to the charitable foundation “Right to Protection” for creating a space for dialogue, and to all participants for their openness, trust, and daily work in supporting communities.