- DTCare in Ukraine | Mental Health -
Mykolaiv Creative Arts Center
Multifaceted Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Program
The Mykolaiv Creative Arts Therapy Center is an initiative aimed at enhancing the availability and accessibility of art therapy programs and mental health and psychosocial support services in Mykolaiv, Ukraine. Art therapy, including expressive art therapy, dance/movement therapy, music therapy, and drama therapy, has proven to be an effective tool for trauma healing, community rebuilding, and promoting resilience, especially in high-conflict areas. DTCare’s Mykolaiv Creative Arts Therapy Center offers free community arts programs, group art therapy sessions, and one-on-one support.
The community of Mykolaiv is supported by a program that encourages individuals to express their emotions and engage in shared experiences through community art projects, contributing to a sense of togetherness and celebrating the vibrant culture of the city. DTCare presents plans to expand and diversify therapeutic modalities, engage in community art healing initiatives, increase mental health awareness, and preserve cultural heritage.
Art therapy and traditional psychotherapy are forms of MHPSS that can work in partnership to significantly improve the well-being and support the emotional recovery of individuals and communities in high-conflict areas.
The Power of Art Therapy for Mental Health
Art Therapy: Versatile and Effective for Treating Trauma and Mental Health Disorders
Art therapy is a versatile approach that offers individuals unique ways to express their emotions and experiences through various artistic mediums and verbal discussions. When led by a qualified art therapist, art therapy effectively supports personal and relational treatment goals, as well as community concerns. It is a psychological technique that can enhance cognitive and sensorimotor functions, promote self-esteem and self-awareness, build emotional resilience, provide insight, improve social skills, reduce conflicts, and address trauma. Evidence suggests that art therapy can significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress.
Transforming Lives in Mykolaiv through Therapy and Community
DTCare's Community-driven Art Center Offers Free Therapy Sessions, English Classes, and More
The DTCare Mykolaiv Art Center offers 24 complimentary therapy sessions in November, 14 in December, and 22 in January. These sessions have positively impacted an average of 8 individuals per session. Our center proudly employs three experienced and dedicated part-time therapists. Two of our therapists specialize in expressive arts therapies, while our third therapist has a background in psychotherapy and works one-on-one with our most vulnerable clients. We also provide mobile sessions, extending our reach to smaller towns outside of Mykolaiv and making mental health support more accessible to those unable to travel to the city.
The space also serves as an English school and a community art center, attracting lively activity from children and community members outside therapy sessions.
Why is Mykolaiv the perfect location for DTCare's center? DTCare rents the office space, allowing our therapists to provide therapy services free of charge. When not in use, we offer the space to a school and community program, ensuring that our center is always filled with families and children, promoting a sense of community, safety, and positivity.
Additionally, the facility has a bomb shelter and an attached warehouse, where we store essential supplies and have trained volunteers who help with other therapy programs in DTCare's network.
Having a home base in Mykolaiv allows us to mobilize our therapists quickly throughout the region, extending our services to smaller surrounding towns and formerly occupied territories in collaboration with humanitarian aid deliveries.
DTCare Opens Innovative Art Therapy Center
Breaking Stigmas and Supporting Communities: DTCare's Revolutionary Mental Health Center Opens
In September 2023, DTCare inaugurated its first mental health office location in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, with a team consisting of two art therapists and a highly experienced psychotherapist. The therapists were hired with the assistance of the All-Ukraine Art Therapy Association and underwent thorough interviews and vetting processes by DTCare staff in Ukraine and the United States. The team works together to make mental health more accessible and reduce its stigma through a three-tiered approach that involves providing free community arts programs, group art therapy sessions, and individual counseling.
Our program provides a creative outlet for residents to collaborate on community art projects like murals. This fosters a sense of unity, celebrates local culture, and promotes community-building. Art therapy services can be discussed, but the focus is on strengthening the community.
Community Arts Programs
Group art therapy sessions provide a safe environment for individuals to express themselves through art and words. Through communication between therapists and the group, these sessions promote communication, peer-to-peer support, and combat patient isolation.
Group Art Therapy Sessions
One-on-one therapy allows for a confidential and personalized space to explore and process experiences. Individuals work with a trained art therapist to foster a trusting and supportive relationship that allows for targeted interventions tailored to their unique needs and coping mechanisms.
Individual Counseling
Art Therapy in Action
Origami Postcards for the Armed Forces
Eight children made postcards for persons at the front using a folding appliqué technique. The postcards were packed and sent to Ukrainian defenders with heartfelt messages and artwork.
Advent Calendars for the Holidays
As December approached and the cold weather arrived, excitement for the 2023 holidays and New Year grew. To help make the wait more enjoyable, DTCare invites children aged 8 to join us on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, to create their own Advent calendar.
Mandala Weaving Masterclass
Mandalas are ancient symbols representing harmony and balance. Creating a mandala involves weaving multicolored threads and patterns. Five adults joined DTCare to create mandalas, exploring their inner world and creating unique pieces of art.
Art Therapy with Youth
Adolescence is a challenging phase that involves navigating through changes and figuring out oneself. Recently, eight teens gathered to express themselves through art and explore the therapeutic benefits of using theatrical art.
Art Therapy Demographics in Mykolaiv
At DTCare’s Creative Arts and Therapy Center in Mykolaiv, more than half of our free art therapy sessions are for adults, while almost 40% of our sessions are solely dedicated to aiding children and youth.
Through the use of various art materials and techniques, art therapy can help vulnerable and at-risk children and teenagers explore and process their thoughts and emotions in a safe and supportive environment. Art therapy also promotes problem-solving skills, boosts self-esteem and confidence, and provides a sense of control and agency. Overall, art therapy can be a powerful tool for helping children and teenagers cope with various challenges and build resilience.
