Healing in the Wild: Nature-Adventure Therapy for Ukraine

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"Healing in the Wild: Nature-Adventure Therapy Training for Ukrainian Professionals Supporting Veterans and Trauma Survivors"

Campaign Summary

The devastating impact of the war in Ukraine is deeply felt, and while the urgent need for humanitarian aid is clear, we must not overlook the long-term mental health challenges that will endure for years to come. Hundreds of thousands of individuals will need support, and with a shortage of trauma-informed professionals, it's vital that we also prioritize assistance for those providing help. Investing in both caregivers and comprehensive therapeutic programs is essential for fostering healing in this affected community.

My name is Natália Rákár-Szabó, and I’m a crisis and trauma psychologist of Ukrainian-Hungarian descent. Since 2022, I’ve been dedicated to supporting the Ukrainian community, and more recently, I’ve expanded my focus to include veterans and their families.

One of my passions is Adventure and Nature Therapy, a field where I not only practice as a therapist but also serve as a trainer and supervisor. I’m excited to share that we are currently launching methodological training for Ukrainian professionals, aimed at building a supportive network within the Adventure and Nature-based therapies community. Connecting with others in this field is incredibly important to me, as we work together to heal and grow.

If you’d like to know more about my journey and work, please feel free to visit: 10th IATC Conference site, or my profiles on LinkedIn or Kette's sites

Why is this Important?

The war in Ukraine has profoundly impacted countless lives, leaving families to grieve the loss of their loved ones, veterans to navigate the challenges of both physical and emotional wounds, and children who silently bear the heavy burden of trauma. These brave individuals often find themselves grappling with feelings of despair, isolation, and hopelessness, frequently without the support they need.

Although Ukraine is home to many dedicated mental health professionals, a significant challenge remains: there is a continued lack of practical methods specifically designed to address the complex trauma that war inflicts. Many existing approaches do not fully meet the unique needs of veterans and families affected by this crisis.

Adventure-Nature Therapy emerges as a promising new method, harnessing the healing power of nature alongside well-established psychological and active techniques. However, the training programs required for professionals to become certified in this innovative field demand substantial resources and expertise.

Compounding this issue, financial constraints- made worse by the suspension of USAID operations in Ukraine- limit professionals' access to crucial training programs. This, in turn, restricts the options available for those in desperate need of support.

Mental health professionals in Ukraine are:

Overworked and under-resourced
Experiencing secondary trauma themselves
Limited in their therapeutic toolkit for severe trauma cases
Unable to afford specialized international training due to economic hardshi

Why Adventure-Nature Therapy?

Research demonstrates that nature-based interventions combined with adventure therapy elements are particularly effective for trauma recovery, especially for veterans and survivors of violent conflict.

This approach:

Reduces PTSD symptoms by up to 60% in veteran populations
Builds resilience through controlled challenge experiences
Creates embodied healing experiences that bypass verbal processing limitations common in trauma
Fosters group cohesion and peer support networks
Provides sustainable skills that participants can continue using independently
Support reintegration processes of veterans into their communitiesoffers children and families an enriching, new experienceFor a culture traditionally linked to nature, offering new perspectives on healing

The Solution - What Are We Doing to Help?

Our project aspires to deliver accredited Adventure-Nature Therapy training to at least 35-40 Ukrainian mental health professionals. While some organisations and individuals have begun to explore forms of nature therapy, such as ‘forest therapy’ and ‘mountain therapy,’ a lack of specific training in Ukraine remains an obstacle, and adventure therapy is largely unknown.

The program will be led by international university lecturers and experienced practitioners, offering participants hands-on training and certification accredited by the Ukrainian National University.

The training is tailored to Ukrainian professionals and their target population and consists of 5 modules (180 formal hours) over one semester, 20 days in total, plus 30 hours of e-learning. The groups will take place in a residential format in a peaceful mountainous setting in Western Ukraine. The foreign lecturers will work mostly in person, on an experiential basis, with the assistance of interpreters.

This comprehensive program will:

Be officially accredited by Uzhhorod University's Psychological and Social Sciences Department
Feature international experts and university lecturers at the forefront of trauma-informed adventure therapy
Provide theoretical basis and hands-on experiential learning with practical application methods
Equip participants with a complete toolkit they can immediately implement
Create a professional network of practitioners across Ukraine• Include ongoing supervision and support.

Impact:

Each trained professional will be able to help at least a hundred people a year, and even more complex groups, creating a multiplier effect that will reach thousands of trauma survivors.
Trainees will include psychologists and therapists working with veterans, as well as mental health professionals helping families and young people.
The skills acquired are sustainable and can be adapted to different contexts with minimal resources, making this an effective long-term solution for communities in need.
The very first training courses in Ukraine will select future trainers who, having acquired sufficient skills in the application of the methodology, will be able to provide further training in the methodology to future AT professionals.

Your contribution will directly fund training scholarships for dedicated Ukrainian professionals who are committed to healing their communities but lack the financial means to access this specialised education.

Help us bring healing to those who need it most.

Support Adventure-Nature Therapy training in Ukraine today!

The keTTe Foundation, a Hungarian NGO (www.tapasztalati-tanulas-alapitvany.hu), was intended as the implementing organization. However, a newly enacted Hungarian law, modelled after Russian legislation, effectively prohibits NGOs from accepting foreign funding (EU or non-EU). Consequently, we are now required to solicit donations through a privately managed, foreign-based account.

As I live in Vienna, Austria, we can accept donations there, into a private sub-account set up for this purpose. Each donor who provides their contact details will be able to follow the use of the funds raised on a password-protected online page, in a completely transparent way.

The funds raised will be used to:

Cover professional training fees,
Pay the symbolic honorariums of international trainers,
Provide essential learning materials and tools,
Provide interpreters,
Offer part of the accommodation and meals in a forest environment
Manage organisational and administrative expenses, and
Cover some travel and other additional costs.

Budget counted:

Training fee for 1 person (one semester, i.e. 180+30 hours in 5 modules): total 1500 USD.

Training fee for 1 module for 1 professional: 300 USD. Thus, the total budget for the first training group (about 15 professionals, trainers, two interpreters, on site) is 23.000 USD, and for the two groups a total app. of 46.000 USD.

Every contribution matters!

By supporting this project, you are directly contributing to the healing and recovery of veterans and families impacted by warJoin us in bringing healing and hope to Ukraine!

Your support can make a measurable difference in the lives of those affected by war. Every dollar raised will help provide professionals with the tools and knowledge they need to guide trauma survivors toward recovery.

Share this campaign with your network and please help us reach more supporters.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about our project.

Your generosity is not just a donation - it is a testament to your commitment to helping Ukraine rebuild not just homes, but hearts and minds.

Together, we can provide trauma survivors with the care they deserve, and the resources professionals need to make a real difference.

Uzhhorod National University: https://www.uzhnu.edu.ua/en

Kette Foundation: https://tapasztalati-tanulas-alapitvany.hu/

N-AT UKRAINE – PILOT webpage: https://nature-adventure-therapy.com.ua/