PsyCorps: Second Ukraine Mission

PsyCorps: Psychology Support International is an organization of clinical and family psychologists in the Pacific Northwest providing mental health first aid training to community volunteers who then give mental health support to survivors of natural or man-made disasters (such as earthquakes or war).

Disaster response research has consistently pointed to the need for psychological care for disaster survivors. Research has also found that disaster survivors appear to benefit most when helped by those within their own communities. PsyCorps curriculum is focused on strengthening social and family networks by training a team of community volunteers who can provide mental health support to survivors.

Because of the physical and psychological toll Ukrainians are suffering due to the ongoing war with Russia, it is not an exaggeration to say that every single person in Ukraine is experiencing some amount of trauma, and the impact of the war will not stop when the war ends. It shows tremendous thoughtfulness that government and church organizations are making efforts to best alleviate the mental health effects of this war, both during and once the war has ended.

Eighty-nine percent of Ukraine’s mental healthcare providers work in an inpatient setting, mainly treating psychosis or substance abuse. Therefore, it is impossible to send every person with mental health needs to a specialist, making it critical to finding alternative support solutions.

PsyCorps was invited by the Honorary Consulate of Ukraine in Seattle, in collaboration with Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University and the Rector of Paltova Seminary, to train community volunteers, as well as educators and medical personnel to provide training in mental health first aid and traumatology. The psychological support training we provide is designed to give military leaders, medical personnel, church leaders, and the many homegrown volunteers with a basic understanding of psychological first aid and mental health support. A team of four top-tier psychologists versed in trauma psychology, traveled to the cities of Lviv, Rivne, Chernivtsi and Lutsk for two weeks, June 25 through July 9, 2022. The team gave presentations on the treatment of child and adult trauma and trained volunteers in the PsyCorps curriculum for mental health support at diverse settings, including, the National University in Chernivtsi, Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University, the Ukrainian Church of the Evangelical Christian Faith and the head of the military administration of the Vyzhnytskyi district in the Chernivtsi region, organized by Mykola Strynada, a priest of the Protestant church.

At each place, we were welcomed with gratitude and a tremendous desire to learn. So many Ukrainians shared their stories and hearts with us. The sincere dedication of every leader and volunteer to support their communities was a master class in servant leadership. Ukraine is beautiful. We travelled from north to south across the western region and saw bright sunflower fields, rolling farmland, forested mountains, villages, and the beautiful old cities of Lutsk and Lviv. We spent a lovely two nights in the mountain village of Lekechi where our evening walks were interrupted by the very charming sight of a shepherd returning his sheep from pasture to home. We loved the small roadside mini-churches. In contrast to the beauty, however, were signs everywhere of the war, even in the ‘safe zones’ of the west. From the moment we crossed the border, there were military checkpoints at night and all major roads had anti-tank barricades. It took us nearly two hours to cross the border from Poland into Ukraine, and over 3 to return, and this was *with* a diplomatic pass.

Our work ended on July 7 with PsyCorps training in the city of Vyzhnytsia, where we received an invitation from the deputy head of the military administration of the Chernivtsi region, Ms. Iryna Isopenko, to work in the field of rehabilitation of soldiers at the level of the entire region.

We intend to return to Ukraine in the month of October and focus on training trainers to continue the work of providing mental health support. We will also provide consultation to the military governor of Ukraine for providing rehabilitative support for refugees and military families. Our work will center in the Chernivtsi region. We look forward to seeing all the brave and steadfast friends we left behind.

PsyCorps: Psychology Support International is an organization of clinical and family psychologists in the Pacific Northwest. PsyCorps provides mental health first aid training to community volunteers who then give mental health support to survivors of a natural or man-made disaster.

 

With the physical and psychological toll Ukrainians are suffering due to the ongoing conflict with Russia, PsyCorps has been invited by the Honorary Consulate of Ukraine in Seattle, in collaboration with Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University and the Rector of Paltova Seminary, to train community volunteers, as well as educators and medical personnel in mental health first aid and traumatology.

Disaster response research has consistently pointed to the need for psychological care for disaster survivors. Research has also found that disaster survivors appear to benefit most from helping networks that occur within the context of natural social routines, which utilize preexisting social support such as friends and family. The PsyCorps curriculum is focused on strengthening social and family networks by training a cadre of caregivers who can provide mental health support to survivors.

 

A team of five top-tier psychologists will travel to refugee camps in Poland and Romania and the cities of Chernivtsi and Lutsk for two weeks, June 25 through July 9, 2022.

 

Trainers:

 

John Thoburn, M.Div., Ph.D., ABPP

Dr. John Thoburn is Professor Emeritus of Clinical Psychology at Seattle Pacific University. He is a board-certified Washington State licensed psychologist and marriage and family therapist. His international training and teaching in disaster and family psychology have included time in Uganda, Bosnia, India, Sri Lanka, China, Jordan/Syria, Haiti, Jamaica and Japan. Dr. Thoburn has received numerous awards over the years, including the International Humanitarian Award from the American Psychological Association. Dr. Thoburn is co-author of the books: Family Psychology: Theory, Research and Practice, published by Praeger Press and Clergy Sexual Misconduct: A Systems Approach to Prevention, Intervention and Oversight, published by Gentle Path Press.

 

Amy Mezulis, Ph.D.

 

Dr. Mezulis is a licensed clinical psychologist who received her BA from Harvard University and her MA and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Dr. Mezulis is the Co-Founder and Chief Clinical Officer at Joon Care and is also a Professor in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at Seattle Pacific University, Dr. Mezulis’ research has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Association of Research in Schizophrenia and Depression, and the American Psychological Association. She has published more than 60 peer-reviewed studies on physiological, cognitive, and affective pathways to adolescent depression and self-injury and is particularly interested in the joint contributions of environment and biology on mental health.

 

Christopher Tobey, Ph.D., ABPP

 

Dr. Christopher P. Tobey is both a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and a Licensed Psychologist practicing Clinical Psychology in Washington. He received his B.S. degree from Seattle University, a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Michigan and a doctoral degree in Family Clinical Psychology from Seattle Pacific University.

Dr. Tobey has spent ten years in residential treatment settings providing treatment services to both children and adolescents. He has been in private practice at the same location in Anacortes, Washington, since 1992, providing treatment to primarily adolescents, adults, couples and families. Dr. Tobey serves on several boards and committees, including the Northwest Behavioral Health Independent Practitioners Association, the Mental Health Advisory Board to the Skagit County Commissioners, the Child Protect Team of Skagit County and PsyCorps: Psychology Support International.

 

 

Amanda Edwards-Stewart, Ph.D., ABPP

 

Dr. Edwards-Stewart is a board certified, licensed clinical psychologist with clinical expertise in the areas of trauma, substance abuse, certain personality disorders, personality assessments, and couples. She has experience teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and is currently involved in research activities that span many different topic areas including innovative treatments for PTSD and teletherapy.

 

 

Jeff Holguin, Ph.D.

 

Dr. Holguin is a university professor, teaching evidence-based clinical skills to future clinicians, and he is an independent clinical consultant. In addition to a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, he holds a Masters of Science in Clinical Psychology and double Bachelors of Science degrees in human biology (pre-medicine) and health psychology from Bastyr University, with additional focus and training in the biochemistry and neuroscience of trauma. His work focuses on the understanding, assessment, and management of the biopsychosocial components of chronic pain, trauma (PTSD), resilience, disaster psychology, serious and dangerous mental illness, and psychopathy.

Prior to academics, Dr. Holguin served in the U.S. Coast Guard, where he was a Navy-trained Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) diver, hyperbaric chamber operator, rescue swimmer, EMT (dive, flight, and tactical), law enforcement officer, and navigator.

 

Funding will be used for travel costs, transportation, room and board and supplies related to trainings at Ukrainian refugee camps in Poland and Romania, the training of seminarians and chaplains of Poltava Seminary and for presentations on Traumatology at Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University.

If you are interested in tax deductible status for your donations please contact Dr. Thoburn at [email editado].