The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has a direct impact on almost all Ukrainian families: sons go to the front as soldiers and, at worst, never come back. Wives, children and other family members are often left traumatised.
Also soldiers who have spent some time at the front often return home with severe psychological problems. Together with local partners (mainly psychologists and psychotherapists), the Horst Rogusch Foundation therefore supports various types of therapy for traumatised soldiers and their families. Two examples are the so-called "mountain therapy" and the so-called "playback theatre".
As part of the "mountain therapy", we offer traumatised people a break lasting several days in the safe, war-free area of the central Carpathian Mountains, where they can actively deal with their experiences and traumas in various individual and group sessions under the guidance of experts. The "Playback Theatre" format, which we run in various Ukrainian cities (including Kharkiv and Uzhgorod), aims in a similar direction: this is an interactive theatre with the special feature that the participants can talk about their personal experiences of war. They can then watch how these are enacted on stage by actors for the other group members and accompanying family members. This approach also helps participants to come to terms with their own negative experiences and traumas.
Further information on trauma therapy in Ukraine and our activities can also be found in the following WDR radio programme: