STRONG TIES, STRONG COUPLES

The Yarmiz Center hosted the first pilot project in Ukraine for families of combatants - an event that harmoniously coincided with World Mental Health Day and on the eve of Defender of Ukraine Day. Because psychological support in overcoming the traumatic consequences of the armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine and help in returning to a peaceful life, the Center provides a comprehensive family approach and the restoration of harmonious relationships. The project "Strong ties, strong couples" was created by Dr. Sue Johnson and Dr. Catherine Reem.
For more than 10 years, this program has been successfully implemented and proven effective with couples of US Army veterans. The translation, adaptation and creation of working material was worked on by a team of volunteers who have undergone training and are specialists in the method of emotionally-focused psychotherapy for couples, which became the basis for the implementation of this program: Olena Redchyts, Sofia Gordienko, Elena Lytvyn, Myroslava Kyryliuk. Many thanks to the translator who contributed to the creation of workbooks for couples, Karina Bezrebra. Special thanks to the qualified trainers Olena Redchyts and Valentina Neykova-Mohova, who, with their competence and therapeutic skill, helped program participants to work on healing relationships in their couples in a safe atmosphere.
The dream of creating an accessible and effective program for families of veterans in Ukraine was realized by a family psychologist - psychotherapist of the Yarmiz Center Syrytsia Marina.
Based on the results of the work, we received positive feedback from the training participants:
"...For the 6 years of our marriage, I opened up to my wife like this for the first time. That's how the war changed me, changed us... we started drifting apart. Today the feelings are completely different, today I am ready to share my experiences and listen to my wife."
"...During these 2 days, I received so many new things that I have no words to describe what is happening in my head. We had such a sensitive conversation for the first time; we opened up to each other for the first time…”
"...My wife did not understand me at all, I lost hope of proving something. And today we managed to understand and hear each other."
"...I heard for the first time in a long period of married life that my husband has a fear of losing me, it was so important to hear, now it is easier for me to understand why he does this or why he is silent... Thank you."
"...Today I realized for the first time my fears that were bothering me, but I didn't admit it. I was able to share it, and my wife heard me. It helped our couple understand and hear each other."
"...I didn't even realize my role in the couple, it seemed to me that it was my husband who was constantly insulting me, and that I was such a victim in life. And it turns out that I can also hurt the person I love... I have a lot to work on."
"...We are like 2 trains rushing at crazy speed towards each other on the same track, and we have a head-on collision every day. It hurts a lot after every such conflict. I realized that I want us to run in the same direction and at the same speed, and I'm ready to work on it."
"...It turns out that the one who shouts is not always the aggressor. Screaming in pain..."
"...For my partner, I was like a rehabilitation center, I realized that I wanted a different relationship and I was ready to work on it."
"...Our couple has been through a lot and learned a lot. We understood how the experience of war affects us. And today I'm convinced that relationships are like a business, and it's worth working on them."
We express our sincere thanks to the participants of the training, each couple individually for their choice in life, for their strength and courage.
Each family of a veteran is unique in its life experience, in its history.
Remember: a relationship full of love is the best antidote to stress.