The Center provides psychological support to military personnel, veterans and their families, organizes thematic events, creates information materials with practical advice, conducts training for specialists who work with families of military personnel and veterans. We attach particular importance to the development of partnerships, strengthen cooperation with state institutions, military structures and the media in order to provide families of defenders with stable, accessible and effective support.

Our team uses modern approaches to psychological assistance, including crisis counseling and scientifically based methods based on evidence-based psychology:

• cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT);
• emotionally focused therapy (EFT);
• EMDR;
• art therapy methods.

Individual psychological consultations

Individual consultations are aimed at developing the personality, forming vital skills and supporting in overcoming psychological difficulties arising from war, where there may be losses, divorces, disappearances of loved ones under special circumstances, prolonged stress and emotional exhaustion. The goal of the work is to promote self-realization and building a balanced life based on internal stability, awareness and the ability to adapt to change.

We provide, at the request of parents, psychological assistance to children during periods of emotional stress, promote the formation of communication skills, support in overcoming anxiety and adapting to life changes. Our team focuses its efforts on supporting children living in difficult war conditions. They face emotional upheavals every day, therefore our goal is to help them maintain mental health and faith in the future.

Support groups under the program "5 Steps to Resilience. For those who are waiting"

A program for women whose partners are in the military and who are on the front lines every day, staying connected despite the distance. Over the course of 8 weeks, participants go through a five-step process that helps them understand themselves, their partner's changes, and the impact of combat experience on their relationships. It is a space where they can strengthen their emotional connection, regain their inner strength, see their own strength, and rethink their shared history as a source of strength. The program does not provide advice, but it does provide deep understanding, support, and a quiet, steadfast belief that a connection can be maintained if it is supported by two people.

Working with couples

Counseling for couples in which one or both partners are in the military or have military veteran status. Couples counseling promotes emotional stability, improves communication, and helps couples learn to overcome the challenges of prolonged separation, stress, and changes associated with military service.

Strong ties – strong couples

This three-day course is designed for couples in which one partner has combat experience. It helps families experiencing the challenges associated with military service and long-term separations. The program includes practical exercises in emotion-focused therapy aimed at a deeper understanding of one's own feelings, restoring inner balance and building trusting, supportive relationships. Participants learn to better hear each other, cope with tension and strengthen emotional intimacy. The course was developed by Drs. Sue Johnson and Catherine Ream and adapted by Ukrainian specialists taking into account modern life circumstances and the context of war.

For the first time in Ukraine, the program "Strong Connections - Strong Couples" was implemented at the "YARMIZ" Center and presented in November 2021 at the International Symposium "Norway - Ukraine Project" (NUPASS) The International Foundation for Social Adaptation.

Training center for psychologists

We study the needs of specialists working in the field of mental health, analyze the real challenges of their practice and transform complex scientific and methodological developments into accessible, practically oriented formats. Based on this, we develop educational programs, trainings and information resources. The training center provides specialists with high-quality information and methodological support, contributing to their professional growth, development of competencies and increasing the effectiveness of providing psychological assistance in war conditions and during adaptation.

• program "5 Steps to Resilience. For those who are waiting" (training in leading support groups for wives/partners of military personnel);
• "Communication across distance" program (training in the specifics of crisis pair counseling for families of military personnel and veterans).
• peer-to-peer program 

The military listens best to those who have gone through the same path. But will someone who is going through the same path be able to listen, not harm, and be there for them in a quality way? We give the military psychological knowledge adapted to their needs and requirements: from the basic principles of psychological first aid to communication practices, recognizing addictions and redirecting them, the basics of interaction within a group, and motivating them to serve. We work with officers and junior commanders, because they are responsible not only for completing the task, but primarily for their people. There is no complex scientific psychology here - everything is as applied, lively, and simple as possible. These training programs are about the fact that there is life in war.

• trauma-sensitive communication training for first-line contact specialists

Our trainings are not just “instructions on how to talk to … (veteran, IDP, military)”. We teach you to see beyond the words and behavior of people who have gone through very different war experiences. Trauma sensitivity training is the basis of the ability to do no harm and support where even the usual “how are you?” can hurt. Social workers, doctors, ASN employees, practicing psychologists and other specialists receive an educational part designed for their needs and simple and practical tools to work effectively, reduce the risk of their own burnout, develop self-esteem and respect for the experience of people who are going through different war experiences. The program is based on a combination of the best global practices and unique Ukrainian experience, which makes it as relevant and effective as possible.