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The story of eight year old Sofiyka
Case study on support groups for children of active military personnel
"It was the best decision"*Names have been changed to protect confidentiality
All her life, Sofiyka has seen her dad in a military uniform and has known from an early age that he defends the country from the enemy; her father has been in the war since 2014. Now, her grandfather has also joined the defense of Ukraine. However, Sofiyka is a normal girl who misses her dad terribly. The tragic death of her beloved family dog on the frontline became an additional stressor that severely worsened the child's condition.
"It got to the point where, when my husband came home on leave, she would hide his things, doing everything she could just to make Dad stay home," says Alina, the girl's mother. "Our daughter started having nightmares. Hysterics appeared, and it became incredibly difficult to reason with her at all. So, I realized we needed a psychologist's help - I couldn't handle it alone. And just as I was thinking about it, a friend recommended the psychological support group for children of service members. I, as a mother, had zero hesitation".
However, Sofiyka initially didn't want to hear about psychological support, believing it was only for those "who have problems". "I explained it to her, saying that she didn't have to tell her friends about it at all," Alina shares. "After hearing my arguments, she agreed. It was the best decision!".
The girl eagerly attended the sessions, prepared for them, and took them very seriously. After Sofiyka completed the program, she became calmer, more sensible, and learned how to understand her emotions.
The girl's mother recounts: "Even now, our daughter sometimes says, "Mom, wait, I need to think and understand my feelings. I will find a way out of this situation". I consider that incredibly valuable. I recommend everyone - both adults and children - find the time to go through psychological support groups. Our mental health is incredibly important, but unfortunately, we pay very little attention to it".
When we were talking with Alina, the little beauty Sofiyka joined the conversation. The first thing she asked was, "When will there be another support group? I really liked it." And that is the highest praise for the work of our support groups.
The story of eight year old Sofiyka
Case study on support groups for children of active military personnel
"It was the best decision"*Names have been changed to protect confidentiality
All her life, Sofiyka has seen her dad in a military uniform and has known from an early age that he defends the country from the enemy; her father has been in the war since 2014. Now, her grandfather has also joined the defense of Ukraine. However, Sofiyka is a normal girl who misses her dad terribly. The tragic death of her beloved family dog on the frontline became an additional stressor that severely worsened the child's condition.
"It got to the point where, when my husband came home on leave, she would hide his things, doing everything she could just to make Dad stay home," says Alina, the girl's mother. "Our daughter started having nightmares. Hysterics appeared, and it became incredibly difficult to reason with her at all. So, I realized we needed a psychologist's help - I couldn't handle it alone. And just as I was thinking about it, a friend recommended the psychological support group for children of service members. I, as a mother, had zero hesitation".
However, Sofiyka initially didn't want to hear about psychological support, believing it was only for those "who have problems". "I explained it to her, saying that she didn't have to tell her friends about it at all," Alina shares. "After hearing my arguments, she agreed. It was the best decision!".
The girl eagerly attended the sessions, prepared for them, and took them very seriously. After Sofiyka completed the program, she became calmer, more sensible, and learned how to understand her emotions.
The girl's mother recounts: "Even now, our daughter sometimes says, "Mom, wait, I need to think and understand my feelings. I will find a way out of this situation". I consider that incredibly valuable. I recommend everyone - both adults and children - find the time to go through psychological support groups. Our mental health is incredibly important, but unfortunately, we pay very little attention to it".
When we were talking with Alina, the little beauty Sofiyka joined the conversation. The first thing she asked was, "When will there be another support group? I really liked it." And that is the highest praise for the work of our support groups.