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The idea of creating a psychological service within the foundation emerged in summer 2022. We discussed it with foundation representative Olga Zazulinskaya and soon took the first steps: created work accounts, designed a resource distribution system, and found partnership support, including psychiatric help for more complex cases. After publishing an announcement on the foundation's media platforms, Belarusians began writing to us with requests for psychological help. Personally for me, this was a way to help as many people as possible in vulnerable situations. I once received important support myself and feel the need to pass it forward. Over three years of work — about 1500 hours of consultations and approximately 170 clients. Similar numbers for my colleague in the project.
Mainly adults: men, women, sometimes with children. These are relatives of political prisoners, victims of repression, activists, as well as ordinary Belarusians who were affected by recent events — even if they didn't go through prisons and detentions directly.
The main requests are anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, post-traumatic symptoms, adaptation difficulties after emigration, chronic stress. Some have problems with substance use.
For many, life improves after the immediate threat disappears. But raids, persecution, detention centers, prisons — all this leaves deep traces. Often this doesn't manifest as classic PTSD, but remains in the form of persistent memories. People need to tell their story, reassemble it — this is an important element of therapy. Talking helps integrate traumatic events and reduces their emotional charge. Any grief requires space, time, and attention.
There are many — I remember about 80% of the stories, with details. But particularly dear to me is the story of a woman whose son has been in a colony for a long time. We've been working with her since the very beginning of the project. She's an exceptional person, for me she is a symbol of Belarus-Mother. Despite severe depression, she worked, cared for her family, sent packages to her son. Now it's easier for her, she already takes care of herself too. I really look forward to the day when her son is released.
Yes, collective trauma exists. It's a feeling of belonging to an unjustly suffering people. Even if there are no specific events behind it, many Belarusians retain a sense of vulnerability, absence of "neutrality" toward themselves.
Moreover, trauma is transmitted between generations. This is already transgenerational trauma: learned wariness, anxiety, fear — what children absorb from parents and grandparents. Now the world is more mobile and open, perhaps this won't have such a deep impact as Soviet repressions had on our parents.
As for the "statute of limitations" — everything is individual. If a person was able to build a new life, is interested in people, builds relationships, engages in some activity, they can recover quite quickly. And if Belarus becomes free and a process of restoring justice begins, this will give strength to the entire society.
Inside the country, people live under permanent stress: fear, inability to make plans, constant wariness. In emigration there are other difficulties — adaptation, loneliness, depression, but there's a chance for recovery. However, many worry about loved ones in Belarus, feel guilt, fear being heard or noticed. We work with both groups.
Because this is real help. The "A Country to Live in" foundation's project has become an "island" of safety for many, where one can begin to understand oneself, structure fears and problems, find the "end of the thread" and start acting. And in action, clarity already appears.
Sometimes it seems that one big platform with combined resources is needed — for convenience and funding. Perhaps. But competition breeds standards. For example, we provide 10 sessions, and even though these 2.5 months barely allow building a stable alliance and achieving significant changes, this can be considered as an initial version of providing help. Another advantage of ours is flexibility. We now work through a bot, quickly pick up requests, adapt schedules to the client. This is important.
And, of course, the issue of burnout. To work effectively, you need to receive at least minimal compensation and the opportunity to be visible. 80% of our work is volunteering. Personally, I had to get a job in construction in my previous profession as an engineer to earn a living. Construction during the day, therapist's chair in the evening. Interesting, but almost no time left for professional development.
Try it. Call, just talk. The first session is almost always light chatting about life and difficulties. We ask questions because we really care about understanding how you're coping and where you're stuck. This isn't caricature "psychoanalysis on a couch" where mom is ultimately to blame. We allow swearing, crying, complaining. This is a space where you can be yourself.
If you want to understand how it works, you can start with YouTube interviews — for example, with Steven Hayes. He's a bit academic, but very professional. And we are a bit less academic, but more lively (smiles).
Therapy is a conversation with a person who, together with you, wants to find ways to improve your life.
Support the "Psychologist by Your Side" project
The project exists thanks to your support. It's donations that make it possible to provide psychological help to those who need it after imprisonment, detention, torture, emigration.
Each of your donations is an hour of therapy for a Belarusian.
By supporting the project, you become part of the recovery not only of an individual person, but of the entire nation.
Every donation helps support political prisoners and their families, giving them hope and the means to overcome challenges.
