Being there for children

A 16-year-old girl, hospitalized in the pediatric oncology department with her mom, could not receive an accurate diagnosis for a long time. Fear and confusion reigned in the family, and the mother did not dare to talk openly with her daughter about the disease, believing that she had no idea what it was. When they turned to a psychologist, it turned out that the girl had long understood everything, but not to upset her mother, she hid her own fears and feelings. The psychological support that both the patient and her mother received helped them open up to each other and discuss all the issues. Thanks to the understanding in the family, the girl learned to allow herself to be upset and enjoy simple things. She perceives the situation of the disease more calmly and is motivated to continue treatment.

The psychological state of the child and his family are of great importance for recovery. The disease associated with long-term treatment disrupts family life, requires changes in family roles and relationships, causes financial problems, and destroys dreams and plans for the future. Parents feel confusion, guilt, shame. Children and parents experience emotional stress, anxiety, despair, anger, fear of the future, inability to control the situation, chaos of various feelings.

Regular and systematic psychological work with children and their family members increases stress resistance. It reduces anxiety and fear, which gives the child an opportunity to cope with treatment difficulties successfully and recover easier. The cooperation between a psychologist, a doctor, and parents increases the effectiveness of treatment because the psychologist acts as a mediator between the family and the medical staff.

Over the 13 years of the psychological service’s functioning, Zaporuka’s specialists have provided more than 3,700 consultations for children and more than 7,700 consultations for parents. Psychologists of our service have prepared books to support children and their families: "When you are ill", "When you are ill for teenagers", "When your child dies". In their work, the service psychologists use a humanistic approach, existential therapy, Gestalt therapy, art and play therapy, group work, individual counseling, breathing exercises, body-oriented psychotherapy and much more.

At dobro.ua we are raising funds that will be used to finance the psychological service of the fund during 2022-2023 in the children's department of the National Cancer Institute and in the Center for Children with Cancer "Dacha".

Being there for children in any situation is the primary goal of our psychological service!