Olena Gerzheniy

Olena Gerzheniy is a practicing psychologist, Gestalt counselor, specialist in metaphorical association maps, sand therapist, and play therapist. I live and work in Svaliava. When the full-scale war began, I, like most citizens, was shocked, confused, and scared. My hands were giving up and my emotions were going through the roof… And it was the “Tree of My Life” project that literally pulled me out of that state. A psychologist colleague called and offered to conduct psychological support classes for volunteers within the framework of this project. It inspired me, made me pull myself together, and put all my psychological knowledge and skills to work. I felt needed! I realized that I could be useful to others. And, oddly enough, by helping others, I helped myself to “dig out” from all the horror that was happening… Starting as a project, now it is a charitable foundation, psychological resource, educational and cultural space “Tree of My Life” has been providing help and support to everyone who needs it (IDPs, volunteers, families of military personnel, residents) since the first month of the war. After the weekly group meetings, when participants thank us, share their emotions, and talk about real positive changes, I am happy. In this difficult time, it is so important to support each other, to warm and empower each other. Our task is to preserve our nervous system and psyche as best we can. We still have to rebuild the country, and the victory will be ours because we have no other option!