In May of 2022 I was asked to devise and implement a wellness retreat for Ukrainian refugees in the Austrian Alps. The participants were twelve mothers and their nineteen children ages five to sixteen. These families were from Mariupol, Bucha and Kharkiv. They had hidden for several weeks underground and then escaped leaving behind destroyed homes and loved ones. Currently they were living in various cities in Europe.The fathers were either recently killed, still on the front lines or hospitalised with injuries.
Our core staff of eight volunteers was composed of two Ukrainian child therapists, a translator, founders of the sponsoring organization, expert mountaineers and an American psychologist.
Rather than approaching the task using traditional methods including uncovering and
treating the trauma and resulting PTSD, grief, anger, confusion, anxiety and depression, a structured program was created in order to provide the participants with the opportunity, skills and permission to flourish.
Each day began with a large group meeting and a few exercises including a breathing practice. Everyone was asked to silently form an intention for the day.” How do you want to feel? With whom do you want to connect? What do you want to achieve?”
The children were then transported to a climbing site in the nearby Alps. While climbing they were encouraged to build trust and cooperate with others, cultivate confidence and optimism, acknowledge and address fear, plan their next step and find joy and achievement in the present moment.
While their children were climbing the mothers participated in psycho-educational modules and workshops. These included “Self-Care During Times of Crisis,” “Assessing and Cultivating Your Strengths,” “Accessing and Labeling Positive Emotions,” “Living with Prolonged Uncertainty,” “Rediscovering Purpose and Meaning,” as well as physical activities including walks in nature and yoga classes. These groups served to illuminate to the women what was already inside them. The rich group discussions promoted close bonds among the participants who entered the program as strangers.
By the end of the week participants and staff seemed to be visibly transformed.