APPLICATION OF THE AUTHOR’S ART THERAPY METHOD «THE BIRD AND THE NEST’» IN WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND ADULTS AND WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED FORCED DISPLACEMENT

Abstract

The article examines the application of the author’s art therapy method «The Bird and the Nest» in work with children and adults who have experienced forced displacement during the war in Ukraine. The psychological mechanisms of its impact are described, including the activation of imaginative thinking, processing of traumatic experience through symbolic representations, reduction of bodily and emotional tension, the formation of a sense of control, development of internal resources, and stabilization through the creation of a safe inner image of “home within oneself.” The structural stages of the method, its implementation features, and theoretical grounding within contemporary approaches to trauma therapy are presented. The method is outlined as a practical tool, with a detailed algorithm for its use and instructions for working with diverse age and therapeutic groups. Special attention is given to creating a safe therapeutic space, strengthening a sense of stability, developing resource states, and restoring the internal feeling of home as a key factor in overcoming the consequences of traumatic experience. The article includes an analysis of current scientific and art therapy approaches to trauma work, particularly the concepts of O. Voznesenska, L. Halitsyna, P. di Tommaso, B. van der Kolk, C. Malchiodi, and Elke Castner. Symbolism of the bird and the nest within various cultural and civilizational traditions is explored. The bird is interpreted as a symbol of movement, searching, freedom, and the return to one’s inner foundation, whereas the nest represents home, safety, stability, and renewal. The article demonstrates how these symbols are integrated into the art therapy process, facilitating transformation, meaning-making, and gradual integration of traumatic experience. The results of the method’s practical application among children and adults in Kharkiv, as well as among Ukrainian displaced persons in Poland and Austria, including participants with disabilities, are analyzed. The main therapeutic effects are identified: reduced anxiety, emotional stabilization, improved self-regulation, reinforcement of internal resilience, formation of a symbolic image of safety, and strengthening of personal identity. It is shown that the method promotes the restoration of psychological coherence, increased adaptability, and the development of a more stable sense of self in the world, even under the conditions of loss of home and prolonged uncertainty. Additional effects include improved emotional regulation, decreased anxiety and somatic tension, enhanced symbolic processing and awareness of personal experiences. The method supports the emergence of an internal sense of grounding, increased trust in one’s own resources, improved interpersonal interaction, and readiness for further therapeutic steps and social integration.