Introduction
Mental health professionals working in war-affected regions of Ukraine are exposed to sustained secondary traumatic stress, emotional overload, and compassion fatigue. Their psycho-emotional well-being directly affects both the quality of psychological care provided to war-affected populations and professionals' capacity to remain in practice under prolonged crisis conditions. Identifying effective forms of support for these professionals is therefore an urgent priority.
Purpose
This presentation reports findings from a pilot study examining the impact of retreat-based interventions on the psycho-emotional well-being of Ukrainian psychologists and psychotherapists during the ongoing war. The study evaluates retreats as a targeted support format for professionals working under chronic war-related stress and explores the resource components and mechanisms through which such interventions foster psychological resilience and recovery.
Method
A mixed-methods design was applied, combining a sociodemographic questionnaire, standardized measures (WHO-5, CORE-10, BSI, HAAS), and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data were collected at pre-, post-, and follow-up time points from an experimental (n = 34) and a control group (n = 31). Qualitative data consisted of 14 interviews with retreat participants, conducted in 2025 in Denmark, Poland, and France.
Results
Multivariate analysis using Pillai's Trace demonstrated significant Time × Group interactions for anxiety (p = .003), psychological distress (p = .002), well-being (p < .001), positive emotions (p < .001), and negative emotions (p = .011). Somatization and interpersonal sensitivity showed no significant interactions. Qualitative findings converged with quantitative results, indicating increased resilience, inner stability, and access to psychological resources. Key resource components included participation with children, an experienced sense of care, contact with nature, and voluntary engagement in group activities.
Conclusions
Retreat-based interventions represent a powerful form of support for psychologists and psychotherapists working under prolonged war-related stress. These findings highlight the need to implement retreats as a regular, preventative strategy in crisis settings globally.