A space for inspiration, comfort and genuine connection
At the Kamianets-Podilskyi Family Support Center, educators, psychologists, and a speech therapist work with children of all ages, while adults receive professional psychological counseling and case management services
Serhiyko is building a ship out of Lego blocks. The ship falls over – the boy persistently picks it up, thinking: what to fix, how to make the structure more stable. Before classes begin with the younger group of children at the Kamianets-Podilskyi Family Support Center, the kids play with toys on the mat while the teachers prepare materials for developmental lessons. In a few minutes, the boys and girls will dive into the fascinating world of fun math and the alphabet. They will draw, guess words, construct sentences, and learn to write letters – all in a relaxed and natural way, through play and cheerful interaction. The teachers – Ms. Tetiana and Ms. Mariana – strive to connect with each child, helping them focus and spark their interest in the subject.
Meanwhile, in the adjacent room, Ms. Tetiana, a psychologist at the Center, is leading a session with a group of mothers. They discuss how to express their thoughts effectively and put psychological recommendations into practice. «Sessions for parents are one of the key areas of our Center’s work», says its coordinator, Father Gabriel Sukharsky. «Our psychologist colleagues strive to study and understand the needs adults most frequently encounter when communicating with their children. ‘Stress-Free Parenting’ is one of the topics they plan to discuss as early as next week».
Needs, of course, vary depending on the children’s age. Communicating with younger children and teenagers has its own nuances. Ultimately, every adult comes with their own set of problems. Many IDP families live in the city. Emotional exhaustion, uncertainty about how to move forward, and prolonged depressive states trouble many. Psychologist Ms. Tetiana says that sometimes people who have already received recommendations from a psychiatrist and are taking antidepressants come for a consultation. Sometimes the opposite happens: the Center’s psychologists refer a person to a specialist. These are difficult times for everyone.
«Many of the children who come to our Center have atypical development or autism spectrum disorders, notes Ms. Tetiana. We make it clear to parents that working with these children requires constant effort. And we see noticeable positive changes along the way. Younger children struggle with fears, anxiety, and speech disorders; they have difficulty speaking and stutter. During individual consultations, teenagers talk about complicated relationships with their parents, misunderstandings with adults, and signs of social anxiety. We try to work together to find solutions to these difficult situations. Trust is a very important factor in our work».
Many older people who come to us for support need psychological help, explains Yulia, a case manager at the Center. However, convincing them of how important such a specialist’s support is for them is no easy task. Kamianets-Podilskyi is a relatively peaceful city, but internally displaced persons from war-torn regions need not only peace but also employment and social housing. Finding work is difficult; most male-dominated job openings are hard to fill. Fifty percent of those who turn to the case manager have basic needs – for food and hygiene supplies.
… An air raid siren interrupts the class in the children’s space. Accompanied by teachers, the children go down to the shelter. The shelter is comfortable and equipped for classes, so the boys and girls can continue their lesson. A little dancing and movement exercises to warm up. The alert is prolonged and widespread, lasting several hours, so the class for the older group of children also takes place in the shelter. A quilling workshop – making flat and three-dimensional paper compositions – captivates both teenagers and adults. Time flies by unnoticed: amid jokes, mutual advice, and witty stories.
The Family Support Center in Kamianets-Podilskyi has been operating since early 2026. Classes are held here every day except weekends. «I’m truly delighted that the children have this space and such an important opportunity to interact,” says psychologist Tetyana. «When parents say that their child loves it here so much, that thanks to the classes at the Center, the child has become calmer and more self-confident, and wants to come back here – that speaks volumes. For us, this is the most valuable testament to the collective work of the entire Center team. And it motivates us to keep working and growing».
