Is psychotherapy today a fashion or a vital necessity?

Just a few years ago, going to a psychotherapist in Ukraine often drew skeptical looks. “Why?”, “I’m fine as I am”, “I’m not crazy” were common reactions.

Psychotherapy was perceived as something “Western”, fashionable, and privileged. It did not fit into the usual Ukrainian culture of silent patience, where inner pain is supposed to be hidden, not spoken about.

 However, everything has changed.

After February 24, 2022, millions of Ukrainians found themselves in a reality they had previously only seen in movies or history books. The war brought not only physical destruction, but also deep psychological trauma that is not always visible to the naked eye.

Anxiety as the new normal

The conditions that were considered the exception yesterday – panic attacks, insomnia, depression – have become a daily reality for many people today. People are living in constant tension, waiting for air raid alerts, loss of communication with relatives or news from the front. The families of the victims are experiencing unspeakable grief. For IDPs, it is the loss of home and support. Children have anxiety that they cannot explain in words.

However, everything has changed. After the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, millions of Ukrainians found themselves in a reality they had previously only seen in movies or history books. The war brought not only physical destruction, but also deep psychological trauma that is not always visible to the naked eye.

According to the World Health Organization, as of October 2024, 46% of Ukrainians reported mental health problems due to the war. In addition, 68% of Ukrainians reported that their overall health had deteriorated compared to the pre-war period.

The Ministry of Health of Ukraine predicts that about 15 million Ukrainians will need psychological support because of their experiences, including 3-4 million who will need medication. Source: Slovo i Dilo

Culture of silence is the biggest threat

For many years, Ukrainian society has been in the habit of tolerating. However, this strategy is no longer working. Internal wounds that are not talked through and healed can destroy a person from the inside. This is where psychotherapy is not just support, but a means of preserving the integrity of the individual.

Today, Ukrainians are increasingly turning to specialists. According to a study by the “How are you?” program, the share of those who are already seeing psychologists or psychotherapists increased from 7% in 2022 to 17% in early 2025. At the same time, the percentage of those who categorically do not plan to seek such help decreased from 46% in 2022 to 22% in 2025.

What exactly “works” in therapy?

Psychotherapy is not one single approach. There are many schools, methods and techniques, each of which can be effective for different people:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective for anxiety disorders, depression, and PTSD. It helps to change destructive thought patterns.
• Psychodynamic therapy – focuses on deep internal conflicts, unconscious processes often associated with childhood.
• Gestalt therapy helps to experience emotions in the here and now, to form awareness and personal boundaries.
• Body-oriented therapy – works with the body, which is especially relevant for somatic symptoms of anxiety or traumatic experiences.
• Trauma-focused therapy (e.g., EMDR) – specially designed to work with PTSD, combat and civilian trauma.
• Family and systemic therapy – allows you to consider problems in the context of the family, family relationships, and is important in adapting to new circumstances and losses.
• Existential therapy – helps to comprehend loss, the meaning of life in conditions where old landmarks have disappeared.

This spectrum is not about fashion. It is about an individual path to inner balance. And the therapist’s task is to find the method that will really help a particular person.

“Pop” or popularization?

 As interest in psychotherapy has grown, so have the dangers. “Mental trainers,” coaches, and gurus without education are flourishing on social media. This creates confusion and devalues real professional help. At the same time, popularizing the topic of mental health is a definite plus. People start talking, seeking support, and learning to listen to themselves.

Psychotherapy is about the future

We do not know when the war will end. But we do know that it has already changed us. And now, more than ever, it is important to learn to talk about ourselves, our pain, our limits. Psychotherapy teaches you not to be “comfortable” but to be honest – with yourself and with others. It helps you not to lose yourself in the tumultuous events.

  So is psychotherapy a fashion? Maybe for some people. But for the majority of Ukrainians, it has become something that helps them to endure, survive and live on. And this is no longer a fashion. It is a necessity.

Where to look for help?

If you feel the need for support but are unable to contact a private specialist, there are services where you can get help for free or on a retainer basis:

• Tell Me platform – Online consultations with professional psychologists for adults and children. (tellme.com.ua)
• Psychological help for veterans, military and their families – Catalog of proven specialists working with the military, PTSD, and loss. (bezbroni.net)
• Platform “Austrian Helpdesk” (Hilfswerk) – Free online therapy in Ukrainian and English. Support of specialists from Europe. (mentalhelp.in.ua) 
• UA MH (Ukrainian Mental Health Initiative) is an international initiative for those who are looking for a psychologist online in Ukrainian. (https://www.uamentalhelp.org)
• Nebajduzhe is an all-Ukrainian volunteer initiative. (https://небайдуже.укр/)
• TEENERGIZER – support for teenagers and youth. (https://teenergizer.org/)
• RAZOM is a social project for IDPs. (https://razom.live/)
• PORUCH is a professional project of psychological support for refugees from Ukraine. (https://poruch.me/)