Professors of the Department of Sociology and Psychology of Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs (KhNUIA) Yana Ponomarenko and Alla Shylina participated in the international “Seven Recovery Oriented Survivor Empowerment Strategies” (7ROSES) Training programme, held in Krakow, Poland.

The training was conducted by representatives of the ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre (Kingdom of the Netherlands) — Efa Hozemans and Kateryna Khyzhniak. ARQ specializes in psychotrauma, psychosocial support, and assistance to people affected by traumatic experiences, including war, violence, and forced displacement. The Centre developed the 7ROSES methodology, which aims to support personal recovery, strengthen resilience, and help individuals cope with everyday stressors.

During the three-day training, Yana Ponomarenko and Alla Shylina expanded their knowledge of psychotrauma, psychological recovery, daily stress factors, and professional self-care. The participants also explored practical tools of the 7ROSES model, including work with personal resources and sources of support, the values compass, activating and stimulating factors, as well as the structure and delivery of individual programme sessions.

A distinctive feature of the training was its Training of Trainers (ToT) format. In addition to studying the methodology itself, participants learned how to independently structure training sessions, work with groups, prepare educational materials, and deliver presentations.

An important component of the training was direct professional exchange with ARQ specialists. The University lecturers not only became acquainted with international experience in implementing the 7ROSES approach but also practiced the methodology’s tools and discussed opportunities for applying the acquired knowledge in the training of future psychologists and conducting professional workshops.

The training was conducted with the support of the European Union Advisory Mission (EUAM) Ukraine on Civil Security Sector Reform within the framework of the international technical assistance project “Operational Support in Providing Strategic Advice for the Reform of Ukraine’s Civil Security Sector (2024–2027).”