Imagine that instead of the usual office of a psychologist or social counselor, you find yourself in a quiet forest where you can hear birds singing. Or in a softly lit room where you can breathe calmly and focus on yourself. Or maybe on the bank of a river, where the splashing of water helps to release tension.
This is not a fantasy or a full-fledged journey - it is a short VR session, a new form of psychological support, which the Labor and Health Social Initiatives (LHSI) has already begun to implement in Ukraine.
Why VR? mental health professionals?
Virtual reality is increasingly being used in medicine and rehabilitation. It helps people calm down, cope with anxiety, and feel safe. For young people who have experienced war, loss of home, or prolonged stress, VR can be the first step in regaining a sense of control.
In VR space, it is easier to focus on your own emotions - there are no external stimuli, instead there are specially created safe environments that the psychologist conducts together with the client. These are short but deep immersions that help:
- reduce stress and anxiety levels;
- restore a sense of stability;
- learn self-regulation techniques;
- to gently talk through difficult experiences.
This practice has long been highly effective in Europe. Now, for the first time, the Labor and Health Social Initiatives (LHSI) is adapting it for Ukrainian youth.
A project that adapts VR therapy in Ukraine
“Think about the Future” is a three-year initiative implemented by the Labor and Health Social Initiatives (LHSI) together with partners from the Netherlands and Poland. The goal is to support the mental health of young people aged 12–26 who have faced the consequences of war and internal displacement. In Ukraine, the project partners in Ukraine are the Service for Children and Family Affairs of the Kyiv City State Administration, the Vinnytsia Regional Center of Social Services, and the Odessa Branch of the Fund for Social Protection of Persons with Disabilities,
Within the framework of the project, for the first time in Ukraine,short-term VR psychotherapy, developed based on successful approaches of Dutch specialists. A specially trained team of psychologists and social workers of the Labor and Health Social Initiatives (LHSI) from Kyiv, Vinnytsia and Odessa regions has already undergone training, including in Poland, where they practiced techniques for working with groups, managing stress and crisis situations.
VR is just one of the innovations. LHSI is also creating mobile consultation pointswho come to remote communities, schools, and social centers so that children and youth can receive support where there is no way to get to a psychologist.
By 2028, VR sessions are expected to help 6,300 young people, and mobile teams will provide support for more 6 000.
How a VR session works
From the outside, everything is very simple: a person puts on VR glasses, sits comfortably, a psychologist is nearby. But inside, important work begins.
In virtual space, young people can:
- see peaceful, resourceful locations;
- perform breathing and relaxation exercises;
- recreate safe situations to overcome anxiety;
- undergo short therapeutic scenarios under the supervision of a specialist.
This is not a replacement for therapy - it is a way to make it more accessible, gentler, and safer, especially for those who have difficulty opening up or maintaining concentration in real space.
This is a way to make finding ways to achieve goals and support more accessible and effective—especially for young people who have experienced war, displacement, loss of stability, or prolonged stress.
Why is this for Ukraine now?
Thousands of young people are living in constant tension due to the war. Some have experienced loss, some have been displaced, some have experienced the rupture of communities, some have experienced prolonged uncertainty. Levels of anxiety and emotional exhaustion among young people are high, and access to support is often limited.
VR and mobile teams are the way to go to convey help where it is needed most. It is a tool that is not intimidating, does not stigmatize, and does not require lengthy explanations.
Simple: put on your glasses, take a deep breath, and feel that there is a specialist and a safe space nearby.
Who is behind the project?
The national Ukrainian implementer, LHSI, has over 20 years of experience in child health and protection. The organization coordinates training for psychologists, adapts VR protocols, deploys mobile units, and works with communities to ensure long-term sustainability of support systems.
Labor and Health Social Initiatives (LHSI)(LHSI)implements the project in partnership with international organizations —ICDI, The Changing Room, PRO-FIL, as well as Ukrainian social services in Kyiv, Vinnytsia and Odessa regions. Funding is provided by UPF, a program of the Dutch government supporting the reconstruction of Ukraine.