Therapeutic Writing as a Path to Healing: A Mental Health Month Workshop Held in Buchach

On May 24, 2025, a therapeutic writing workshop took place in the cozy atmosphere of “Café on Agnon” in the town of Buchach. The event was organized by the Department of Psychiatry, Narcology, and Medical Psychology of Ternopil National Medical University in collaboration with the NGO “Buchach-ART”. It was held as part of Mental Health Awareness Month and the nationwide mental health program “How Are You?”, an initiative of the First Lady Olena Zelenska.

The workshop was led by Tetiana Ivanitska-Diachun, Assistant Professor of the Department of Psychiatry, Narcology, and Medical Psychology at TNMU. The participants — people of various ages and professions — came seeking answers to important inner questions through the power of words. The method of therapeutic writing, which lay at the heart of the event, allowed each person to dive into their personal experiences and transform them into metaphors of healing.

At the center of the workshop was the personal story — written from the heart, with honesty and care. Writing became a tool to structure thoughts, touch pain, release emotional burdens, and discover new inner support. The atmosphere of the evening — sincere, trusting, and supportive — encouraged deep personal work. Together, the participants created a safe circle, where every story was heard and accepted with empathy.

“Therapeutic writing is not about literary quality — it’s about truth. About meeting yourself through words. And when that meeting happens, the process of inner transformation begins,”
— said Tetiana Ivanitska-Diachun.

This event became another important step in promoting mental health in Ukraine — particularly in smaller towns, where the need for psychological support often remains unseen. Initiatives like this help to build a culture of mental well-being, break down stigma, and open the door to deeper, more honest conversations about ourselves and our lives.