The First Graduates of the Program “Psychological Support at the Basis of Spiritual Service” Receive Certificates

Participants in the first cohort of the certificate program “Psychological Support at the Basis of Spiritual Service” successfully completed a one-year of study. On March 4-6, the final module of the program took place at the Volyn Orthodox Theological Academy in Lutsk, after which the participants took an exam and successfully received professional development certificates.

The concluding module focused on the psychology of religion, comparative pastoral care, and working with trauma. Facilitators from “Dialogue in Action” – Denys Brylov, Dmytro Fedorchak, Olena Kopina, and Taras Dyatlyk – together with the participants discussed a wide range of topics, from the characteristics of mystical experience to the family crisis typologies.

On the last day of the module, the group took part in an interactive exercise titled “Team vs. Game,” during which they had the opportunity to revisit the key topics of the course. The module also concluded with a session for sharing practical experience, where each participant presented examples of how the knowledge and skills gained during the program supported their spiritual or social ministry.

At the end of the training, participants took an oral examination evaluated by a commission composed of representatives of the NGO “Dialogue in Action,” the Ukrainian Humanitarian Institute, and the Volyn Orthodox Theological Academy. As a result of the exam, all 19 students received certificates confirming completion of the program and equivalent to 11 ECTS credits of professional development.

Overall, during the program “Psychological Support at the Basis of Spiritual Service,” participants completed five educational modules (including one additional module):

- May 19–23, 2025 – Bucha

- September 30 – October 3, 2025 – Lutsk

- November 6–7, 2025 – Lviv

- January 27–29, 2026 – Bucha

- March 4–6, 2026 – Lutsk

The program consisted of ten thematic blocks:

• Fundamentals of practical psychology;
• Psychology of crisis situations;
• Religious coping;
• Propaedeutics of psychiatry;
• Comparative pastoral care;
• Restorative practices and Circle practices;
• Trauma and context-sensitive approach;
• Psychology of religion.

We sincerely congratulate each of our graduates on successfully completing the program and acquiring knowledge and skills that will support them in their ministry.

We express our deep gratitude to our partners – the Ukrainian Humanitarian Institute and the Volyn Orthodox Theological Academy, and personally to their rectors, Liudmyla Shtanko and Father Volodymyr Vakin – for walking this path side by side with us.

Special thanks to Kerk in Actie for their trust and support in implementing this program.