War doesn’t just destroy buildings, it shakes the soul.
Willa is 34 and entered therapy carrying the heavy emotional toll of prolonged uncertainty and loss. Following a job loss due to the ongoing war, she experienced a sharp decline in self-worth, persistent low mood, and overwhelming anxiety about the future. Her sleep was disrupted, and her frustration levels remained high — a reflection of both personal and collective trauma.
Therapy began by giving Willa space to tell her story through narrative therapy, helping her make sense of her experiences and begin reshaping her identity outside of her former job. Through behavioral activation, she was gently guided to reintroduce daily activities that brought both joy and purpose, even in small ways.
Anxiety-reducing tools like journaling, breathing exercises, and cognitive reframing helped her regain emotional control and reduce the intensity of her fears. In parallel, future-planning exercises supported her in visualizing new possibilities, a key step in rebuilding hope.
As the sessions progressed, Willa showed clear signs of improvement. Her sleep became more regular, her mood stabilized, and most importantly, she initiated a small but meaningful volunteering role that restored a sense of value and direction. Her internal narrative began to shift — from one of hopelessness to one of resilience and potential.
Willa’s journey is a testament to the power of therapeutic support in times of crisis, and the quiet strength that emerges when a person begins to believe in their future again.