Anime as therapy: an interview with Place of Strength psychologist Yevgenia Finchuk about a unique format for working with teenagers
Meet Yevgenia - the psychologist of the Place of Strength space. Having gone through her own teenage struggles, she strives to help others overcome these challenges and find their way.
"Adolescence – a special period of self-discovery and self-expression. At this time, teenagers need a safe adult nearby who can be their support», - shares the psychologist.
For more than six months, Evgenia has been working in the Place of Power, where she conducts discussion clubs and other therapeutic classes. Her personal passion for Japanese animation prompted the psychologist to create an anime club.
"I'm a real fan of anime, my favorite is Echoes of Terror, I'm currently watching Tokyo Ghoul, I also like to read manga about romantic relationships. In the past, people were hostile towards anime, like other subcultures. Now the situation is improving, but in our society there are still stereotypes that these are just some cartoons. In fact, Japanese animation has a variety of themes for all ages. Everyone can find something interesting for themselves here», - says Evgenia.
In the club participants watch a full-length anime, and then share their impressions and thoughts with a psychologist and peers. This creates a special atmosphere where you can reflect on the content and discuss the actions of the characters.
"I try to create a supportive environment where everyone treats each other with respect. At the beginning of each meeting, I familiarize the participants with the rules of the space - this helps to create an atmosphere of trust and safety." Zhenya explains.
In classes, the main emphasis is on reflections of the seen. Teenagers watch the anime hero go through similar difficulties, which helps the participants draw parallels with your own life and to see new ways of solving own problems.
"When we watch anime together and then discuss it, the teenagers don't feel like they're in therapy or a lecture. They simply share their impressions, reflect on the actions of the heroes, and because of this, they naturally come to the discussion of their own experiences», - explains Evgenia.
In the anime club, teenagers often find friends who share their interests and understand their feelings. Classes are held for two age groups, so that each participant feels as comfortable as possible in sharing their own thoughts.
So, teenagers 10-12 years old are more focused on the plot of the anime, they are fascinated by the study of cause-and-effect relationships in the actions of the heroes. Instead, participants aged 13-17 dive deeper into the topics of romantic relationships, work on resolving conflicts with their parents, and think about choosing a future profession.
"Despite the full-scale invasion and the traumatic experience that Ukrainians go through every day, the requests of adolescents for therapy remained practically unchanged. After all, they have no experience of life without war, it has become a background for them to which they are accustomed. Therefore, they are more concerned about relationships, relationships with parents, finding themselves and self-realization», - notes the psychologist, emphasizing the importance of creating a safe space for discussing these topics.
Evgenia shared a special case in her practice. One of the members of the club had difficulties in her relationship with her parents, so after watching an anime with similar problems, the girl found the courage to approach a psychologist and share her personal situation in the family. Together, they developed a plan to solve this situation ecologically.
"After some time, the girl approached me again. She said that she started learning English in order to pass the exams well and found a college she wants to enter. For her, it will be an opportunity to separate from her parents, try to establish and build a trusting relationship at a distance», - says Evgenia.
Anime club is one of the many ways of therapeutic work with teenagers. Of course, Japanese animation may not appeal to everyone, but it can be an interesting experience and a new way of self-discovery.
"Often parents have a biased attitude about this. In the anime club, we create a safe space to discuss important topics that concern teenagers. Sometimes it is easier to understand yourself and your experiences through the story of the characters», - advises Yevgenia.
The psychologist offers teenagers to come to one class and just see if this format resonates with them. After all, the most important thing is to find the way of self-expression and self-improvement that suits you best!
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