Dr. Lauren Potthoff, a pediatric psychologist and assistant professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, recently visited Ukraine to volunteer with Voices of Children, a nonprofit organization supporting families affected by the ongoing conflict. During her seven-day stay in Kyiv, she engaged with local providers, academics, and researchers to introduce evidence-based psychological methods like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Potthoff observed the resilience of Ukrainian children amidst war conditions. "What was so incredible to me is that these kids are so resilient," she noted. Despite the challenging environment marked by bomb sirens and air alerts, children continued to engage in activities like drawing.

Her mission focused on training local professionals rather than directly treating children. She collaborated with a colleague from the European Paediatric Psychology Network (EPPN) to disseminate foundational psychological science in Ukraine. "Psychology in Ukraine is really different than what it is here; there's no licensure requirement to become a psychologist," Potthoff explained.

The plan includes creating a mentorship program connecting psychologists across Europe and the U.S. with their Ukrainian counterparts for peer-to-peer support in specialties such as pediatric oncology or mental health.

Potthoff emphasized the importance of using a trauma-informed approach when supporting children in war zones: “We can talk to them about how it feels when they’re feeling anxious about something, but we need to acknowledge the context of war.”

Back home at Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago, Potthoff applies her experience from Ukraine to help U.S. children cope with violence from community incidents or school shootings. "There are lessons learned from the kids in Ukraine...that we can implement here as well," she said.

Potthoff continues working with Voices of Children and EPPN to extend their programs beyond Ukraine into other regions experiencing conflict.