"Misha had survived the destruction of Mariupol. He had lost friends, relatives, his home, his school, the nearby public park where he used to hang out with his friends. Almost everything that had once made life feel solid and knowable had been taken from him."
"During that first session, Misha spotted a guitar in the corner of the room and reached for it. The music seemed to steady him."
"His face broke into the biggest, most luminous smile. With sweeping, animated gestures he began describing Mariupol-'the best city in the world'- and then, with mounting excitement, mapping out exactly how Ukrainian forces would one day return and liberate it."
A 14-year-old boy named Misha lost his ability to speak after experiencing trauma from the destruction of Mariupol. During a therapy session with Valentina Owl, he initially remained silent. However, upon seeing a guitar, he began to play, which led to a significant breakthrough. Misha then expressed his feelings about Mariupol with enthusiasm and hope, marking a return of his sense of agency and ability to communicate. This transformation highlighted the power of narrative therapy in helping trauma survivors regain their voice.
Read at Psychology Today
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