A new psychological support course for parents of minors with special needs has been launched in Chokhatauri Municipality. The project is initiated and organized by the NGO "Women for Women: Initiative Meetings in Guria," with the support of Bakhvi Hydro Power Plant and in partnership with the local self-government, which provides transportation for participants.
The aim of the project is to offer psychological support to parents of individuals with special needs through group psychotherapy sessions. The training will be led by Nino Kereselidze, the head of the "Psychotherapeutic Space," a psychologist, and psychotherapist.
The project will include 10 sessions covering the following topics: • Rights of parents of individuals with special needs and available disability services in Georgia. • Diagnosis and acceptance; living with a diagnosis. • The impact of parental anxiety on a child's development. • Stigma and mechanisms for coping; facilitating a child’s inclusion in the community. • Art therapy group work.
Irina Bakradze, founder of "Women for Women: Initiative Meetings in Guria," stated: “One of our organization’s key challenges is empowering individuals with special needs and their families. With the support of local self-government, we have visited villages in Chokhatauri Municipality to create a database that includes up to 500 individuals with special needs. Based on the need, we established a parents' club with 35 members. Recognizing the significant impact of parents' psycho-emotional states on their children’s health, we decided to offer psychological consulting and pedagogical support through training sessions for parents in Chokhatauri.”
David Koberidze, Environmental, Social, and Governance Manager at Bakhvi HPP, added: “Bakhvi HPP supports this project as part of its social program focusing on aiding individuals with special needs. We are grateful to the project initiators for allowing us to participate. We believe that empowering individuals with special needs and their parents is crucial in the face of contemporary challenges. Unfortunately, people with special needs still struggle to fully realize their rights, especially in regional areas. It is essential for parents to be aware of their rights and the services available from the state, NGOs, or private sector. This project will assist parents in Chokhatauri in coping with stigma and adapting to the existing environment.”
The psychological support course for parents of individuals with special needs is a year-long project, with 11 sessions scheduled for 2023. The first session took place in Chokhatauri on March 24, with 25 parents in attendance.