After the tragedy in Kocani, a group of psychologists were activated in the front lines of first aid, who were among the families affected by the fire from the very first moment, but also for the entire population that felt the need for psychological help. They were present in the first moments of the accident with a checkpoint in front of the hospitals, and the very next day a team of psychologists traveled to Kocani to provide the necessary help. This is a systematized method organized by the Chamber of Psychologists and the Red Cross, he tells Free Press Tiana Ivanovska, licensed psychologist and psychotherapist from "Sebeslažalka", vice president of the crisis intervention body at the Chamber.

-We constantly move in a team, we intervene in a team and in a way it represents a depreciation of everything that we bring during those field presences. However, the situation in Kocani is tragic, it is too early to talk about anything now. It is important to be there, it is enough to be present and listen, because these meetings with us are not a classic meeting with a psychologist. We try to approach people unobtrusively, to try to talk to them without any pressure. We do not go and shout at them: "Hello, I am a psychologist". These are difficult moments, it is enough for a person to just be present and listen - says Ivanovska.

This type of method is not psychotherapy.

-Our approach to people there has nothing to do with psychotherapy, but it has nothing to do with psychological counseling either, because you can't advise someone who is in crisis or in shock. This type of method does not involve going into depth in any process. We are focused on grounding, on returning to the reality of the person who is in crisis. Checking whether those basic needs are met. So, does the person need water, food, whether they have received therapy, if they have previously taken any chronic therapy, whether they make contact with us, that is, whether they see us, whether they have a reaction, whether they react to our voice. It comes down to a presence that every person needs when they are in crisis - says Ivanovska.

This method has unlimited access, as Ivanovska says. Anyone can join and volunteer to help, they don't have to be a psychologist.

 

-These people need human presence, not support from keyboards. That's why I invite my fellow psychologists, but also everyone who can, to come and have tea with them, to talk. Kocani must not remain empty these days - said our interlocutor.

Ivanovska clarifies that the crisis situation is not unfamiliar terrain for them as psychologists.

-We have previously intervened on several occasions during the flood period, also in the Kocani area, we had interventions in Delchevo, in Kocani. We also intervened when there was the refugee crisis with migrants from Kabul and on many occasions, when there was a natural disaster or some kind of catastrophe in our area - she says.

There are over 500 licensed psychologists in Macedonia.