Psychologist in the Field
The project
The reality of humanitarian personnel is particularly hard and complicated. Undoubtedly, work in the field is marked by an enormous vocation, as it determines all aspects of life: family, social, economic, emotional….
All those who agree to dedicate their lives to working and living in highly stressful environments experience firsthand the sacrifices, dedication and efforts required by the humanitarian profession.
My familiarity and knowledge of the mixed feelings that arise in the field is because I was a Humanitarian Worker in Latin America, specifically in Ecuador, in several points along the country’s northern border, both considered red zones by the UN.
During the time I worked as a psychologist there, I faced situations that, on more than one occasion, overwhelmed me, pushing my coping skills, my tools and, at times, my mental health to the limit.
Despite this, I stayed in Latin America for almost 3 years, living in different countries, learning about their people, their culture and their way of living and understanding reality. This time there, seen now with the perspective of the years, has undoubtedly brought me enormous richness and internal development, both personal and professional.
As a development worker and a migrant, my experiences have allowed me to understand the many difficulties that a person faces in these realities: loneliness, anxiety, Ulysses syndrome, exhaustion, insecurity, instability, compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma….
This deterioration in mental health can also occur in personnel working in the Third Sector, even in national or international contexts without high levels of danger, since the dedication to others of the people who make up the social and humanitarian world is an element that defines us as workers and human beings.
Today, many friends are still working in the wonderful and demanding world of international and humanitarian cooperation, while I continue with my humanitarian vocation in the Third Sector.
This project aims to care for and accompany all those humanitarian workers, aid workers and people from the Third Sector who want to find a balance between their professional passion and their psychological well-being.
If you want to start taking care of yourself and have a safe space where you can “let go” to move towards wellness, contact us so we can get to know you and offer you more information about your therapeutic process. Similarly, if you work for an NGO or government agency and would like training for your team on self-care and mental health, we offer consulting services.
