Transformation of Mental Trauma in Children Using the Hibuki - Therapy Method

The article analyzes the concept of "mental trauma" as a life event that affects significant aspects of a person's existence and leads to deep psychological experiences. It is emphasized that a child of preschool age is not able to transform the psychotrauma received as a result of a stress reaction on his own, so in most cases it leads to severe mental breakdowns. Various scientific approaches to understanding mental trauma were analyzed and the sufficient complexity and multifacetedness of this psychological phenomenon, the lack of a single approach to its understanding, was noted. It is noted that the use of toys in the transformation of mental trauma of an individual contributes to the establishment of emotional contact, the removal of emotional tension, the expansion of the worldview of the surrounding world, and the prevention of maladaptive behavior. The toy encourages the child to play, and the psychologist uses the therapeutic effect of the game to help the child transform psychological and social difficulties that hinder personal and emotional development. The article examines the problem of transformation of mental trauma in children, resulting from natural disasters and hostilities in their country, with the help of Hibuki-therapy. The essence and role of Hibuki- therapy as a method of toy therapy in working with children who have experienced severe emotional stress are described. The process of formation of the therapeutic model of Hibuki-therapy is studied. It is emphasized that the author's model is based on the principle according to which children who actively resist experienced stressful situations can transform their fears and better adapt to life after any mental trauma. The proposed method encourages the child to focus on the toy dog's feelings and needs, as well as on the child's role as caregiver, thereby offering a distraction from their own fears and anxieties. Taking care of a soft toy, a child can dispel his fears and worries. It is important that the child begins to feel like a competent caregiver, and not a restless person who needs help. Today, Hibuki is an important tool that helps Ukrainian children cope with the trauma of war. The children's parents are also involved in this process, and they receive instructions on how to care for Hibuki.