Mariia

Maryana Kovalenko
MHPSS Officer | Coordinator | Psychologist
Ukraine, Odesa | [открыть контакты](см. выше в блоке «контактная информация») | [открыть контакты](см. выше в блоке «контактная информация»)
Objective
MHPSS Officer / Coordinator with over 10 years of experience in psychology and crisis counseling and more than 3 years of work in a multicultural environment in international humanitarian organizations (INGOs). Proven experience in coordinating and implementing MHPSS programs, responding to war-related trauma, and supervising teams to provide high-quality, ethical, and accountable psychosocial support to conflict-affected populations, including veterans, military personnel, refugees, children, and families.
Key Competencies
• Coordination and management of MHPSS projects: Planning, organization, and supervision of teams of psychologists, facilitators, and volunteers; implementation of MHPSS methods, protocols, and standards; monitoring service quality.
• Crisis psychological support: Individual and group work with conflict-affected populations, veterans, military personnel, refugees, children, and families; stabilization interventions in crisis situations.
• Work with war trauma, PTSD, and losses: Assessment of psychological needs, psychological stabilization, application of psychotherapeutic and cognitive-behavioral methods.
• Facilitation of support groups: Conducting group sessions for children, women, and families; psychological support during crises.
• Supervision and training of volunteer teams: Preparation and supervision of PSS / MHPSS volunteers and specialists, prevention of burnout, development of crisis support skills.
• Development of methodological materials and protocols: Creation of psychoeducational tools, PFA and MHPSS protocols, training materials.
• Psychotherapeutic approaches: Gestalt Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Art Therapy, body-oriented methods.
• Interagency and international collaboration: Collaboration with UNHCR, Red Cross, World Vision; participation in interagency coordination mechanisms; experience working in an interdisciplinary medical team with doctors and other specialists.
• Reporting and documentation: Preparation of regular and ad-hoc reports on MHPSS project activities, documentation according to donor requirements and organizational standards.
• Intercultural communication: Working in multicultural teams, effective interaction with beneficiaries of different cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
Professional Experience
World Vision Romania (in partnership with UNHCR) — MHPSS Officer / Psychologist, project activities | 2024 – 2025 | Iasi, Romania
• Coordination and implementation of individual and group MHPSS sessions for Ukrainian refugees, military personnel, and families of the deceased
• Facilitation of support groups for women and military families
• Development of materials for psychological stabilization and psychoeducation
• “Livelihoods” Project (2024): support and MHPSS assistance for refugees during employment and integration
• “Child Protection” Project (2025): working with children and specialists, supporting children’s psycho-emotional well-being, conducting group and individual MHPSS sessions
• Preparation of regular and ad-hoc reports on project activities
• Working in an interdisciplinary medical team with doctors and other specialists
Red Cross Romania — MHPSS Specialist / Crisis Psychologist | 2024 – 2025 | Iasi, Romania
• Providing MHPSS to families of prisoners of war, deceased, and missing persons
• Conducting stabilization groups for women and MHPSS support for parents
• Supervision and training of humanitarian workers to prevent burnout
• Implementing MHPSS programs in emergency situations
• Preparation of reports according to organizational and donor standards
Bethany Foundation — MHPSS Specialist | 2023 – 2024 | Iasi, Romania
• Individual and group MHPSS support for refugees, veterans, and military families
• Conducting trainings and supervision of MHPSS volunteers
• Working in a multicultural environment with various beneficiary groups
Caritas Romania — MHPSS Specialist | 2022 – 2023 | Iasi, Romania
• Individual and group MHPSS support for refugees
• Facilitation of groups and training volunteers in stabilization and PFA
• Working with women and children in crisis situations
Private Practice, Odesa, Ukraine — MHPSS / Gestalt Therapist | 2012 – 2018
• Individual, couple, and family MHPSS support
• Conducting therapy groups, developing personal development programs for women
• Leading author workshops and presentations at psychology festivals
Lecturer, Philologist-Pedagogue, Dankevich Music College | 2006 – 2022 | Odesa, Ukraine
• Teaching philological and psychological subjects, developing students' emotional competence
• Conducting trainings and educational programs
• Organizing and conducting workshops, interactive lessons, and presentations
• Preparing teaching materials and methodological manuals
Education
• Master in Applied and Practical Psychology — South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University, Odesa, Ukraine. Specialization: Applied and Practical Psychology | Year of completion: 2026
• Gestalt Therapist (Levels I & II) — Ukrainian Branch of Gestalt Institute. Family and individual therapy | Years of study: 2010 – 2016
• Philologist, Teacher — Odesa National University, Odesa, Ukraine | Year of completion: 2004
Certifications and Training
• Psychological First Aid (PFA) – International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC)
• Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Training – World Vision
• Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Training – World Vision
• Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Training – UNICEF / UNHCR
Main Themes and Areas of Work
• War trauma and PTSD: support for veterans, military personnel, refugees, and families of the deceased; psycho-emotional stabilization; psychoeducation and methods to manage anxiety and depression
• Loss and grief: working with people who have experienced death of loved ones, missing persons, or traumatic losses due to conflict
• Crisis situations and suicide risk: provision of psychological first aid, risk assessment, stabilization interventions
• Primary psychological counseling and referrals: conducting initial MHPSS sessions, assessment of mental state, effective referral to specialized institutions (psychiatrists, medical facilities, social services)
• Psychosocial support for families and children: individual and group sessions, support for children’s psycho-emotional development, working with parents
• Supportive sessions for individuals with oncological diseases: emotional stabilization, anxiety reduction, psychological support for families
• Intercultural adaptation and integration of refugees: support during employment, education, and social adaptation
• Gender-based violence (GBV): working with victims of violence, providing safe support and psychoeducation
• Supervision and training of volunteers and humanitarian teams: preparing teams to provide high-quality MHPSS support, preventing burnout
• Interdisciplinary collaboration: working with teams of doctors, social workers, and humanitarian specialists in complex crisis situations
• Development of methodological materials and protocols: creating standards, training manuals, and recommendations for trauma and crisis work
• Reporting and documentation: preparing regular and ad-hoc reports on MHPSS project activities for donors and internal organizational needs