On October 1, the first meeting with mothers of special children, "A heart-to-heart conversation at a sweet table (A conversation with a psychologist in the temple)," organized by the Crisis Psychological Service of the Society of Orthodox Doctors and Medical Workers of Sochi, took place in the refectory of the Cathedral of Archangel Michael.
The Society was represented and led by its confessor, Archpriest Andrey Leika, and the head of the Service, psychologist Yulia Yurievna Beletskaya. The meeting was attended by mothers of children with special needs invited from the Victoria Rehabilitation Center, some of them were with children who were looked after by volunteers from among his parishioners on the cathedral playground during the conversation.
The meeting began with a prayer for the beginning of a good deed and the blessing of a tea table prepared by the Board of the Society. Then Archpriest Andrey and Yulia Yurievna once again (in addition to the announcements in the "Conversation..." group) told the mothers about the idea of these meetings, designed to help mothers bearing the heavy cross of their children's illnesses feel better than they are now, stop feeling inner loneliness, start noticing that they are being heard, and in difficult moments — stop deluding yourself, learn to understand the right choices in their life situations, learn to see them as a source of help, find communication in these meetings, understanding words and approving looks, support from the outside and just a light mental relaxation.
Yulia Yurievna first told about herself that she remembers when, in the distant past, she herself was in such situations due to the birth and upbringing of a disabled child, but for many years she has not experienced difficult feelings and is certainly glad of this, because she helped herself with prayer and education, faith and reasoning, accumulated experience and words, using various resources to change, strengthen and harmonize your life. But when she thought that someone had no one at all with whom to discuss what was bothering her, she sincerely wanted to be the person for mothers of sick children who, with God's help, would 100 percent hear, support, and give recognition to their even the smallest victories in the fight against childhood ailments. and life circumstances. That's how the idea of these meetings was born.
Then the mothers who came to the meeting took turns telling about their situations, feelings, needs, and difficulties that they live with, continuously treating and educating their special children — and these stories, accepted by the audience with understanding and sympathy, immediately gave these mothers a certain relief and hope to be heard in the future. and supported by the assembled experts and assistants.
At the end of the conversation, thanking the Gentlemen for it, the participants agreed to discuss the format of future meetings, their frequency and content in a group on the social network, and to continue them.