PHOTOARTTHERAPY AS A TOOL OF NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION IN THE PROCESS OF SOCIAL ADAPTATION OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS

Abstract

The article provides a theoretical substantiation and experimental verification of the effectiveness of photo art therapy as a method of non-verbal communication in ensuring the social adaptation of internally displaced persons. The relevance of the topic is determined by the unprecedented scale of forced migration in Ukraine caused by full-scale military aggression, which has led to deep psychological trauma, social alienation, and communicative barriers among the displaced population. The authors emphasize that traditional verbal therapy often encounters subconscious resistance; thus, photography acts as a powerful mediator, allowing individuals to bypass cognitive filters and externalize traumatic experiences through visual metaphors.

The methodological framework of the study is based on a 21-day experimental cycle involving 46 respondents. The study introduces authorial techniques, specifically the "Adaptation Photo Diary" and "Me and My New Space," which are designed for the cognitive and emotional restructuring of experience. These methods aim to transform the perception of a "foreign" environment into a "familiar and predictable" one by stimulating neuroplasticity and identifying positive environmental stimuli. Psychodiagnostic monitoring was conducted using the Rogers-Diamond Social-Psychological Adaptation Inventory.

The results of the empirical study demonstrated a pronounced positive dynamics across all key indicators. A statistically significant increase was recorded in the levels of adaptability (from 72.4 to 112.8 points), self-acceptance, and emotional comfort. Simultaneously, there was a substantial decrease in maladaptation and escapism, indicating the restoration of the respondents' subjectivity and their transition from social isolation to openness. The study confirms that the systematic use of photo art therapy facilitates the formation of a "communicative bridge" between IDPs and their host communities. The findings prove that non-verbal visual communication effectively reduces anxiety and creates the necessary prerequisites for successful integration into a new social space.