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INTERVIEW WITH PSYCHOLOGIST ALBERTO ZUCCONI: On Trauma, Psychotherapy, and How Ukrainian Society Has Changed

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Alberto Zucconi is a psychologist, psychotherapist, educator, trainer, and consultant, as well as the president of the Person-Centered Approach Institute, founded by renowned psychologist Carl Rogers. He is also the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS) and was a student of the great British philosopher Alan Watts.

The war in Ukraine has caused psychological trauma to millions of people. How serious is this issue?

Emotional trauma is extremely serious because it is not limited to emotional impact alone — it can also negatively affect a person’s physical and mental health and even alter their brain. Research shows that traumatized individuals often experience a reduction in the size of the hippocampus, which is responsible for memory.

There is a theory that people who have experienced traumatic events, especially in childhood, are more likely to suffer from depression later in life. Children’s brains are more plastic, making them more vulnerable to such long-term effects

Psychological trauma is often passed down from parents to children. As a result, these children may face significant mental health and social challenges, which can even negatively impact their physical well-being.

For example, research shows that traumatized individuals are much more likely to engage in criminal behavior. Among all offenders arrested for sexual violence, approximately 30% were themselves victims of sexual abuse in the past.

What is psychological trauma, and what can cause it?

Trauma arises from an event or series of circumstances perceived by a person as physically or emotionally distressing or life-threatening. It can have long-term negative consequences for their mental, physical, social, emotional, and even spiritual well-being.

Many events can trigger trauma. Even witnessing the destruction of your city on television can be a traumatic experience. There are numerous causes of trauma, including neglect, abuse, the loss of a loved one, or racial discrimination. However, it is important to note that people respond to trauma differently.

Not everyone remains permanently affected by traumatic experiences — some even undergo existential growth as a result

The field of trauma-informed care focuses on providing effective tools for prevention, healing, and growth after traumatic experiences.

Is it possible to recover from deep trauma?

High-quality and effective psychotherapy, provided by a well-trained therapist specializing in trauma-informed care, can positively reshape the brain of a person who has experienced trauma, helping to mitigate its negative effects.

However, trauma and psychotherapy are not the only factors that influence our brains. Many elements contribute positively to its well-being — for example, love, meaningful interpersonal relationships, helping others, and having a sense of purpose in life.

Hope and optimism play a crucial role in overcoming trauma

Optimism arises when we engage in activities that stimulate serotonin production, such as walking in nature, hiking, swimming, and cycling.

Medical research shows that paying attention to patients’ sensations, providing preoperative guidance, and addressing their emotional state significantly increase their chances of recovery. This leads to notable statistical improvements: patients spend less time in the hospital, experience fewer postoperative complications, and there is a sharp decline in malpractice lawsuits against doctors.

Other studies indicate that patients in windowless rooms recover more slowly compared to those in rooms with windows, especially those with a view of nature.

Everything affects our brain. Loneliness has a profound impact on our brains and overall health. I have worked with former drug addicts who were willing to do anything for another dose, even actions that were destructive to themselves and those around them. This happened because, for them, drugs were the only way to experience even a fleeting sense of happiness and to momentarily escape feelings of emptiness and despair.

Opioids provide an artificial serotonin boost. But if you are in love, if you are happy, your body naturally produces serotonin. Relying on artificial serotonin clogs the system, and eventually, the body can no longer generate this hormone naturally. As a result, a person becomes trapped in addiction, needing more and more drugs to compensate.

Many people in Ukraine currently feel hatred toward Russians. Do you consider this reaction healthy?

I have never personally encountered anything like this. What I say is based on my knowledge as a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist.

Hatred is never a primary emotion. It is always a reaction to pain caused by someone or something. Hatred is functional only when it is an immediate response to an event. However, it can also be self-destructive.

I have treated people who still felt hatred 40 years after the initial event. That is not normal. So, expressing hatred immediately as a way to release emotions can be beneficial.

But holding onto hatred for years means poisoning yourself

That’s why people say that forgiveness is like untying a knot. It’s not that you shouldn’t react to acts of violence committed by criminals, of course. But holding onto hatred is self-poisoning.

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How do you explain the fact that many Russians blindly follow their government’s propaganda and support the killing of innocent people?

Russians, like many other people around the world, are victims of dictatorship. I know a professor at a Russian university who was recently imprisoned simply for writing “No to war.”

If I’m not mistaken, in the last elections in Ukraine, the far-right received only about one-and-a-half percent of the votes. In Germany and Italy, for example, this share is much higher. And yet, Russians believe what their state-controlled television tells them because free media are not allowed under dictatorial regimes.

To understand what is happening now, I recommend reading the famous student of Sigmund Freud, German psychiatrist and brilliant psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich. He wrote many books, and one of them, published in the early 1930s, is called The Mass Psychology of Fascism.

In it, Reich explains that fascism is a character structure, not just an ideology. A fascist can hold any political views. It is a psychological dysfunction inherent in supporters of authoritarian regimes.

Another fact that helps us better understand this situation is that no one lives in absolute reality.

We all exist within a socially constructed reality and are influenced by it. What is considered good and desirable in one culture may be seen as evil, sinful, or perverse in another

Every culture changes, and what was once considered taboo can eventually become the norm. Only a minority of people, in all eras and cultures, have enough self-control to use their critical thinking abilities to form their own opinions independently of the commonly accepted reality embraced by the overwhelming majority.

What determines whether we grow and learn from a particular experience or become traumatized by it?

It depends on many factors, including your overall health, the effectiveness of your coping skills, whether you are an optimist, the strength of your social support system, and how you interpret the experience you have gone through.

For example, the death of a relative or friend is often a traumatic event. However, one person may respond with anxiety and fear for all their loved ones, sleep less, and experience daily distress, while another, having gone through the same event, might say:

We do not control our fate. This means I must strive to live my life meaningfully every single day. And now, as I regret not appreciating this person’s presence enough while they were with me, I will truly begin to express my emotions openly to others before it’s too late

While trauma in the first case is harmful, the second example demonstrates how one can grow and gain life lessons and wisdom from a difficult experience.

Do you believe that Ukrainian society can grow as a result of what people are going through now?

I know about what is happening in Ukraine mainly from the news and from what some of my Ukrainian colleagues tell me, so I am not deeply familiar with the situation. The only thing I can say is that I am deeply impressed by the strength that the Ukrainian people have demonstrated under these circumstances.

I believe that your country has already grown significantly as a result of this terrible experience, and I think Ukrainians now have a clearer understanding of who they are and what they stand for.

The people of Ukraine have surprised even themselves, not just their enemy

Your country has exceeded the expectations of the entire world, as no one thought it would be able to resist for so long. However, all this courage does not negate the immense suffering and outrage of those who have lived through it.

People see depression and other mental disorders as a sign of weakness, which is why they rarely seek professional help. How can this stigma be overcome?

When you get injured playing football or tennis, in most cases, you won’t need to see a sports doctor. The injury heals, and you return to normal life. However, if the problem persists and the pain doesn’t go away on its own, you will see a doctor. And you won’t feel the slightest bit ashamed about it.

Absurd ideas suggesting that you are not manly enough or that you have lost your mind simply because you feel emotionally overwhelmed highlight the immense harm that social constructs can cause. Similarly, racism is absolute madness, yet when enough mad people embrace it, its manifestations become a social norm.

People who have been severely affected by trauma should not only seek help but specifically turn to a professional who knows how to treat it effectively

Ukrainians are now using the latest American technologies in combat, and along with that, they will also have updated trauma-informed practices technology, which they can use to change the situation on the psychological front.

Soon, my colleague and I will be traveling to Romania, where we will conduct a free mini-training on trauma recovery near the Ukrainian border. The training will be held from September 25 to 27, 2022, for 20 Ukrainian psychotherapists who are fluent in English. Participants will receive a certificate upon completion.

This mini-training is part of a much larger initiative: the Advanced Trauma-Informed Practices Project. Through this mini-program, we hope to take the first step in supporting psychotherapists in Ukraine who are committed to helping their fellow citizens affected by the war.

The Advanced Trauma-Informed Practices Project is designed to provide knowledge that enables individuals in any field to achieve a higher level of effectiveness. The courses and materials are intended for a wide range of stakeholders, including: