Алла БУНІС — магістр психології, арттерапевтка, спікерка міжнародних та українських фестивалів, засновниця артпростору «Ти можеш все», експертка з малювання кавою, співавторка 13 книжок з психології, практичний психолог міського культурно-спортивного центру Житомирської міської ради, керівниця «Кімнати терапії іграшкою». Також вона є організаторкою авторського фестивалю арттерапії «Арттерапія як інструмент зцілення та розвитку».

ALLA BUNIS: “IN MY PRACTICE, I USE SELF-REGULATION THROUGH COLOUR AND THE TOY THERAPY ROOM”

Аlla BUNIS is a master of psychology, art therapist, speaker at international and Ukrainian festivals, founder of the art space “You can do anything”, coffee drawing expert, co-author of 13 books on psychology, practical psychologist at the City Cultural and Sports Centre of the Zhytomyr City Council, and head of the Toy Therapy Room. She is also the organiser of the author’s art therapy festival “Art Therapy as a Tool for Healing and Development”.

— How does self-regulation help during the war in difficult life circumstances?
— Self-regulation is critical for maintaining mental health and successful adaptation. It helps to make informed decisions, reduces stress and tension, promotes recovery from fatigue and psychologic traumatic experience, and supports motivation. Clarity of thought and understanding of one’s own state, which self-regulation provides, allow you to better support others and act quickly in difficult situations.
— Tell us about your experience of using self-regulation methods in therapy. What positive changes do you notice in your clients?
— In my practice, I use self-regulation through colour, as well as the Toy Therapy Room, which is a volunteer project of the NGO ЄGene Pool of the NationЄ. In my work, I combine integrative art therapy and play therapy.
Clients become more conscious, find environmentally friendly ways to express emotions, increase their stress resistance, and understand themselves better. This contributes to their personal growth and inner stability.
— How do you explain the effectiveness of the Toy Therapy Room in real life?
— The effectiveness of this therapy is based on the possibility of free expression through play. The toy acts as a transitional object that makes it easier to express emotions, thoughts and needs. This increases self-esteem and self-confidence.
Tactile contact with a soft toy stabilises the emotional state. Four important survival mechanisms are activated: impressions, curiosity, desires and opportunities.
The toys come as a gift, and their variety allows everyone to find the one that “responds”.
During the war, when the sense of security is lost, toy therapy creates a controlled environment for recovery. The toy fulfils its mission by becoming a kind of container for complex emotions.
— What self-regulation techniques do you recommend for personal growth?
— Colour has a direct impact on the nervous system. Pay attention to the associations it evokes in you.
When you are scared, describe the colours of objects around you. To calm down, draw in blue; if it hurts, draw in white on black; when you have heavy thoughts, use yellow. If you can’t draw, at least surround yourself with the right colours.
Every day, look for 15 elements of joy: it can be sunlight, flowers, and a passerby’s smile. 15 resourceful manifestations of colour – yellow as the sun, green as trees, etc.
These practices help to reprogram the attention from pain to resources – to those inner strengths that help to survive difficult times. These are simple and effective anti-depressant techniques.
My place of power – create a space filled with your favourite things. When you feel the need for support, stay there for as long as you need to recover emotionally.
These techniques help you to control yourself, improve your well-being, make informed decisions – and as a result, grow as a person.