First Crisis Support in the Office: Crisis Response Skills Practised in Odesa

09/ 09/ 2026

How should we respond when a colleague is experiencing panic, severe anxiety or grief? And how can we support someone without losing our own emotional balance? On September 8, the Southern Ukrainian Office of the European Business Association held the second, practical module of the training programme “First Crisis Support in the Office: Response Algorithms for Acute Emotional States Amid Chronic Stress and War.” Unlike the first online module, which focused on the theoretical foundations and understanding of people’s psychological responses to stress, the in-person training focused on practising specific response algorithms and skills. Together with Natalia Shcherbina — trauma therapist, crisis communication expert and organisational supervisor — participants worked through practical situations that may arise in the workplace and affect employees and team interaction. During the training, participants practised: algorithms for providing first psychological crisis support; self-regulation techniques to stabilise their own emotional state; ways of communicating with a person experiencing a crisis; phrasing that can help reduce tension and provide support; understanding the boundaries of their own role and recognising when professional assistance is needed. The practical format allowed participants to not only discuss possible scenarios, but also practise their own responses to them. Through case studies and practical exercises, participants trained to recognise a person’s emotional state more quickly and choose an appropriate way of interacting with them. A particular focus was placed on the fact that crisis support in the workplace does not mean “treating” or trying to resolve a colleague’s psychological problems independently. It is important to be able to be there for someone, provide support, help stabilise the situation, and at the same time understand the professional boundaries of one’s own responsibility. Thus, the two modules of the programme created a consistent learning process: the first helped participants better understand the psychological mechanisms of stress and crisis reactions, while the second enabled them to translate this knowledge into practical skills that can be applied in their daily work. The programme was another step towards building a more resilient and psychologically safe workplace, where managers and employees have the tools to interact appropriately in challenging situations. We thank Natalia Shcherbina for the practical training and all participants for their active involvement, openness and willingness to develop and practise new skills.

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How should we respond when a colleague is experiencing panic, severe anxiety or grief? And how can we support someone without losing our own emotional balance?

On September 8, the Southern Ukrainian Office of the European Business Association held the second, practical module of the training programme “First Crisis Support in the Office: Response Algorithms for Acute Emotional States Amid Chronic Stress and War.”

Unlike the first online module, which focused on the theoretical foundations and understanding of people’s psychological responses to stress, the in-person training focused on practising specific response algorithms and skills.

Together with Natalia Shcherbina — trauma therapist, crisis communication expert and organisational supervisor — participants worked through practical situations that may arise in the workplace and affect employees and team interaction.

During the training, participants practised:

algorithms for providing first psychological crisis support;
self-regulation techniques to stabilise their own emotional state;
ways of communicating with a person experiencing a crisis;
phrasing that can help reduce tension and provide support;
understanding the boundaries of their own role and recognising when professional assistance is needed.

The practical format allowed participants to not only discuss possible scenarios, but also practise their own responses to them. Through case studies and practical exercises, participants trained to recognise a person’s emotional state more quickly and choose an appropriate way of interacting with them.

A particular focus was placed on the fact that crisis support in the workplace does not mean “treating” or trying to resolve a colleague’s psychological problems independently. It is important to be able to be there for someone, provide support, help stabilise the situation, and at the same time understand the professional boundaries of one’s own responsibility.

Thus, the two modules of the programme created a consistent learning process: the first helped participants better understand the psychological mechanisms of stress and crisis reactions, while the second enabled them to translate this knowledge into practical skills that can be applied in their daily work.

The programme was another step towards building a more resilient and psychologically safe workplace, where managers and employees have the tools to interact appropriately in challenging situations.

We thank Natalia Shcherbina for the practical training and all participants for their active involvement, openness and willingness to develop and practise new skills.