Creativity, responsibility, conflicts, worries, stress, peace, satisfaction – these are just some of the aspects that multi-functional day center specialists face on a daily basis. In order to be able to fully manage their emotions, unravel conflict situations and provide tools for creative self-expression, specialists of multi-functional centers from Latvia and Lithuania met in training specially designed for this purpose within the project “OCTOPUS“.

The first day of training was devoted to recognizing the signs of stress and burnout together with psychologist, crisis management consultant, cognitive behavioral therapy practitioner Žaneta Tauriena. Participants gained knowledge and practical skills about psychological balance, physiology and psychology of stress, its signs and possible management techniques.

The next day, the participants worked practically in master classes, where they learned about methods and approaches for working with different target groups. Art therapist Inga Bitēna, physiotherapist Andrius Tamelis, as well as music therapist Jānis Rotšteins led the master classes. Through the melodies of various musical instruments, expression in visual art and the wide possibilities of the sensory room, the specialists of the multi-functional centers were themselves participants in the therapy, and in the process learned various methods for working with the center’s clients.

On the final day of the seminar, lecturer Ilze Dzenovska led the seminar “Conflicts and their resolution strategies – at work, in the family, in society. Mediation”. In it, participants learned the importance of conflict resolution and agreement skills for sustainable team cooperation, destructive and constructive conflict resolution habits and strategies. The lecturer also discussed the importance of respectful and empathetic communication for preventing conflict escalation, as well as the principles and tools of mediation in everyday conflict resolution.

The participants of the multi-functional centers appreciate the training – both practical lessons and theoretical insights were valuable. The knowledge will be useful both in professional activities and in personal growth. “My biggest benefit is the revelation that there is also me in the world, not only my family, relatives, work and people around me. Which, as it seemed to me so far, need more help,” says the participant.

Project is co-financed by Interreg V-A Latvian-Lithuanian Cross-Border Cooperation Program 2014–2020.

This article has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this article are the sole responsibility of Zemgale planning region and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.