Lives Changed in an Instant
Have you ever thought that one morning, everything might be perfectly in place, yet within seconds, your whole world could be turned upside down? Buildings collapse. Roads vanish. Cities fall silent. And perhaps most importantly, people become isolated. Because trauma doesn’t only live beneath the rubble — it’s also found in the gaze of a child lost in silence, or in the emptiness of a stolen future.
Psychological trauma is one of the most invisible yet lasting consequences of crises. Its traces don’t only affect individuals — they shape the future of entire communities and institutions. That’s why post-trauma support is not just a matter of humanitarian aid; it’s a cornerstone of rebuilding society.
Türkiye, through its frequent disaster experiences, has developed not only physical resilience, but also a deep body of knowledge and practice in psychological recovery. The psychosocial initiatives launched after the major earthquake of 2023 stand as some of the most vivid examples of this capacity.
In this article, we’ll explore how trauma affects individuals and society, examine Türkiye’s strong stance in this field, and discover the healing power of both volunteerism and art. And perhaps, together, we’ll try to answer this question: After great destruction — what truly heals?
The Invisible Face of Trauma and Türkiye’s Power on the Ground
Psychological trauma is not just a personal wound. It is a deep silence that echoes in the collective memory for years. In professional life, this silence can manifest in many ways — from declining motivation to weakened internal connections within organizations. That’s why trauma should not be seen merely as a crisis to manage, but as a strategic investment in long-term resilience.
Following the devastating earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023, Türkiye provided a powerful on-the-ground example of how such resilience can be built. During the Hatay project I took part in as a volunteer with WHR (World Human Relief), I did more than observe trauma — I tried to reach out to it.
At the heart of our work in the tent city of Kırıkhan were children, teenagers, and adults. Each carried a different form of loss: some lost their homes, others their loved ones, and some — all their dreams for the future. Yet one need was universal: the need to be understood. Sometimes that was expressed in words like, “I miss cleaning my house the most.” Other times, it was just silence — accompanied by tears.
To help ease the numbness that trauma creates in body and mind, we used one of our most effective tools: art therapy. This approach, grounded not in aesthetics but in the freedom of expression, creates a safe space for people to access emotions buried deep in the unconscious. Through painting, music, sculpture, or drama, individuals begin to bring their inner world to the surface. A single line, sound, or image can often express what words cannot.
Human beings, by nature, are fragile. We are vulnerable to our environment. Yet we can turn that fragility into resilience through thought, expression, and connection. Art therapy is a bridge in that transformation — allowing us to release what’s trapped inside and begin to reorganize our inner world.
Organizations like WHR made these recovery processes possible through their on-site structures. At the EXPO field in Hatay:
- 590 volunteers delivered humanitarian aid to 59,115 people.
- 109 psychosocial support volunteers provided trauma-related care to 2,001 individuals.
Perhaps the most valuable outcome of these experiences was the creation of a collective memory. We didn’t just try to heal trauma — we carried it together. For institutions, the key lesson is not just to prepare for trauma, but to build the capacity to remain present with it.
A Culture of Solidarity Learned from Crisis
Trauma can happen in an instant. But healing takes time, trust, and shared effort. After major disasters, Türkiye didn’t only remove debris — it stood beside people in their most fragile, most vulnerable moments. This was no coincidence; it was the result of years of building a culture of psychosocial solidarity and a deep-rooted awareness of volunteerism.
With support from the Ministry of Family and Social Services, networks like WHR provided not only humanitarian aid, but emotional first aid. Art therapy and similar methods became structured and professionalized forms of trauma recovery across Türkiye. Psychologists are working not just with theoretical knowledge, but with hands-on field experience.
As a clinical psychologist myself, I have once again witnessed that therapy isn’t limited to a consultation room — it can happen right in the middle of daily life, amid crisis, side by side with those in need. The trauma-focused work I’ve done — both individually and with couples — aims not just to heal, but to connect, to listen, and to rebuild resilience together.
This foundation is not only essential for the healing of society, but also offers a meaningful reference point for developing human-centered workplace cultures. Organizations can — and should — benefit from Türkiye’s expertise in social responsibility, crisis response, and employee support.
As a dear friend once told me:
“The only thing you’ll carry into the next world is the relationships built by your heart.”
And perhaps that is what Türkiye offers most powerfully: the capacity to build connection.
For international partners and initiatives, this is not just about trauma response — it’s a call to build a more sustainable future, one rooted in human values. Get to know Türkiye not only through how it responds to crisis, but through the bridges it builds afterward. On one side of those bridges is compassion. On the other — professionalism. And perhaps these bridges are the very roads we will walk together in the future.
– Clinical Psychologist Burcu Baş
If you’re looking for support or would like to learn more about the author’s practice, visit psikologburcubas.com — a place where every story matters.