Art can work with trauma like Perseus’ mirrored shield — allowing us to face Medusa without meeting her gaze or turning to stone. But why Medusa? Olga Hovorukha delves into the symbolism of this myth and shows how art can become a powerful tool for transforming traumatic experiences.
Olga Hovorukha is a psychologist, gestalt therapist, supervisor, mediator, and director of the NGO Step Toward People. She has worked in psychiatric hospitals, taught at universities, and collaborated with communities, internally displaced persons, the LGBTQ+ community, the IT sector, and social services. Olga is also the author of numerous training programs and workshops on psychotherapy, mediation, conflict resolution, trauma, emotional intelligence, and burnout prevention.
The lecture took place during the Trauma-Informed Art School, part of Healing Arts Lviv — a project held from July 20 to 27, 2025, in Lviv. It brought together artists, educators, healthcare and social workers, government representatives, and international organizations to explore art as a tool for healing.
The project was implemented by the NGO Art Dot with the support of the Vidnova Lab program and in collaboration with the Lviv City Council, King’s College London, Unbroken Art, the Home of Sound (LME Lviv Radio), and the Jameel Arts & Health Lab, WHO.