Israeli Hibuki Doll Therapy Helps Children in Ukraine Cope With War

“During the war [in Ukraine], it is especially important to give children back their childhood,” said Tatyana Protasova, Hibuki therapy trainer at an Odesa school run by Federation partner World ORT. Hibuki doll therapy, conceived in Israel during the 2006 Second Lebanon War, was introduced in Ukraine in 2023. It has since helped 20,000 Ukrainian children suffering from psychological distress resulting from the ongoing hostilities. The name Hibuki derives from the Hebrew word hibuk, to hug. Hibuki therapy uses a plush dog that children hug to process their anxieties and emotional challenges with the guidance of trained professionals. At the Ort Zhabotinski Lyceum #94, where Protasova is also a math teacher, students in grades two through six have benefited from group Hibuki sessions. Noted Protasova, “These hugs are priceless,” helping Ukrainian children cope with air raid sirens, explosions and the overall trauma of war.

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