Mental health training conducted by USA experts

Teaching staff, resident doctors and psychologists from the Department of Mental Health, Medical Psychology and Psychotherapy of Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy of the Republic of Moldova benefited from a series of trainings, provided by mental health experts from the United States of America, between October 12-17, 2024.

The team of international trainers included: Laura Ann Roberts, Associate Professor, Counseling Expert, Herbert H. Lehman College, City University of New York, Emiliya Zhivotovskaya, Assistant Professor, Saybrook University, Pasadena, California, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and founder of The Flourishing Center and the Center for Positive Education, and Shimon Mazor, specialist in virtual mental health medicine, co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of FloatVR.

Thus, on October 12 and 13, American specialists participated in the International Congress ”Beyond Borders: United for Mental Health”, where Shimon Mazor, specialist in virtual medicine on mental health, presented his unique expertise in technology and wellness, bringing innovation to mental health and delivering impactful solutions accessible to wider communities.

An engaging presentation on applied positive psychology was made by Assistant Professor Emiliya Zhivotovskaya, who is also the creator of the renowned certification program in this field, applied in 11 cities in the US, Canada and online, a program under which more than 700 practitioners have been trained to date.

Associate Professor Laura Ann Roberts spoke to the audience about her experience in the undergraduate and graduate academic advising program. In addition to her teaching activities, Dr. Roberts is a licensed psychologist and provides counseling to children and adults experiencing serious psychological conditions.

The working visit of specialists from the USA continued at the Department of Mental Health, Medical Psychology and Psychotherapy of Nicolae Testemitanu University. Shimon Mazor organized a workshop with the generic title Revolutionizing Mental Health through Virtual Reality: How Technology Can Enhance the Quality of Therapeutic Care, and demonstrated practices regarding  the functioning of virtual reality in therapy. Later, Emiliya Zhivotovskaya moderated the discussion workshop with the resident physicians of the Psychiatry specialty. She spoke about building a successful career and told them about her career path, as well as development opportunities and global perspectives in the field of mental health.

Two training workshops were organized for scientific-didactic staff and resident doctors from the Psychiatry specialty: ”Management of ADHD in children and adults”; and ”Dialectical behavior psychotherapy”. Activities were moderated by expert Laura Ann Roberts, who added a personal touch to discussions about academic advising and managing psychological challenges such as anxiety and ADHD. Her extensive experience of working with students and adults in difficult situations has provided a deep and applicable understanding of psychological support with a focus on the real needs of patients. 

Madalina Valache, a first-year resident doctor in Mental Health specialty, emphasized the positive impact of the training provided by the American speakers, which offered her new perspectives and essential knowledge for her professional development. ”The experience was not only informative but also inspirational for us at the beginning of our careers. We personally experienced how virtual reality is used, we had the opportunity to learn about the basic principles of positive psychology, acquiring new practices that we will use in our daily work and also as future practitioners. The experts explained to us what their therapeutic approach is in several pathologies, and we managed to exchange experience with them”, concluded the young doctor.

In the opinion of Lidia Sanduleac, a third-year medical resident, the visit of specialists from the USA was a moment of revelation and innovation for the young doctors: ”Emiliya Zhivotovskaya, an expert in applied positive psychology, brought a unique perspective on the development of resilience and personal development skills, captivating us with her hands-on approach and the vast impact of her programs in education and mental health.” “This visit highlighted how important it is for resident doctors to learn from international experts and keep abreast of the latest trends in mental health. In a world where technological innovations and new therapeutic approaches are constantly evolving, access to global expertise allows future specialists to improve their skills and offer patients more effective and personalized solutions,” says the resident.

Emiliya Zhivotovskaya, one of the American trainers, stated that she was impressed by Nicolae Testemitanu University’s concern to support its community members and by the warmth of the people of the Republic of Moldova. “We were so inspired by what we saw. The kindness and generosity of the Moldovan people exceeded our expectations – from the delicious food to the heartfelt connections, every moment was a true cultural exchange. Our Congress also coincided with the Chisinau City Feast Day, which allowed us to get acquainted with the traditions of this beautiful country. We danced with the locals to the rhythms of traditional Moldovan music in the city center and tasted the sweetness of honey and wine – it was like savoring the very essence of Moldovan culture. If hospitality were an Olympic sport, Moldova would take the gold!", Emiliya Zhivotovskaya said.

The representatives of the Department of Mental Health, Medical Psychology and Psychotherapy would like to express their gratitude to the US Embassy for this extraordinary opportunity, which opened new prospects for the training and professional development of resident doctors, thus contributing to the improvement of mental health services in our country.

The visit of international specialists took place within the framework of the ”American Medical Speaker Program” project, funded by the USA State Department, which aims to transfer knowledge, improve practical skills and strengthen the research and teaching capacities of scientific and teaching staff. 

Photo album.