Ukraine

Victoria Spashchenko Reviewed by John Teager Victoria Spashchenko is on a mission to realise a dream – that, one day, the whole of her home country of Ukraine will be Solution Focused. And, after Ukraine? The world! In this easy to read and highly practical book, Spashchenko’s passion for her cause and determination to succeed shines through strongly. This endearing little pocket guide, published in Ukrainian and English and deliberately designed to fit in a small bag or the pocket of jeans, conveniently doubles as a personal, ‘on hand’ ready reference as it invites the reader to record Solution Focus thoughts and comments and to respond to the questions posed within each section, either at the time of reading or later. This is not a new concept, but it suits this little book and enhances its purpose – and it works well. Spashchenko’s very first question invites you to imagine the future – a key tenet of the Solution Focused approach.

Victoria Spashchenko & Carey Glass Introduced by Carey Glass In Peter de Jong and Insoo Kim Berg’s Interviewing for Solutions, we read the story of Rosie: Cheryl: “What do you suppose you would notice tomorrow morning that would be different - that would tell you, wow, things are really better!” Rosie: [smiling] “That’s easy. I would have won the lottery - $3 million.” Cheryl: “That would be great, wouldn’t it? What else would you notice?” And Rosie soon after says: “Well, I would get up in the morning before my kids do, make them breakfast, and sit down with them while we all eat together.” Through this little excerpt, we learn about the importance of hope and reality in SF. For Victoria Spashchenko, Kyiv is home, and she has remained there ever since putin’s invasion. For many, she is a tangible expression of hope and reality. Every day on social media, she regularly and determinedly shares her hopes and the reality she chooses to create. This article is one of the realities she has chosen to develop for us amid awful circumstances. In it, you will find yourself delighted, educated and sharing her humanity and humour.

Victoria Spashchenko ↗ Key Note – SFA in War. By Insider. In this video (and audio below) of the keynote talk at SOLWorld 2023 in Vienna, Victoria Spashchenko shares her personal and professional experience of applying the Solution Focus Approach during the war in Ukraine.

Victoria is a self-appointed Project Manager of “SF Ukraine”. She is a facilitator, coach, Solution-Focused practitioner, Cross-Cultural consultant and speaker. She has authored two Practical Guides: “How to Solve Problems Without Discussing Them - Solution-Focused Approach for Managers and for Others, too” “WOwW-school - Working on what works a Solution-Focused Approach for Teachers, Parents and for Others, too” (in Ukrainian). She is also the author of “#war_thoughts”, an e book. As well she is co-author of the book “Using video games in the classroom. Challenges and Solutions: All you need to know to start using video games in your classroom”, with Dr. Elena V. Shliakhovchuk