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​​In February, 2015, James (Jay) Livingston, Ph.D., Senior Psychologist at Center for Survivors of Torture (CST) in San Jose, CA initiated Project Ukraine as a response urgent appeals from Ukrainian psychologists for no fee education and training (by Skype) regarding the nature, effect s, assessment, and  effective treatment of returning soldier survivors of torture. Ukrainian psychologists and medical providers are, themselves, working in contexts of considerable instability and risk, constrained by curfew, etc. 

On April 25, Dr. Ruebsamen joined the project, and spoke, by interpreter, with 136 female Ukrainian leaders regarding the reported fact that some of the worst effects of the Ukrainian warfare known to be occurring in women, children, and the elderly; eliciting their questions regarding how best to provide support to their women in homes where soldiers are returning home in great suffering from their experiences; including having been tortured. An immediate idea was to generate a toolkit of helpful tips on how to approach communicating with their soldier spouses & partners in an effective manner, encourage them to obtain psychosocial support, cooperate with a medical and/or physical evaluation; help with substance use and abuse, develop networks of dependable support among friends, reliable safety plans for wives and children. Coming to realize the limited extent of the resources available to them was also a concern. These women spoke largely Ukrainian and Russian, a few spoke Czech and Polish; several, English. 

Dr. Livingston noted that survivors of torture treated in the US have generally been torture-free for at least several years given the length of time required to relocate to the US and present for treatment at a specialized torture treatment center. In stark contrast, Ukrainian soldier victims of torture present for treatment immediately -- such as those part of a prisoner exchange within the past several days. 

A founding psychologist of the Center for Survivors of Torture (CST), San Jose, CA, Dr. Livingston is also a co-founding psychologist of Abbey Psych Services, where he provides assessment, supervision, consultation, and treatment. He is a strong supporter and founding member of ALWAYS BE LISTENING GLOBAL INITIATIVE & NONPROFIT. Dr. Livingston has taught, trained, and supervised doctoral students for twenty-five years; provided assessment and treatment of torture survivors as well as presented his clinical research at regional and national trainings for psychologists on related subjects such as vicarious traumatization, conducting precise, ethical asylum evaluations, etc., since CST's inception fourteen years ago.

children worldwide are being uprooted, forcibly displaced at increasingly higher rates from their homes, separated from
their families. most die from injury, illness, starvation, attempting to reach borders of their countries. those who reach borders are in poor shape, highly vulnerable to abduction, trafficking. we currently collaborate with and give psychological support to those serving them there (see below) -- we are also successfully writing grant appeals for emergency services in areas of active, protracted conflict and for training others in the prevention of gender-based violence and other prevention-related topics (Burundi). we have assisted country leaders to collaborate in advocating for themselves, for example, with NEAR HUMANITARIAN NETWORK, achieving excellent results-- obtaining high rates of funding through international grantors for sub-saharan nations  who historically have awarded high amounts of monies primarily to Northern Hemisphere countries who are small and low in need, only allotting substandard, trickle-down, leftover substandard amounts to the impoverished, Southern Hemisphere countries not organized enough to advocate for themselves. Pending funding needed to apply , we hope to acquire ALNAP status to further benefit our subsaharan countries such as Burundi. 
​Jordanian camps for Syrian children * Calais camps * Tanzania camp for children of Burundi with Rwanda, DRC, & Goma children * children of Uganda & South Sudan SUTCO, Save the Children South Sudan * Somalian children * US indigent, missing & trafficked children/youth through Blue Canoe * children and the mothers of St. Lucia Island, Carribbean * children of Kenya, Kibera School * Lifeline Nehemiah & children affected by Sierra Leone mudslides * UNHCR Uganda Reach a Hand reproductive education, rights, and protection peer advocacy groups for youth