The agenda of the event: how to involve older people in creativity, how to overcome the fear of visiting a psychotherapist, the benefits of art therapy, the psychological well-being of citizens of the “golden age” and much more.

The state and society nowadays is maximally focused on the “golden age”, which is completely natural and right. And, importantly, citizens of the “golden age” are in the close and careful focus of the St. Petersburg State Institute of Psychology and Social Work (SPbGIPSR). After all, the work of this research and educational institution, notes Vladimir Lyutov, rector of SPbGIPSR, is aimed precisely at establishing and prolonging the ideas of active and high-quality longevity, a systematic approach to understanding what and who are citizens of the “golden age”, focusing attention on the issues of health, physical and moral longevity.

People of the “golden age” are a reliable and proven asset of society, a working asset, and even if their previous employment is a thing of the past, now the “golden age” is able to build and create, – Svetlana Lebedeva, Professor of the Department of Theory and Technology of Social Work of SPbGIPSR, is sure, – age, especially the “golden age”, is the path to new horizons that open up new opportunities. Involving the “golden age” in creativity and creation is a current routine and a right perspective, because St. Petersburg is one of the “older” cities in Russia, there is a large percentage of citizens over 60 years old, and this percentage will only grow over the years. Moreover, one can work and create at home, even while bedridden. Write and read something literary, provide all possible advisory assistance from home.

Uncovering the inner potential of everyone, regardless of age, but especially among those who have crossed the retirement age limit, is important and necessary, says Marina Kiseleva, Associate Professor of the Department of Clinical Psychology at SPbGIPSR. Using specific examples, Marina Vyacheslavovna showed how to involve older people in art therapy. There are no restrictions in art creativity, drawing and writing poetry. The most important thing in art therapy is satisfaction from the process and from the result. Marina Vyacheslavovna is convinced that there is creativity in each of us, and art therapy is the key to self-knowledge. However, the process of organizing art therapy must be highly professional. Only such assistance can unleash the creative potential of citizens of the “golden age”.

Psychological help for people of the “golden age” is challenging, but it is extremely important and necessary both for the recipients of this help and for the process of understanding of many psychological complexes, Irina Malkina-Pykh, Professor of the Department of General and Consultative Psychology at SPbGIPSR, is convinced.

Svetlana Maslennikova, Associate Professor of the Department of Clinical Psychology of SPbGIPSR, reflects on what is the quality of life, especially that of citizens of the “golden age”. Modern technologies for improving the quality of life (psychological well-being) of older people are the path to a sustainable and positive pastime for citizens of the “golden age”. Svetlana Anatolievna suggests considering a variety of methods for improving the quality of life that help to improve the physical, emotional and mental state of older people.

In addition to theoretical calculations, Svetlana Zhuikova, Professor of the Department of Clinical Psychology of SPbGIPSR, gave practical recommendations and conducted game tests within the framework of understanding such an element of the life of an elderly person as applied kinesiology, what it is and how it works in a single example.