CCU Counseling Students Travel to Budapest, Hungary to Aid Ukrainian Refugees
LAKEWOOD, Colo. – Seventeen students and three faculty members from Colorado Christian University’s Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program recently returned from an international internship experience in Budapest, Hungary, where they provided trauma-informed support to Ukrainian refugees.
The trip, coordinated through CCU2theWorld, took place February 10-18 and was led by Dr. Casey Hall, assistant professor of counseling; Dr. Josh Kreimeyer, associate professor of counseling; and Dr. Kateryna Kuzubova, assistant professor of counseling. The CCU team partnered with Bridge UA, a ministry led by Ukrainian refugees George and Sharon Markey, to serve individuals displaced by the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Over the course of four days, the team, provided counseling support and trauma care to nearly 90 refugees. Their work included time at a local school, engaging with parents, students and teachers, as well as a ministry day for pastors and a refugee outreach day for families from neighboring villages.
“The School of Counseling at CCU equips students to bring hope and healing to individuals, families and communities across the world through excellent mental health services and leadership. I am proud of the faculty and students who compassionately cared for those traumatized by the war in Ukraine,” said Dr. Ryan Burkhart, dean of the School of Counseling at CCU. “I am grateful our program stands firm on CCU’s strategic priority of honoring Christ and sharing His love around the world.”
For many students, the experience reinforced their calling to serve others through counseling.
“What these refugees needed more than solutions was space,” said Monica Szkorla, a CCU Master’s student in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program from San Jose, California. “Space to process, to know their burdens weren’t too heavy to share. They needed validation. They are still standing. Despite all they’ve lived through, they made courageous choices to get to where they are today.”
The trip not only provided a transformative experience for students but also counted toward their 600 required clinical hours for graduation.
“This experience challenged our students to apply their counseling skills in a deeply meaningful way,” said Hall. “They sat with people in their pain, listened to their stories, and helped them process unimaginable loss—all while leaning on their education, training and faith.”
Bridge UA has invited the CCU team to return for another trip in June, and other organizations have reached out to build relationships with the university’s counseling program.
For more information about CCU’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program and global engagement opportunities, visit ccu.edu.