We Armenians sometimes overlook the importance of the job of a psychologist. It’s not that we often ignore psychologists. It’s just that the stereotype in our national mindset stands in our way. Almost everyone needs the help of a psychologist, regardless of national belonging, gender, age or lifestyle. The personal or financial situation and state of mind are not the only reasons for convulsions. If a person is sensitive, better yet, susceptible, then the several obstacles, inhumane behavior and the violation of legal and moral rights of a person in daily life and at the workplace may help cause many kinds of stresses. This and other similar topics were the topics of Hayern Aysor’s interview with psychologist Zara Harutyunyan, who is a practicing psychologist in Moscow and recently visited the RA Ministry of Diaspora. Zara Harutyunyan has provided free psychological assistance to the parents and soldiers who were in stress caused by the four-day war that took place in Artsakh in April.

Hayern Aysor: Mrs. Harutyunyan, please tell us about your past and achievements.

Zara Harutyunyan: I was born and raised in Yerevan. In 1993, I moved to Moscow where I currently work as a school psychologist. I first specialized in sociology and later in psychology. My job is hard, yet very binding and interesting. I have my personal office at a psychological center in Moscow where I receive my clients, but I often work via the phone or video. My clients are mainly people of different nationalities, and the majority of them are women between the ages of 30 and 50. My profession is in high demand. Today, Planet Earth has become a melting pot of many heated conflicts. Alongside that, there are many kinds of natural disasters taking place in different geographical areas, including floods, tornados, fires, plane crashes and car accidents, not to mention the danger of terrorism that is growing day after day. So, both people and Planet Earth are convulsing. A person is in psychological stress when he leaves the homeland for abroad and finds himself in a new environment. Indeed, those people are in need of psychologists, but it would be right for them to see a psychologist before leaving the homeland because the person might not leave the homeland.

Hayern Aysor: In your opinion, is a psychologist a doctor?

Z. H.: Yes, indeed! If a psychologist can heal a person and help him get out of a difficult situation, then of course, he is a doctor!

Hayern Aysor: Is there a big difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?

Z. H.: No, there is not a big difference. The only difference is that a psychiatrist prescribes drugs, but a psychologist doesn’t. A psychologist heals with words, advice, a correct analysis of the situation and assesses situations according to their gravity and importance. A psychologist has a heavy burden on his shoulders since he needs to help the client get out of the particular situation so that he doesn’t go to the extreme and doesn’t need to see a psychiatrist.

Hayern Aysor: Do you think a mother or teacher can replace a psychologist?

Z. H.: It is hard to say. If a person has a heavy case, he definitely has to see a psychologist. I must say that very often a psychologist needs to relieve the psychological stress of a parent and then move on to the child…Many problems emerge especially during adolescence. Parents and children dispute and have disagreements, and very often those disputes are only solved with the help and through the intervention of a psychologist.

Hayern Aysor: What about the teacher?

Z. H.: In my lifetime, I have never seen a great teacher or a teacher sent from above. I was a student of Lyudmila Harutyunyan when I was studying to obtain my PhD, and she was the only one who was a wonderful lecturer and the ideal supervisor. Only teachers sent from above can replace a psychologist, but unfortunately, there are very few teachers like that.

Hayern Aysor: Let’s talk about your career in the Armenian community of Moscow. Do the Armenians of Moscow see you often?

Z. H.: When they call me or come to see me, I definitely receive them. The community has an Armenian Sunday school, and I go there with pleasure. Our community is a very organized and extended family and is strongly attached to the Homeland. We always support our community and stand by the side of the Homeland at difficult moments. Our community also provided assistance to Artsakh and the families of soldiers killed or wounded during the military operations unleashed in April. It was the duty of each and every Armenian because those boys defended and maintained the borders of our Homeland. What we are doing can’t be compared to the blood that they shed for us.

Hayern Aysor: Let’s talk about your charities.

Z. H.: My charities are free psychological services to people who can’t afford them and, first and foremost, to the mothers who lost their sons during the war. They don’t contact me anymore, but if necessary, I am ready to help them unconditionally. May they never feel the need of a psychologist!

Hayern Aysor: Do you participate in training programs?

Z. H.: We psychologists are constantly learning. We don’t have a “recipe”. We simply listen to the lectures of notable psychologists. This is a lifelong learning process. We learn in practice.

Hayern Aysor? Who was your mentor in psychology and pedagogy?

Z. H.: Janusz Korczak, who was of Polish descent and worked at a Jewish orphanage. During the years of the Great Patriotic War, the Germans come to take the Jewish children of the orphanage to gas chambers and tell Korczak, who was not a Jew, to leave, but he doesn’t leave the children and joins the group. Victor Frankel was also a reputable professional and a great psychologist for me. He was also in the gas chamber during the Great Patriotic War and barely survived. A psychologist or pedagogue must be a uniquely devoted person. After all, he deals with a person’s life and soul.

Hayern Aysor: Wouldn’t you like to return to the Homeland?

Z. H.: I have been living abroad for 20 consecutive years, but I have been wanting to return to the Homeland for 20 consecutive years. The process of return is long, but the important thing is that one day the dream of returning will come true, and I think that day will come soon.

Hayern Aysor: Thank you for this interesting interview! I wish you patience, endless love for and devotion to your job.

Karine Avagyan