Since many believe that psychologists and therapists are those who themselves have endured serious trials and learned to deal with them, there is nothing unexpected, at first glance, in the idea of creating a psychological service that employs people with disabilities. However, in Russia there is only one organization to employ disabled psychologists.

Irina Sadogurskaya, one of the psychologists of the project Pomogaya Drugim – Pomogayesh Sebe (Help Yourself by Helping Others), or PDPS, previously worked as a tour operator. Seven years ago she suffered a spinal injury in an accident in Southeast Asia.

Irina Sandogurskaya / Source: Personal archive

"There was a choice – either to surrender and bury yourself alive, or to start from scratch," said Sadogurskaya. She chose the latter option and decided to become a psychologist.

Helping someone like you

Help Yourself by Helping Others is an example of a bottom-up solution, due to initiative and enthusiasm. The project was born in 2012, at the Moscow State Psychological and Pedagogical University (MGPPU), where PDPS founder Vera Zakharova worked.

The university administration approved the idea of the project to employ psychologists with disabilities, who took distance training at MGPPU. This is how Russia's only fully remote psychological assistance service where people with disabilities work was born.

"The project was originally conceived in such a way that psychologists with disabilities should advise similar people with disabilities," said Sadogurskaya, who was one of the first psychologists to take part in the project.

Vera Zakharova / Source: Personal archive

"And I knew that I would succeed, I had something to share with such people. I was able to cope with the most severe depression, and I felt that I could help other people who find themselves in difficult situations."

Via Skype and on the forum

PDPS' psychologists are approached not only by people with disabilities, but also with a variety of other problems, including bereavement, relationship problems, and depression.

The remote psychological assistance service receives about 100 calls and 50 requests per month for consultation by correspondence – a lot for the small project, which employs only 10 psychologists and has no money for advertising or expansion.

All clients receive free help – this is the project's main principle. Psychologists with disabilities, who themselves are facing serious challenges in life, understand like no other how important it is that those who are on the verge of despair have a chance to get free help.

The project operates fully remotely: The psychologists work from home, communicating with each other over the internet to discuss difficult cases. According to PDPS employees, remote work has serious advantages for customers: By talking on Skype or exchanging messages with a psychologist on the forum, it is easier for many to open up and talk about their problems.

Difficult fate

While the project is a success, with numerous customers posting grateful responses on the PDPS website, from a financial point of view, the service is on the brink of survival. It does not take money from customers, the project has almost no sponsors, and employees get almost no wages.

The service now relies only on charitable donations on the Takiye Dela (These Things) website and, more importantly, the enthusiasm of employees, said founder Vera Zakharova.

"Remote work for our psychologists with disabilities is the only way to realize themselves creatively, to belong to their favorite profession," she said. It is quite possible to work without pay, but only for beginners, as they adapt to the profession. This means that PDPS is always looking for a livelihood.

"I'm a little sick of the words 'desire to help people,' because they are too pretentious and hackneyed," said Sandogurskaya, contemplating what makes her continue working. "I formulate it as follows: 'a sense of demand' and sometimes even irreplaceability."

Read more: Where do people with disabilities work in Russia?