Humanitarian Response Department

Mission: To provide psychological and consultative support to individuals and communities affected by crises and trauma.

Goals:
• Offer psychological first aid during emergencies
• Promote mental health awareness
• Provide specialized psychological consultations
• Build community resilience
• Design need-based intervention program

Steps for Designing an Intervention:
1. Issue identification
2. Team formation
3. Capacity building
4. Goal setting
5. Intervention design
6. Implementation
7. Ongoing evaluation
8. Results analysis


Head of department:
Bara’a Hatoum Certified Clinical Psychologist and Trainer

Interaction with Other Departments:

• Joint projects and data sharing
• Coordination with training and research departments

How Issues Are Identified:
• Field assessments
• Collaboration with local organizations
• Requests from partners or members
• Internal discussions based on research and surveys

Steps for Designing an Intervention:
1. Issue identification
2. Team formation
3. Capacity building
4. Goal setting
5. Intervention design
6. Implementation
7. Ongoing evaluation
8. Results analysis

Volunteer Opportunities:
• Request support or participate in assessment
• Assist in designing or implementing field responses

About Bara'a

Baraa Hatoum, A licensed psychologist and member of the Lebanese Order of Psychologists. Baraa brings deep expertise in designing and developing mental health and psychosocial services in conflict-affected environments.

She has been part of *Nafsaniyoun* since 2017 and took on the leadership of the Humanitarian Response Department in 2024, where she designs tailored psychological interventions for the most vulnerable individuals and communities. Her work is rooted in developing programs that address complex emotional and social needs during crises.

She integrates psychological depth, social awareness, and strategic management, drawing from her experience with both local and international organizations in Lebanon and Syria. She played a vital role in shaping emergency mental health responses, including following the Beirut Port explosion.

Baraa has led numerous humanitarian and psychological projects focusing on women, youth, and trauma survivors, and has overseen the development of specialized intervention manuals grounded in contextual understanding and trauma-informed approaches.

An expert in working with individuals and groups, she excels in facilitating therapeutic sessions, workshops, and group processes. She has trained hundreds of professionals in psychosocial support and peacebuilding, and believes deeply in the power of listening, dialogue, and nonviolent communication as tools for healing. Baraa blends human sensitivity with strategic vision. She believes that change begins within the self and radiates outward, and that the impact of psychological work must extend beyond the clinic to truly transform lives.