I have gained my qualifications and experience in the UK, where I have worked with people struggling with various mental problems for almost 20 years, initially as a Mental Health First Aider, later as an addiction therapist, and then as a cognitive-behavioral therapist.

Working for the UK National Health Service, private companies and NGOs, I have specialised in the treatment of depression, anxiety disorders, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and behavioural addictions. I have learned to use a flexible approach with people in therapy, as I have treated people from various social and cultural backgrounds, and I have conducted therapy with people from different races, religions, and sexual orientations.

My patients have included wealthy upper class people, wives of ambassadors, veterans of the war effort in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the homeless. People whose tragic fates and traumas were written about on the front pages of newspapers, and “ordinary citizens” suffering in oblivion.

I had the privilege and honour to learn during my MA at London Southbank University and postgraduate studies at Canterbury Christchurch University from such psychotherapy scene celebrities as e.g. Alma Thomas (sports psychologist for the British Olympic teams), Dheeresh Turnbull (author of books on CBT and mindfulness) and Dr Anke Ehlers (world-renowned expert in trauma treatment and creator of the PTSD model).

Authenticity, self-awareness, reliability and creativity are some of the values I profess in my private life and work. Above all, however, I am driven by respect for the values of another person, and curiosity of other people. During therapy, together we will discover what values are most important to you so that they set the direction of your future path.

I work under the supervision of the excellent Jayne Curran (BABCP registration no. 120849), who supports me during clinical consultations with her experience. Participation in supervision is extremely important in the work of a psychotherapist, as it allows one to benefit from the knowledge and perspective of another professional, provides an opportunity to reflect on the course of treatment, and stimulates continuous professional development. It is extremely important for me to keep up to date with the latest research and recommendations in the field of treatment of mental disorders, so I also participate regularly in training courses to constantly enrich my knowledge.

What other advantages do I have? Well, I don’t fall asleep in sessions, I don’t drag out therapy indefinitely collecting for a vacation in the Maldives, I don’t want to become your guru. Instead, I have a huge dose of empathy and unconditional acceptance for the person in therapy. I can laugh and cry, I’m not afraid of your or my emotions – during my studies and practice I also had my own individual and group therapy, so I also understand what it means to be on “the other side” and I try to make the therapeutic process as comfortable and effective as possible. During the sessions, I like to use CBT tools, which I have a lot up my sleeve but, if necessary, I reach for other methods, flexibly adapting them to the needs of the individual and the moment.