About Me
Who I Am
I am an integrative therapist with a foundation in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), integrating Person-Centred, Psychodynamic, Trauma-Informed, Schema Therapy, and Mindfulness-based approaches. I believe therapy should be collaborative, compassionate, and responsive to each person's needs, values, and goals.
My work is grounded in evidence-based CBT principles. I work in a formulation-led way, adapting the focus and structure of therapy to the client's needs, stage, and capacity. I work with people as individuals, not diagnoses.
My Journey to Therapy
My personal experience as a Ukrainian refugee has profoundly shaped my professional vision. Having lived and worked across Ukraine, Montenegro, the Czech Republic, and the United Kingdom, I bring strong cultural sensitivity, adaptability, and resilience to my clinical work.
These experiences have deepened my understanding of how displacement, identity, and belonging influence emotional wellbeing and recovery. I know firsthand the challenges of navigating new cultures, rebuilding life, and finding hope in difficult circumstances.
Before becoming a therapist, I co-ran a family business in tourism and photography. Photography taught me to see the world through empathy and perspective—skills that translate naturally into psychotherapy. I view therapy much like photography: each encounter is a meeting of human stories, framed by ethics, trust, and presence.
My Clinical Perspective
Through both professional practice and lived experience, I have developed particular sensitivity to complex and institutional forms of trauma—including moral injury, where prolonged exposure to unsafe systems leaves people feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or questioning their own perceptions.
Many of my clients are highly resilient, reflective individuals who have functioned well for years, yet find themselves exhausted or disconnected after prolonged exposure to unsafe systems or relationships. In such cases, therapy is not about "fixing" the person, but about restoring inner coherence, trust, and a sense of agency.
I hold a deep respect for processes that cannot be rushed. Some healing happens through understanding; other parts unfold through presence, language, and allowing the body to recognise safety again. For some clients, therapy becomes a space where they no longer have to explain, justify, or perform.
Languages & Cultural Sensitivity
I am fluent in Ukrainian, Russian, and English, which enables me to connect with and support clients from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
I have particular experience working with:
Ukrainian and Russian-speaking communities
Refugees and asylum seekers
Survivors of displacement and migration trauma
Individuals navigating cultural identity and belonging
People affected by war and conflict
My MSc dissertation, "The Fit Factor: Cultural Dimensions and Therapy Satisfaction," explored how cultural diversity influences therapeutic outcomes, highlighting the importance of cultural attunement in the therapeutic relationship.
My Experience
I have experience supporting survivors of domestic violence, refugees, and asylum seekers who have experienced trauma, loss, and complex life transitions. My clinical work includes clients presenting with anxiety, depression, panic disorder, relationship challenges, and profound bereavement, including loss by suicide.
I have worked under trauma-informed supervision, which has enabled me to support high-risk and complex cases while maintaining clear professional boundaries and self-awareness. I am experienced in assessing and managing risk related to self-harm, suicide, and safeguarding concerns.
My practice is always guided by the NCPS (National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society) and BACP Ethical Framework and maintains the highest standards of confidentiality, accountability, and care.
My Values
My work is guided by the following principles:
Collaboration — Therapy as a partnership, not something done to you
Compassion — Psychological safety, respect, and kindness
Ethical Practice — Guided by professional standards and integrity
Cultural Sensitivity — Honouring context, identity, and lived experience
Evidence-Based Work — Grounded in research and clinical effectiveness
Person-Centred Care — Therapy adapted to the individual, not a rigid model
Ongoing Development
I actively engage in continuing professional development, regularly attending international and Ukrainian conferences on CBT, trauma, and crisis intervention in the context of war.
I am currently working towards BABCP accreditation in CBT, consolidating my commitment to evidence-based and high-quality practice.
Personal Life
My self-care and resilience are grounded in my family and my two children (aged 20 and 7). Time in nature, ongoing learning, and reflective practice sustain my capacity for empathy and balance, ensuring I remain grounded and effective in my work with clients.