About me
Let me introduce myself: my name is Olga. I’m in my mid forties. I’m a mother of two amazing boys. I’m a psychotherapist. I’m a feminist. Those are my leading identities apart from many more to mention that have shaped the way I am right now. I sincerely believe in Gestalt therapy. It is not just the modality I practice. It has become my lifestyle, my worldview, and my way of relating. And I love it, wholeheartedly.
I was born and raised in Belarus. In 2015 I moved with my family to Canada. My immigration experience has been impacting my present identity significantly. My academic background includes graduating from the Gestalt Institute of Toronto (5 year training program). Prior to my move to Canada I underwent a 4-year training in Gestalt therapy at the Moscow Gestalt Institute.
I successfully completed 1 year training in Developmental Somatic Psychotherapy, further enriching my therapeutic toolkit, in 2023. At the moment I’m in a 2-year Integrative Gestalt Approach Training: Trauma and Crises.
About Gestalt therapy
The Gestalt approach to therapy is a relational and experiential method that emphasizes present-moment awareness, often referred to as the “here-and-now.”
Awareness is basically an attentive observation of yourself and the surrounding environment. Developing the skill to observe and to notice accurately empowers you to make conscious choices. And I actively cultivate this skill in therapy.
Human beings are physical beings, living bodies in the world. Our bodies reflect, experience, and process our thoughts and emotions. The Gestalt approach heavily emphasizes embodiment, as it is the baseline. In my practice, I approach somatic work with respect and sensitivity.
Human beings need other human beings, especially in times of struggle. This is how we know who we are and how we function in the world with other people. We all yearn for being seen, heard, and met. We naturally seek acknowledgment, understanding, and connection. This is what is happening in the therapy room too – the relationship. Although the therapeutic relationship might have structured origins, its authenticity is genuine and meaningful.
While conversations are invaluable for understanding and gaining new perspectives, true change occurs through direct experience. Therapy offers a safe space to experiment with new behaviors, for further translating these newfound skills into real-world situations.
Within the Gestalt framework, I firmly believe that humans inherently strive for their wholeness and equilibrium. We possess the internal resources needed for healing and achieving a sense of completeness. However, life’s circumstances, events, and less obvious factors can hinder access to these resources at times. My role involves helping you recognize the existing resources you have and fostering the growth of your self-support skills.
