My education and life experiences make me uniquely qualified to treat the impact of trauma in a compassionate and informed way. I grew up in a small Eastern European country of Belarus. Both of my parents struggled with the impacts of their own childhood trauma as well as marital issues, which left them with very little space to attend to my emotional needs. I learned early on that the burden of having “peace at home” was on me. I had to behave a certain way and suppress my own needs to not upset my narcissistic father (something I had zero control over). I had to protect my mother from him because she absolutely could not stand up for either of us or set healthy boundaries. Needless to say I had a lot of powerful emotions to deal with as a child and there was no one who could help me to navigate them, so I learned to intellectualize and avoid my vulnerability at any cost, covering it up with anger.  Strong feelings of shame and a sense of being not enough, made it difficult to trust others. So most relationships didnt feel safe.

I didnt quite know what was “wong with me,” but I knew something WAS wrong . So I decided to major in Psychology to understand and “fix” myself. It has been a transformative journey since then. I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Suffolk University in Boston, MA. My graduate studies brought me to San Diego where I obtained my Master of Social Work from San Diego State University. 

I completed countless trainings, got certified in EMDR, and had more than a decade of experience treating childhood trauma in various settings, including inpatient and outpatient programs. I have applied to myself  every new coping skill and new therapeutic modality I came across  in order to heal from my own childhood  wounds. 

My hard work led to a transformation that was beyond what I expected. I was able to bring to the surface all the harmful messages I picked up growing up and replace them with more realistic life rules. Processing past trauma allowed me to leave it behind and direct my energy to meeting my needs in the present. Recognizing my triggers allowed me to deal with them better and feel less irritable. I learned to understand and manage my feelings which helped me to progress in my career and improve my relationships. I learned to set healthy boundaries with family members which  freed me from resentment and feeling of powerlessness. 

I’m happy to say that my experiences make me convinced that with the right support and consistent intentional work, you can learn to have better control of your emotions, build relationships where your needs are met, and feel at peace with yourself. Are you ready to free yourself from the hold your past has on you? Contact me for a free consultation to start the journey that will change your life.