Oleksandra Romanova, Psychologist and Gestalt Therapist

I am a supportive therapist. One of my greatest strengths is being able to see and accept a person as they are, without judging them or trying to fix them.

For me, the most important foundations of therapy are safety and trust. I want you to be able to gradually relax during a session, without feeling that you need to be agreeable, say the right things, or keep me interested. If you feel like crying, getting angry, staying silent, joking, or swearing, you are free to do so. It is also completely normal not to know what you want to talk about that day.

I do not work according to a rigid script or lead clients through a predetermined checklist. I ask questions, share what I notice, and help you take a closer look at what is happening. But I do not offer ready-made solutions, decide how you should live, or push you to talk about something you are not yet ready to discuss.

In our work, I may be serious, supportive, direct, or use humour when it feels appropriate. It is important to me to remain a real person in the relationship, rather than hiding behind the role of an all-knowing expert.

My calm and informal way of working is grounded in 15 years of experience, professional training, and work with many different people and life situations. This allows me to stay present with you and hold space for intense emotions such as anger, shame, hurt, despair, or experiences that may be difficult to accept in yourself or show to others. You do not need to make your feelings more comfortable or socially acceptable before bringing them into therapy.

You can come to therapy with a specific concern: after a difficult event, during a life crisis, because of relationship problems, or when you need to make a difficult decision.

You can also come with nothing more specific than the feeling that something is not quite right. Perhaps everything seems more or less fine, but there is too much anxiety and tension, too little enjoyment, or the same painful situations keep repeating. You do not need to know in advance exactly what you want to talk about.

Therapy can become a space where you do not have to pretend that everything is fine, rush into decisions, or try to become the “best version of yourself.” Together, we can explore what is happening, what you need, and why your usual ways of coping may no longer be helping.

Over time, it can become easier to understand your feelings, recognise recurring patterns, become more aware of your boundaries, express your needs, and make decisions. The purpose of therapy is not to find something wrong with you and fix it. You are not a flawed person. What matters more is understanding your individual needs and characteristics, learning to be on your own side, and finding ways to live with greater ease, fulfilment, and enjoyment.

In sessions with me, you can talk, stay silent, cry, feel angry, joke, or have no idea where to begin. I do not offer ready-made solutions or decide how you should live. I help you notice what may previously have gone unseen and gradually develop greater clarity, freedom of choice, and trust in yourself.