About me
WHO I AM
Many of my clients come to me exhausted from holding everything together, from anxiety that never fully switches off, from systems or relationships that left them changed. Some are navigating depression, trauma, panic attacks or phobias. Others are going through a life transition, a loss, or a period that simply feels too heavy to carry alone.
I trained within British therapeutic frameworks and hold an MSc in Counselling from Bangor University. At the heart of my work is a genuine belief that people are more than their difficulties. With the right support, real change is possible. My research explored how cultural context shapes what people need from therapy. My own experience of navigating significant life change has deepened my understanding of resilience and what it means to rebuild. It is the way I work with anyone facing difficult transitions, whatever their background.
I'm Iryna — an integrative, trauma-informed therapist working online across the UK. Sessions in English, Ukrainian and Russian.
I work with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), panic attacks, depression, phobias and trauma, as well as displacement, life transitions and bereavement.
My approach is practical and evidence-based, but also warm and collaborative. We work at your pace, on what actually matters to you. You don't need a diagnosis or a crisis to begin — you just need to feel ready to try.
MY APPROACH
My work is grounded in CBT, combined with trauma-informed, psychodynamic, and mindfulness-based approaches. I adapt what we do to your needs. Some people need practical tools and structure; others need space to explore deeper patterns. Both are valid.
In practice, this means:
- Understanding what’s happening in your nervous system (psychoeducation)
- Building practical tools — grounding, breathing, cognitive restructuring
- Processing difficult experiences at a pace that feels safe
- Working with deeper patterns when that’s what’s needed
- For anxiety and panic, this often means understanding the panic cycle, building practical regulation tools, and gradually shifting the patterns that keep anxiety going.
The goal isn’t endless reflection. It’s real, practical change in how you feel and function and more agency in your own life.
MY SPECIALISMS
I work with anxiety, depression, panic disorder, phobias, trauma and PTSD. I also specialise in trauma connected to displacement, moral injury, and the lasting impact of unsafe systems or relationships.
Many of my clients are strong, reflective people who have managed well for years but find themselves depleted, disconnected, or stuck. Therapy with me isn’t about fixing you. It’s about restoring your sense of clarity, safety and agency.
I work with particular depth in:
- Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), panic attacks and phobias
- Depression and low mood
- Trauma, complex PTSD and moral injury
- Displacement, refugee experience and cultural identity
- Life transitions, bereavement and loss
- Domestic violence and relationship trauma
- Sessions available in English, Ukrainian and Russian.
SINGLE SESSION THERAPY
Not everyone needs ongoing therapy. Sometimes you need one focused, professional conversation with a clear intention and no ongoing commitment.
I offer Single Session Therapy: a 90-minute session designed for people who are functioning well but facing something specific. A decision, a situation, a pattern — something that needs a fresh and professional perspective.
This works well if you:
- Are at a crossroads: a career change, a relationship decision, a difficult conversation ahead
- Have been carrying something quietly and want one dedicated space to look at it clearly
- Are a professional who values efficiency and wants results, not open-ended exploration
- Are curious about therapy but not yet ready to commit to ongoing sessions
You’ll leave with clarity, a perspective shift, or a practical next step — sometimes all three.
If what you’re carrying is more complex: long-standing trauma, deep relational patterns, or something that has been with you for years — I will tell you honestly if ongoing therapy would serve you better.
MY BACKGROUND & EXPERIENCE
My professional approach is shaped by both training and lived experience. As a Ukrainian refugee who has lived and worked across Ukraine, Montenegro, the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom, I understand displacement, identity and the challenge of rebuilding not just theoretically, but personally.
I have clinical experience working with refugees and asylum seekers, survivors of domestic violence, people affected by war and conflict, and complex bereavement including loss by suicide.
My MSc dissertation “The Fit Factor: Cultural Dimensions and Therapy Satisfaction” explored how cultural background shapes what people need from therapy and what makes it work. This informs how I approach every client.
I work under trauma-informed supervision and am experienced in risk assessment and safeguarding.
MY VALUES
I believe therapy works best when it feels like a genuine partnership, where you are understood as a whole person, not a set of symptoms. I bring warmth, directness and cultural sensitivity to every session. I follow NCPS and BACP ethical standards, engage in ongoing professional development, and regularly attend international conferences on trauma and CBT.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications
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MSc Counselling — Bangor University
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Bachelor Honours in Practical Psychology
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MNCPS Accredited Therapist
Professional Experience In private practice since 2020, working online with adults.
Clinical areas of experience: ·
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Anxiety, high-functioning anxiety & panic disorder
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Depression and low mood
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Low self-esteem and self-confidence
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Emotional regulation and boundaries
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Trauma, PTSD, complex & developmental trauma
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Institutional trauma & moral injury
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Displacement, cultural identity & refugee experience
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Domestic violence and co-dependency
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Relationship difficulties
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Life transitions and adjustment
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Bereavement and loss
Experienced in trauma-informed supervision, risk assessment and safeguarding (self-harm, suicide, complex cases).
Training & CPD
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CBT model of psychological resilience — Ukrainian Institute of CBT, 2023
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Mindfulness-Based Contemplative Psychotherapy — University of Derby, 2025
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Brief Group Schema Therapy (BST) — Van Vreeswijk & Gillings
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Existential concerns & CBT procedures — Ross Menzies
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CBT with traumatised refugees & asylum seekers — Kerry Young, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Cultural Competence & Languages
Fluent in Ukrainian, Russian and English.
MSc dissertation: "The Fit Factor: Cultural Dimensions and Therapy Satisfaction" exploring how cultural diversity shapes therapeutic outcomes.
Lived experience as a Ukrainian refugee, with professional experience across Ukraine, Montenegro, Czech Republic and the United Kingdom. Particular expertise in displacement trauma, cultural identity and the psychological impact of war.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations. In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Moral injury · Institutional trauma · Displacement & forced migration · Cultural transition & identity · Life transitions & adjustment · Refugee & asylum seeker experience · Rebuilding after unsafe systems or relationships
Therapies offered
Fees
£60.00 - £100.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Individual therapy: £60 per 50-minute session.
Single Session Therapy: £100 · 90 minutes · one-off, no ongoing commitment.
Report writing: available on request, charged at an hourly rate.
Payment is by BACS transfer. Details are sent after your first session, along with your therapy agreement.
Reduced rates I offer a limited number of concessionary slots for students, refugees, asylum seekers, and those on low incomes. If cost is a barrier, please get in touch, rather you ask than not reach out at all.
Free consultation Before we begin, I offer a free 20–30 minute video or phone call no obligation, no pressure. It's a chance for us both to see if we're a good fit.
When I work
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Further information
All sessions are held online via secure video or phone from wherever you are in the UK. You don't need to travel, take time off work, or arrange childcare. Many clients find this makes it easier to show up consistently, which matters for the work.
Sessions are 50 minutes, typically weekly. The pace and frequency adapt to what you need.
I work with adults aged 18 and over. If you're unsure whether therapy with me is the right fit for your situation, you're welcome to get in touch — that's exactly what the free consultation is for.
