Behind every diploma and certificate there is a living person with their own story. We put this page together so you could get to know us better — not as specialists from a directory, but as people who once also stood before a choice and searched for their path. All of our psychologists were once in the client's place — doubting, afraid, searching. Perhaps someone's story will resonate with you.
Ilya Tsar is the founder and head of the center. But it wasn't always this way. Before psychology, Ilya built a career in business: he managed teams, negotiated, launched projects. A seemingly successful path. But the higher he climbed, the more clearly he saw: the main problems of business are not in Excel spreadsheets, but in people's heads. Imposter syndrome in a talented employee, burnout in a top manager, toxic relationships in a team — all these "human factors" turned out to be more interesting than any business strategy.
Why psychology? The turning point came when Ilya faced his own crisis — professional burnout. Psychotherapy helped him not only recover, but also rethink his whole life. He quit, enrolled in a psychology faculty and started from scratch. "I was 32, sitting in lectures with twenty-year-olds. The best decision of my life."
Thesis: "The influence of imposter syndrome on the career self-realization of middle managers." He chose the topic because he had gone through it himself and saw dozens of colleagues with the same problem. His supervisor was initially skeptical — "too narrow" — but after the defense recommended the work for publication.
Research interests: relational trauma and its impact on career; the neuroscience of decision-making; integration of EMDR and CBT in business consulting. Plans include a study of EMDR effectiveness for imposter syndrome (RCT).
Professional dream: "To make scientific psychotherapy accessible and understandable. So that people go to a psychologist as calmly as to a dentist — without shame and fear."
Vasily Serov is a psychiatrist and EMDR therapist. His path began at medical school, where, unlike many classmates, he knew from the first year that he would go into psychiatry. "I was always interested in the borderland: where does 'normal' sadness end and depression begin? Where is the line between character and disorder?"
Why psychology? After residency, Vasily worked in a hospital and faced reality: patients were discharged on medication, but returned six months later with the same problems. "I realized that medication is a crutch. It helps you walk, but doesn't teach you to walk. And I wanted my patients to walk on their own." He began studying psychotherapy and discovered EMDR.
Thesis: "Comparative effectiveness of pharmacotherapy and a combined approach (pharmacotherapy + EMDR) in treating PTSD in combat veterans." The choice of topic was not accidental: Vasily had consulted several veterans and saw how medication reduced the severity but didn't remove the flashbacks.
Research interests: psychopharmacology combined with EMDR; the neuroscience of trauma; comparative effectiveness of PTSD therapy methods. He plans a study on using EMDR for treatment-resistant depression.
Professional dream: "To break the myth that a psychiatrist is a 'punisher' with pills. I want people to know: modern psychiatry is about help, not stigma."
Anna Ivanova is a clinical psychologist. Her interest in psychology emerged early: at 14 she read a general psychology textbook she found at her older sister's, a student. "I understood nothing, but I felt: this is it. What I want to do."
Why psychology? Anna enrolled in clinical psychology right after school — without hesitation. In her third year she did a practicum in a neurosis ward and saw a panic attack "live" for the first time. "It was frightening and fascinating at the same time. I realized I wanted to work specifically with anxiety disorders — it's what I feel and understand on a deep level."
Coursework: "Cognitive distortions in generalized anxiety disorder: a comparative analysis." Anna conducted a series of interviews with patients and identified thinking patterns characteristic of GAD. The work received high praise from the department.
Research interests: cognitive mechanisms of anxiety disorders; the effectiveness of CBT for panic attacks; integration of EMDR in GAD treatment. Plans include a dissertation on the comparative effectiveness of CBT and EMDR for panic disorder.
Professional dream: "To write a book for people with anxiety — not academic-style, but warm and understandable. So that a person facing a panic attack for the first time opens it and understands: they are not alone, and it can be treated."
Dmitry Volkov is a psychologist specializing in social anxiety and social skills development. His path into psychology began with personal experience: in school and university, Dmitry suffered from pronounced social anxiety. "I could prepare for a five-minute presentation for weeks. And then still stood in front of the audience with shaking hands and an empty head."
Why psychology? In his second year of a technical university, Dmitry saw a psychologist — and it changed everything. "After six months of therapy, for the first time in my life I calmly spoke in front of a group. I remembered that feeling — as if a lead suit had been lifted off me." He transferred to a psychology faculty and decided to specialize in exactly what had helped him.
Thesis: "Social anxiety and early maladaptive experience: the role of emotional abuse in the formation of social phobia." Dmitry studied the link between childhood rejection experience and the development of social anxiety in adulthood. The work was recognized at a student conference.
Research interests: social anxiety and avoidant behavior; DBT skills for emotional regulation; dissociative processes in cPTSD. He plans a study of the effectiveness of group EMDR therapy for people with social anxiety.
Professional dream: "To create a group therapy program for social anxiety, available online. So that people from small towns where there are no specialized professionals can get help."
Elena Orlova is a neuropsychologist. Her path began with Oliver Sacks' book "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat", read at 16. "I was amazed: it turns out that damage to a tiny part of the brain can change a personality beyond recognition. I wanted to understand how it works."
Why psychology? Elena chose between medical and psychological — and chose psychology because "medicine back then didn't teach you to see the person behind the diagnosis." In her specialist program she became passionate about neuropsychology, did an internship at a rehabilitation center and understood: this was hers. "Seeing how after a stroke a person learns to speak, count, recognize faces again — it's a miracle. And I can be part of that miracle."
Thesis: "Neuropsychological rehabilitation after traumatic brain injuries: the role of bilateral stimulation in restoring cognitive functions." Elena was one of the first at her university to study the application of EMDR approaches in neurorehabilitation. Her supervisor called the work "bold and promising."
Research interests: neuroplasticity and EMDR; cognitive rehabilitation after TBI; neuropsychological assessment in children with learning difficulties. She plans a study on the effect of EMDR on cognitive functions in patients with post-COVID syndrome.
Professional dream: "To open an interdisciplinary neurorehabilitation center where neurologists, neuropsychologists and EMDR therapists work as one team. Without dividing into 'physical' and 'mental'."
Anna Soboleva is a systemic family therapist and EFT therapist. Her interest in family therapy arose from observing her own parents. "They loved each other, but fought as if they were enemies. I didn't understand: why? Later I learned it's called the 'pursue-withdraw cycle' — and it can be treated."
Why psychology? After school Anna enrolled in a psychology faculty, but initially wanted to be a child psychologist. Everything changed during a family counseling practicum: "I saw a couple who came with a child's problem. After 15 minutes it became clear that the 'child's problem' was a symptom. The real problem was in the marriage. It dawned on me: working with a family, you help everyone at once."
Thesis: "Negative interaction cycles in high-conflict couples: EFT analysis and interventions." Anna conducted a qualitative study of 12 couples and identified typical patterns of conflict escalation. The work became the foundation of her further specialization.
Research interests: attachment theory in adults; EFT in dealing with infidelity; integration of EMDR in couples work (processing individual traumas affecting the relationship). She plans a study on the effectiveness of EFT+EMDR with couples who experienced infidelity.
Professional dream: "For couples to come to a therapist not when everything is already bad, but when it's still good — just to make it better. Prevention, not an ambulance."
Maria Petrova is a family psychologist. She grew up in a large family and from childhood observed how differently relationships between brothers, sisters and parents develop. "I was the middle child. The classic 'peacemaker'. Perhaps that's why I understand family dynamics so well from the inside."
Why psychology? Maria first earned a teaching degree and worked at a school. "I saw children with behavioral difficulties and understood: the problem is not in the child. The problem is what happens at home. But I had no tools to help." She went for a second degree — in psychology — and found her tools.
Thesis: "Parent-child relationships in families with different parenting styles: impact on academic performance and social adaptation of adolescents." Maria surveyed 60 families and showed that authoritative parenting significantly correlates with successful adaptation — regardless of family income.
Research interests: parent-child attachment; the impact of divorce on children of different ages; EMDR in working with childhood trauma. She plans a study on the effectiveness of family EMDR therapy during divorce.
Professional dream: "To create a psychological support program for families going through divorce — so that children get through it with minimal losses."
Ulyana K. is a family psychologist. Her path into the profession was not straight: first — a philology faculty, work as an editor, marriage, two children. "At 30 I sat on maternity leave and felt I was losing myself. Who am I? A mom? A wife? Where am I, myself?"
Why psychology? Her personal therapy began with this question. "The psychologist helped me not just 'get out of maternity leave', but reassemble myself anew. I was so grateful that I wanted to learn to do the same for others." Ulyana enrolled in a psychology faculty at 32, with two small children. "It was hard. But when you know why — the strength appears."
Thesis: "Identity crisis in women on maternity leave: risk factors and coping strategies." The topic was born from personal experience. Ulyana surveyed 80 women and identified key factors helping to preserve identity in motherhood. The work was recommended for publication.
Research interests: female identity and role conflicts; normative and non-normative family crises; EMDR in working with postpartum anxiety. She plans a study on the effectiveness of EMDR in processing traumatic birth experiences.
Professional dream: "To normalize the conversation that motherhood is not only joy. That you can love your child and still be tired, angry and want to be alone. Without guilt."
Alexey Smirnov is a child psychologist. His path began with volunteering at an orphanage in his second year. "I came there thinking 'I'll help poor orphans', and left understanding that I knew nothing about children. They were more complex, deeper and more interesting than any textbooks."
Why psychology? Alexey enrolled in a psychology faculty almost by accident — "to keep a friend company." But already in the first year he understood: this was his. "Child psychology hooked me because everything here is real. A child can't pretend. If they feel bad — you see it immediately."
Thesis: "Play therapy in working with the consequences of bullying in younger schoolchildren." Alexey developed and tested a program of 10 play sessions for children who experienced bullying. The results showed a significant reduction in anxiety and an increase in self-esteem among participants.
Research interests: adaptation of the EMDR protocol for children; play methods in trauma therapy; bullying prevention at school. He plans a study on the effectiveness of EMDR in children with the consequences of bullying.
Professional dream: "For every school to have a psychologist whom children trust. Not 'the lady from the office with a sign', but a person you can come to with anything — and be heard."
Olga Kuznetsova is a business psychologist. Before psychology she built a successful career in HR: from recruiter to HR director at a large company. "I conducted thousands of interviews and saw a pattern: people don't leave companies — they leave unresolved internal problems."
Why psychology? The turning point: Olga was conducting an exit interview with a talented manager who was quitting "into nowhere". "He said: 'I just can't anymore. I wake up thinking I'm nobody.' He had imposter syndrome in its most severe form. I realized I wanted to work with this — not as HR, but as a psychologist." Olga earned a second degree and has no regrets.
Thesis: "Imposter syndrome as a factor of professional burnout in middle managers." Olga used her HR experience: she surveyed 120 managers and showed that imposter syndrome is a stronger predictor of burnout than overwork.
Research interests: career psychology; imposter syndrome and perfectionism; EMDR in business consulting. She plans a study on the effectiveness of Wingwave coaching in preparing for public speaking.
Professional dream: "To make psychological help as normal in companies as health insurance. So that an employee can see a psychologist as easily as a therapist."
Natalya Belova is a coach, Wingwave coach and EMDR therapist. Her path is winding: economics degree, bank work, her own business, burnout, searching for herself. "At 35 I sat in an office and understood: I'm doing everything 'right', but I feel empty. Then I went to a coach for the first time."
Why psychology? Coaching changed her life. "In three sessions I understood more about myself than in ten years of self-analysis. I quit, sold the business and went to study." Natalya earned a psychology degree and Wingwave certification — a method combining bilateral stimulation and kinesiology for fast work with blocks.
Thesis: "The effectiveness of short-term coaching interventions with elements of bilateral stimulation in working with procrastination in creative professionals." Natalya chose this topic because she herself struggled with procrastination for years and knew the problem from the inside.
Research interests: Wingwave and its neurobiological mechanisms; coaching with EMDR elements; working with procrastination and perfectionism. She plans a study on the effectiveness of Wingwave in preparing athletes for competitions.
Professional dream: "To show people that coaching is not 'successful success' from Instagram. It's a serious method that truly helps change life. Quickly and without fluff."