My approach to coaching and counseling is holistic yet practical. I perceive each client as a whole person, considering their mind, body, emotions, and context rather than focusing on one aspect in isolation. I combine evidence-based methods with intuition, adapting the process to what best supports the individual. I often suggest home experiments so clients can test new ideas and put insights into practice. When desired, I also help clients build mindfulness skills, clarify their values, and connect with what gives them a sense of purpose.

With more than ten years of mindfulness practice, I bring a calm and attentive presence to every session. Many clients describe my style as being like a mirror. I listen deeply to their stories and reflect them back in ways that reveal patterns, meanings and new possibilities.

I was born and grew up in Siberia, about as far from Amsterdam as one can get. Despite the amazing nature, I didn’t like it there and wanted to move to a “better place.” I was of course running from myself. I moved first to Saint Petersburg and then to the Netherlands. I was chasing happiness, but it never quite worked out because I always brought my old self to new places.

When I came to the Netherlands to do a PhD, I was completely unprepared and struggled to keep up with the high standards of the new job. My anxiety was an endless daily agony. There were weeks in which I did nothing at all. And then, my contract ended and I had no place to live, no job, no secure residence permit, and no money. It may sound like another cliché, but it happened. That’s when I realised I had hit rock bottom, yet still had a choice to get back afloat.

The first thing I did was realise I could still go to a park. It was free and beautiful. Every day, I went to the nearby park and, as an intentional practice, soaked in the beauty of nature. And you know what? At times I felt joyful. At times I even felt happy, despite having nothing apart from this very moment.
Another thing I became serious about was self-acceptance. I still believe it is the key to any balanced life.

It took years to rebalance my life. In the meantime, my academic career ended, and I decided to systematise the tools and knowledge I had gained through years of personal healing. That why I enrolled to a program for coaching and counseling.

Now, as a coach, I naturally meet clients who struggle with similar problems. And although I recognise the struggle, I never offer ready-made solutions. Every life path is unique. I hold space and work as a mirror, allowing people to explore their own ideas, because they know themselves best.I believe that when people

Today, I live in Amsterdam with my partner and our two cats. Part time, I am still an urban researcher and an activist for self-organised communities. I see a deep connection between this and coaching, because we cannot build a socially and ecologically just future without self-acceptance, mindfulness, and togetherness.

I’ve walked through immigration, burnout, and everything in between. I know how lonely it can feel. But you don’t have to do it alone. If you're ready to start your own journey to discover what really matters to you, I’d be honoured to help you.