Ekaterina

Ekaterina Tokareva

Psychological Counselor

Verified

“I am a psychoanalytic counsellor helping adults navigate emigration, anxiety, and life transitions. I provide a safe, thoughtful space to explore your inner world and create deep, lasting psychological change.”

About Me

I am a psychoanalytically-oriented counsellor currently based in Novi Sad, Serbia. As an expat myself, I deeply understand the psychological complexities of relocation, identity shifts, and the challenging feeling of starting over in a new environment. My journey into psychotherapy is backed by comprehensive training. I hold diplomas in contextual-behavioral therapy and compassion-focused therapy (CFT), and I am currently completing my Master's degree in Psychoanalysis. Additionally, I hold specialized certifications in counseling clients in emigration and working with anxiety disorders. I am deeply passionate about making complex psychological concepts accessible and relatable, which inspired me to create and host my own podcast, "Psychoanalysis Without Censorship" (in Russian Психоанализ без цензуры). Outside of the consulting room, I believe in the value of restoration and transformation, whether that means carefully restoring vintage furniture in my free time or helping clients rebuild their sense of self. I welcome clients from all walks of life who are looking for a dedicated partner in their mental health journey.

Approach

My therapeutic style is rooted in modern psychoanalysis and psychodynamic therapy. I don't just look at surface-level symptoms; together, we will gently explore the underlying unconscious patterns that shape your current relationships, choices, and internal struggles. In our sessions, you will find a secure, confidential, and completely non-judgmental space. I draw inspiration from modern psychoanalysts like Antonino Ferro, Hyman Spotnitz and others, focusing heavily on the emotional field we co-create in the room. I won't give you rigid advice, homework, or tell you how to live your life. Instead, I listen deeply and help you hear your own authentic voice. We will move at your pace. Whether you are dealing with the acute stress of relocation, chronic anxiety, a sense of loneliness, or a vague feeling of dissatisfaction with life, my goal is to help you expand your emotional capacity, build a stronger sense of self, and ultimately live a more fulfilling and meaningful life.
Contact Ekaterina

Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.

Basic Information

Online Only

Services

I frequently work with clients experiencing: Navigating Life Transitions: Challenges related to emigration, cultural adaptation, and rebuilding one's life in a new environment. Relational Struggles & Intimacy: Repeating painful relationship patterns, intense fear of abandonment, or the struggle to balance a deep desire for connection with the fear of being overwhelmed by others. Emotional Complexity: Navigating intense emotional swings, chronic feelings of emptiness, emotional numbness, or a pervasive sense of feeling fundamentally different from everyone else. Identity & Self-Worth: Struggling with a fragmented sense of self, feeling disconnected from your own inner world, and the search for an authentic voice.

Services Offered:

  • Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy

    A therapy grounded in psychoanalytic theory that explores unconscious patterns, early experiences, and the therapeutic relationship, typically at a lower session frequency than full psychoanalysis.

  • Psychodynamic Therapy

    A therapy that explores how past experiences and unconscious patterns shape current feelings, relationships, and behaviour.

    Learn more about Psychodynamic Therapy

Works With:

  • Adults
  • Individuals

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

  • Anxiety

    Persistent worry, nervousness, or fear that is disproportionate to the situation and interferes with daily functioning.

    Learn more about Anxiety
  • Anger

    An intense emotional response to perceived threat, injustice, or frustration that, when persistent or uncontrolled, can damage relationships and well-being.

    Learn more about Anger
  • Depression

    A mood disorder marked by persistent low mood, loss of interest or pleasure, and changes in energy, sleep, or appetite that impair daily functioning.

    Learn more about Depression
  • Intimacy Issues

    Difficulties with emotional or physical closeness in relationships, including fear of vulnerability, avoidance of connection, or sexual concerns.

    Learn more about Intimacy Issues
  • Life Transitions

    Major life changes, such as relocation, retirement, parenthood, or career shifts, that disrupt routine and require psychological adjustment.

    Learn more about Life Transitions
  • Personal Development

    The ongoing process of self-awareness, self-improvement, and reaching one's potential, pursued not because something is wrong but to live more fully.

  • Personality Difficulties

    Long-standing patterns of thinking, feeling, and relating to others that cause persistent distress or problems in relationships and daily life.

  • Procrastination

    The habitual delay of important tasks despite knowing the consequences, often driven by underlying anxiety, perfectionism, or fear of failure.

    Learn more about Procrastination
  • Relocation / Expat

    The psychological challenges of moving to a new country or city, including loneliness, culture shock, identity shifts, and loss of social support.

    Learn more about Relocation / Expat
  • Stress / Burnout

    The body and mind's response to prolonged or excessive demands. When sustained, it can lead to emotional exhaustion, detachment, and reduced functioning (burnout).

    Learn more about Stress / Burnout

Professional Title:

  • Psychological Counselor

    A counselor who applies psychological principles to help clients with emotional, relational, and personal difficulties.

Credentials

Qualifications

Professional Retraining Diploma: Psychological Counseling in Contextual-Behavioral Approach

Academy of Modern Psychology, St. Petersburg

Master's Degree in Psychology (Profile: Psychoanalysis and consultative psychology)

East European Institute of Psychoanalysis (EEIP)

Advanced Training Certificate: Modern Psychoanalysis of Hyman Spotnitz

Higher School of Psychoanalysis and Practical Psychology

Service Areas

Online Only

Novi Sad

Serbia