Ms Olena Bahinska

Becoming a psychologist was a conscious and mature decision in my adult life. Psychology is my second degree; my first was in English language teaching. Throughout my life, I have worked with people in many different roles and walks of life: as a teacher, volunteer, and psychologist. These diverse experiences have given me a deep, multifaceted, almost three-dimensional understanding of human nature. I believe that human beings are among the greatest treasures on this earth, and there is hardly anything more fascinating than understanding our nature in all its complexity. For me, being a psychologist is a new, more conscious, and mindful way of giving love: by accompanying people as they discover their rich and expansive inner world and staying by their side through the most difficult phases of their lives. I myself have been in therapy for over 10 years as a client, experiencing various therapeutic approaches. I sincerely hope the saying, “A good client becomes a good therapist,” proves true for me. I believe that those who have had the courage not to run away from themselves, but instead to descend into the depths of their own inner world, are also able to endure the depths of another soul and truly understand what it feels like to stand in another person’s shoes. I chose Gestalt therapy because it allows therapist and client to meet on equal footing. This encounter itself holds healing power through presence. The therapist is fully present in the relationship, responding with bodily sensations, feelings, and experiences, which is why sessions often unfold in a deeply dialogical way. In Gestalt therapy, genuine and sincere contact is essential, both with the therapist and with oneself. As the saying goes, “We get hurt in relationships, and we can also heal in relationships.” In therapy, the soul is given space to breathe, to be authentic, to be seen, and to be heard. Before a person can tell someone else the truth, they often must first be ready to tell it to themselves, and the therapeutic space makes this possible. I often think of each session as a date with yourself: a time when you do not need to escape, distract yourself, or numb your feelings. Everyone longs for genuine closeness, but for many, it feels unfamiliar, frightening, or even unbearable. Therapy teaches us how to meet ourselves, to allow and tolerate different feelings, and that is what makes closeness possible and meaningful. Through my training in art therapy, I have added a touch of wonder and creativity to Gestalt therapy. This allows me to approach particularly painful issues gently yet deeply, uncover the client’s potential, and expand their inner horizons, creating a sense of vastness as their own inner universe unfolds. As I like to say, “The paintbrush awakens inner wisdom and gives voice to unspoken feelings.” If you feel lonely and unsure how to build close, trusting relationships; if you want to understand yourself more deeply; if you cannot find a place for your pain in a world that tells you to “think positive”; or if you long for a little wonder, a journey into the hidden corners of your soul, and the chance to be gently surprised by life again, you are warmly invited to get in touch with me.