Maryna Arkhipava

I have over 10 year experience as gestalt-therapist and couples therapist and accredited as gestalt supervisor. I work with individuals and couples and these 2 types of therapy look very different and have different goals. With individuals I use Gestalt and I integrate it with many other approaches and tools and have quite a number of additional specialisations. So with individual clients I combine dialog therapy as a core with other tools, such as body awareness and body blocks release, breath, trauma work and trauma through body release, imagination, work with dreams, psychodrama technics, work with metaphors and sometimes with metaphoric cards, IFS (internal family systems) approach, understanding of addiction work, co-dependency, etc. With couples I base on EFT (emotionally focussed therapy) and find ways to increase understanding, connection and empathy between partners. In addition to EFT I use some other approaches, depending on couple. I relay on John Gottman investigations to coach partners necessary communication skills they lack, I like to use and consider Imago Couples Therapy tools very effective, especially for partners who react very fast in conflicts, I also like Strategic family therapy and find it practical and helpful for some cases, I use Attachment theory to help partners understand each other characters in a compassionate way. I always educate myself and look for new tools that can influence couple connection. I also find inspiration in my own long-lasting and happy marriage. I provide stable, friendly and warm space that helps clients feel relaxed and understood and gives a feeling of support and hope. Therapy with me leads to personal development, self-awareness and self-empathy as well as connection growth.