Counseling Center Staff

I was born and grew up in Russia until my teens, when my family and I moved to the United States. I am now bilingual in Russian and English, and I make sure to continue using Russian as often as I can.

I completed high school in the United States and then went on to college in New York City. I always had a passion for art and psychology, so for my undergraduate degree, I majored in Fine Arts and minored in Art Therapy. I continue to use art in my own life as a stress management and self-care strategy.

I obtained a Certificate of Creative Art Therapy through my undergraduate studies. After graduating with my bachelor’s, I worked for several years as a child and family therapist and case manager at a non-profit mental health agency in Brooklyn, NY. The majority of the families I worked with were culturally and racially diverse, and it continues to be an area of interest to me in my current work. I eventually decided to get a Master’s in Social Work so I could add a different perspective to my training as a therapist. I graduated from the Master’s program in Clinical Social Work at New York University and completed the requirements for a Licensed Clinical Social Worker after relocating to KY. Additionally, I worked in a high school setting as a mental health provider and as a Clinical Social Worker on an inpatient psychiatric unit. Both experiences have been a valuable addition to my skill set.

I really like working with young people because I enjoy being part of the journey of self-discovery, maturity, and self-actualization.

I believe that things we find challenging and what we struggle with are often related to our past experiences, to “our story” as we remember and make sense of it. However, we have choices about what we learn from our past and how we go forward. Counseling can be instrumental in helping us discover our strengths, overcome barriers to success and happiness, and challenge ourselves to live a life true to our values.

I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy, which is frequently recommended as one of the top treatment modalities for trauma-related mental health issues. My approach integrates working with emotions, thoughts, and the body for an overall sense of health and well-being.

I encourage my clients to be active participants in the therapy process. I believe that the goal of therapy is to not need therapy, which requires active work to resolve concerns and develop effective skills. I often recommend work between sessions to build on what I and clients do during the session time.  

I enjoy incorporating art, creative writing, music, and other creative modalities in my counseling sessions when my clients are interested.

I am passionate about working with culturally diverse students. I believe diversity and uniqueness need to be supported to flourish, and we as a society are stronger when we respect each other’s differences and what we all contribute to our communities.