Khrystyna Smahlii

Professional activity:

Practising psychologist / gestalt therapist

Supervisor of study triads

Curator of the School of Psychology for Mothers

Trainer of level one at the Kyiv Institute of Gestalt and Psychodrama

Leads therapy groups

Practice and professional experience:

Khrystyna began her professional career as a practical psychologist in a kindergarten in 2005.

She has worked in business and in event organisation, and spent more than five years as a practical psychologist at a crisis centre for women who had experienced violence.

Khrystyna first met gestalt while doing a placement at a social centre.

«When I heard about the intake for level one, I decided to let it be an experiment.

I was not going there specifically to study gestalt. At that time I attended many different master classes, conferences and trainings, looking for what would resonate with me more. When I found out that level one was recruiting, I decided to try it and see what would come of it, whether I would like what happened at the training.

During level one I was surprised by the depth of the method, and by the closeness and trust that appear in a group. I wanted to learn this remarkable method.»

Education:

Basic education — psychology.

2002–2006 — studies at the M. P. Drahomanov National Pedagogical University, degree in Psychology.

2006 — first-class degree with the qualification «Bachelor of Psychology. Psychologist».

2007 — diploma «Master of Psychology. Lecturer in psychology. Psychologist».

2006–2007 — training in the method «Eco-facilitation in psychology and pedagogy».

2007–2008 — level one of gestalt training

2008–2010 — NLP Practitioner trainings, public speaking

2008–2011 — level two of gestalt therapy at KIGiP

2012–2014 — certificate of the professional training programme «Advanced theory and practice of gestalt therapy» (level three, GATLA).

2016–2017 — clinical hypnosis in the psychotherapy of depression and in work with psychological trauma, eating disorders, anxiety and pain.

2018 — certificate of participation in the training by Janet Yassen and Holly Aldrich, «Psychological trauma from violence: principles and practice of recovery»

2019 — «Applying new methods of work with people who have committed violence»

2019 — «The role and possibilities in identifying domestic and gender-based violence»

2020–2024 — training in supervision in gestalt.

Khrystyna about herself:

«Why did I choose gestalt?»

I have studied and continue to study different methods of psychotherapy, but I try to weave them into the fabric of gestalt. What I like about gestalt is that it gives you a way to come to know yourself, your feelings and your needs. That helps improve the quality of life and of relationships — with yourself and with those around you.

I invite you to get in touch and to work together.