My Story

My journey into this work is shaped by experiences of change, loss, and renewal. As an immigrant from Ukraine, I learned early how deeply we rely on connection to feel safe and grounded when the world around us shifts. Those early experiences cultivated my sensitivity to the ways people adapt, endure, and grow through uncertainty—and formed the foundation of my belief that healing remains possible, even in life’s most tender seasons.

One of the most formative relationships in my life was with my grandmother. She embodied warmth, presence, and emotional attunement, and through her I learned what it means to feel truly held. When she passed away, the grief was profound and life-altering. Within that loss, I came to understand how love continues to shape us beyond absence, and how honoring grief can create space for meaning, integration, and gentle renewal. This understanding remains central to how I approach therapy and to my commitment to meeting pain with compassion rather than urgency.

Motherhood further deepened my understanding of vulnerability, identity, and growth. My own experience with postpartum anxiety revealed how easily struggle can remain unseen, even during moments expected to be joyful. Becoming a mother taught me about the courage it takes to ask for support, the importance of emotional safety, and the healing power of being met with care. These experiences continue to inform my work with parents and individuals navigating perinatal transitions, parenting challenges, identity shifts, and emotional overwhelm.

My clinical path has also been shaped by work in medical settings. Before entering private practice, I worked as a Research Associate at MD Anderson Cancer Center, collaborating closely with oncology patients and couples. Sitting alongside individuals and families facing life-altering diagnoses profoundly influenced my understanding of how illness affects emotional well-being, relationships, and one’s sense of self. This experience continues to guide my work with patients, caregivers, and clinicians navigating cancer, chronic illness, and prolonged uncertainty.

I hold a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of San Francisco, where I graduated with honors. My clinical training is grounded in Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), an evidence-based, attachment-oriented approach that aligns deeply with my lived experience. EFT centers emotions as meaningful signals and relationships as vital sources of resilience, helping individuals and couples reconnect with themselves and with one another in ways that foster hope and lasting change.

I grew up in a medical family and am married to a cancer surgeon, which gives me an intimate understanding of the demands of medical life and the ripple effects these pressures can have on relationships and families. Living alongside a medical career has shown me how devotion to care can coexist with exhaustion and distance—and how intentional emotional connection can become a powerful source of restoration for both clinicians and their partners.

At Vera Nova Therapy, I offer therapy as a place of renewal—a space to pause, reflect, and tend to what has been carried for too long. I bring a calm, intuitive presence into each session and strive to create a relationship that feels steady, safe, and deeply human. My hope is that through our work together, you experience not only relief, but a renewed sense of connection, possibility, and trust in your capacity to grow forward.