I work
with diagnoses, addiction,
and trauma
and trauma
Whatever you’ve been through, future is still yours
MARIYA
LESHCHENKO
LESHCHENKO
Clinical Psychologist
Tbilisi & Online
Tbilisi & Online
supervisor and educator
I'M MARIYA
CLINICAL
PSYCHOLOGYST
HI,
"
MY WORK IS HELPING PEOPLE COME ALIVE AND RECLAIM THEIR STRENGTH
What I work with
I focus on diagnoses, addictions, traumatic experiences, and crisis situations, but I also work with more everyday issues
If your concern isn’t listed here, you’re still welcome to get in touch. Feel free to contact me.
When I may be helpful
When you have a diagnosis, an addiction, or thoughts that life might not be worth living
When you have talent and strength, but your mind gets in the way
When what you need in therapy is not nurturing, but a grounded adult who can meet you as an equal and not be intimidated by what you bring
When you are dealing with something people prefer not to discuss. But silence does not change reality
When “befriending the demons in your head” makes sense to you
When you find yourself envying “ordinary people” and their ability to enjoy everyday life
When finding peace of mind is a real, daily effort
When what did not kill you made you stronger – but it is hard to feel grateful for it
When you do not want to change something – you want to be reborn
"
For me, psychotherapy
is not about becoming “normal”,
is not about becoming “normal”,
but about figuring out who you truly are
APPROACHES
-
EMDRWorks with strong, long-lasting emotional responses that don’t simply pass on their own. It can bring noticeable relief from distress in a relatively short time, especially when talking approaches stop working.
Although EMDR was first developed for PTSD, it is now used across a broad range of issues. EMDR is recommended in the guidelines of the World Health Organization. -
SFBTSolution-Focused Brief Therapy
A therapy approach that focuses on solutions rather than problems. It is grounded in the idea that clients already have enough resources to find their own way forward — they mainly benefit from an outside perspective that helps bring those resources into view. The process creates a sense that life is moving forward and that nothing is fundamentally “broken.”
I also draw on:
- DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy)for emotional regulation and crisis stabilization
- IFS (Internal Family Systems)when internal conflicts are getting in the way of the work
- Narrative Therapyto help restore a sense of agency in how a person understands themselves and who they choose to be
- Motivational Interviewingwhen there is ambivalence about change or therapy: using open questions and exploring values and motivation
SUPERVISION
Supervision — support for psychologists
working through complex cases and professional challenges
working through complex cases and professional challenges
WHAT MATTERS
TO ME IN MY WORK
TO ME IN MY WORK
"
I believe that moving from darkness into light —
is not a miracle, but the result of systematic and precise work
I feel at ease with people of all backgrounds, appearances, sexual orientations, and relationship styles.
I value honest, open communication without pretending or hiding behind social expectations. We can talk about sex, violence, addiction, faith, and money — without shame, discomfort, or taboo. I do not believe in putting on a façade of politeness, and I do not expect that from you either.
I work with what is often left unspoken:
psychiatry, violence, shame and guilt, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, emotional breakdowns, difficult emotional states, and life-disrupting events. Everything that is hard to face on your own.
I believe that every person is a whole human being, regardless
of their background.
of their background.
I do not see life as divided into “dark” and “light”. I believe that darkness is a part of the human experience, and that even the most difficult things we go through have their own meaning and internal logic. I see courage, freedom, and dignity in a client’s willingness to face and work through difficult topics.
In every case, I prefer to work with a clear direction — moving step by step from one result to the next:
We set goals, monitor progress, and adjust the path along the way. This kind of therapy is not about talking endlessly. It is about creating changes that can be tracked and supported.
I like working with people whose lives have taken a difficult path, but who have not lost the desire to truly live.
The darker chapters of your past or suicidal thoughts do not scare me.
I respect people who have faced vulnerability, depth, and chaos. People who have faced these experiences often carry a strength that is not always visible — but it is there.
I respect people who have faced vulnerability, depth, and chaos. People who have faced these experiences often carry a strength that is not always visible — but it is there.
OTHER AREAS
OF MY WORK
OF MY WORK
-
I teach at the online instituteI collaborate with ippsy.pro where I have delivered psychiatry webinars alongside a psychiatrist. I currently lead a trauma course within a clinical psychology training program. -
I worked as a crisis volunteerIn 2022, I worked with people affected by traumatic events, which led me to engage deeply with crisis and extreme psychology. I continue to stay connected with emergency psychologists and international colleagues. -
I collaborate with trusted psychiatrists.Over time, I’ve developed a list of reliable doctors for referral, and when appropriate, we can work together on your case, complementing each other’s expertise.
BLOG
Q&A
Each session is 60 minutes long, whether it is a psychological consultation or supervision.
Available online (Google Meet, Zoom, messaging apps) or in person in Tbilisi, Vera district.
Available online (Google Meet, Zoom, messaging apps) or in person in Tbilisi, Vera district.
Counseling Psychology — Privatakademie für praktische Psychologie, Germany (2020)
Clinical Psychology — Moscow Institute of Psychoanalysis (2022)
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) — IPPSY (2020)
EMDR basic training — IPPSY, led by Nadezhda Gradovskaya (2025)
SFBT supervision training — IPPSY (2026)
Clinical Psychology — Moscow Institute of Psychoanalysis (2022)
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) — IPPSY (2020)
EMDR basic training — IPPSY, led by Nadezhda Gradovskaya (2025)
SFBT supervision training — IPPSY (2026)
- Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) — works with intense emotional responses and “stuck” traumatic memories that don’t resolve on their own. It helps reduce emotional intensity and process what feels mentally unresolved, especially when talking approaches alone are no longer effective.
The fee is $85 per session, or the equivalent in RUB, GEL, or EUR. We can agree on a fixed rounded amount in your currency if that’s easier.
I don’t provide free introductory sessions.
I don’t provide free introductory sessions.
Weekly sessions are the standard and most effective rhythm, allowing change to develop steadily and clearly.
In some cases, therapy can be increased to twice per week for more intensive work.
Sessions once every two weeks are possible, but tend to slow down progress and are better suited for supportive sessions rather than structured therapeutic change.
Less frequent meetings are usually not effective, as the therapeutic process loses continuity.
In some cases, therapy can be increased to twice per week for more intensive work.
Sessions once every two weeks are possible, but tend to slow down progress and are better suited for supportive sessions rather than structured therapeutic change.
Less frequent meetings are usually not effective, as the therapeutic process loses continuity.
From my experience:
There’s a common belief that therapy can’t be fast, but that’s not necessarily true. It’s less about time, and more about clarity of focus and well-targeted work.
Or when the goal is to reduce or stabilize a specific condition: adapting socially with autistic traits, managing anxiety without it taking over everyday life, recovering activity after depression, or reducing panic in a specific area of functioning.
Or when the goal is a deeper, more fundamental change — across multiple areas of life, several major objectives at once, work with personality structure or extensive trauma history, and broader personal transformation.
- Short-term therapy — one clearly defined goal (“I need to change situation X”) — 5 to 10 sessions
There’s a common belief that therapy can’t be fast, but that’s not necessarily true. It’s less about time, and more about clarity of focus and well-targeted work.
- Medium-term therapy — around six months — two main types of goals:
Or when the goal is to reduce or stabilize a specific condition: adapting socially with autistic traits, managing anxiety without it taking over everyday life, recovering activity after depression, or reducing panic in a specific area of functioning.
- Long-term therapy — from six months onward — two main types of goals:
Or when the goal is a deeper, more fundamental change — across multiple areas of life, several major objectives at once, work with personality structure or extensive trauma history, and broader personal transformation.
Only a psychiatrist can make a diagnosis and prescribe medication. I work as a psychologist, and this does not depend on whether there is a diagnosis or not. I also collaborate with trusted psychiatrists and can refer you if needed.
If it feels difficult to start with a psychiatrist, or you are unsure where to go, you can begin with me. We can clarify what might be worth checking medically, outline possible next steps with a doctor, and form a plan for psychological work. I can also recommend useful reading if relevant.
If it feels difficult to start with a psychiatrist, or you are unsure where to go, you can begin with me. We can clarify what might be worth checking medically, outline possible next steps with a doctor, and form a plan for psychological work. I can also recommend useful reading if relevant.
Yes, I also work with people without a formal diagnosis. If my approach feels right for you, you are welcome to contact me — I have experience with a wide range of psychological requests.
I work with clients aged 18 and older.
1. I do not work with schizophrenia. I do work with schizotypal and schizoaffective disorders, but only when there is accompanying psychiatric care and medication support.
2. I do not work with eating disorders when they are the main current issue. I can work with clients who have a past history of eating disorders, provided this is not an active or central focus of therapy, but part of a broader clinical picture (for example, borderline personality disorder or complex PTSD).
2. I do not work with eating disorders when they are the main current issue. I can work with clients who have a past history of eating disorders, provided this is not an active or central focus of therapy, but part of a broader clinical picture (for example, borderline personality disorder or complex PTSD).
Yes, I work in Russian.
You can find my Instagram in Russian as well.
You can find my Instagram in Russian as well.
ANY QUESTIONS LEFT?
You can reach out to me via any messenger
TBILISI 2026. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
PTSD, cPTSD, trauma, and the aftermath of violence
- After war, abuse, bullying, political persecution, traumatic relationships, or long-term family tension
- Memories you wish you didn’t have. Fear, lack of trust, irritability, powerlessness, depression, suicidal thoughts, a grey, muted life. Low motivation, little creativity, depleted energy.
- Learning – again or for the first time – to trust, to love, to feel
- To live more calmly, to create, to form meaningful relationships
- To allow memories to stay in the past, instead of running your life
Turn back
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
When emotions are unpredictable and keep taking over:
overwhelming, unstable emotions;
impulsivity mixed with harsh self-discipline;
a sense of emptiness inside and a threatening world outside;
fear of closeness and fear of being alone;
addictions, depression, self-harm;
black-and-white thinking: all-or-nothing, friend or enemy.
Many describe their core wish simply as: “I want to be normal.”
These are often intense, passionate, sensitive, deeply loyal people — vivid, sincere, courageous, persistent, emotionally rich, sometimes dramatic.
They are frequently drawn to creative fields, people-centered work, media, and high-pressure professions.
The focus of change:
– feeling deeply while learning emotional regulation
– choosing behavior instead of being driven by impulses
– developing kindness toward yourself and your body
– creating stable and equal relationships
– understanding who you are and what you want
– seeing your strengths and allowing others to love you
– experiencing the beauty of life, not only the pain
overwhelming, unstable emotions;
impulsivity mixed with harsh self-discipline;
a sense of emptiness inside and a threatening world outside;
fear of closeness and fear of being alone;
addictions, depression, self-harm;
black-and-white thinking: all-or-nothing, friend or enemy.
Many describe their core wish simply as: “I want to be normal.”
These are often intense, passionate, sensitive, deeply loyal people — vivid, sincere, courageous, persistent, emotionally rich, sometimes dramatic.
They are frequently drawn to creative fields, people-centered work, media, and high-pressure professions.
The focus of change:
– feeling deeply while learning emotional regulation
– choosing behavior instead of being driven by impulses
– developing kindness toward yourself and your body
– creating stable and equal relationships
– understanding who you are and what you want
– seeing your strengths and allowing others to love you
– experiencing the beauty of life, not only the pain
Turn back
Addictions
When something takes control, despite all the damage
In all its forms: from drugs to porn, from alcohol to workaholism – substances, gambling, shopping, sex, unhealthy attachment and fixation
when immediate relief matters more than a whole life
Learning to feel joy as part of everyday existence – not only from one source
living with a sense of calm instead of constant anxiety
becoming truly brave, not performatively
building equal, mutual relationships
developing self-forgiveness, self-acceptance, self-approval
understanding what makes life worth living
Finding real pleasure in an ordinary, grounded life.
In all its forms: from drugs to porn, from alcohol to workaholism – substances, gambling, shopping, sex, unhealthy attachment and fixation
when immediate relief matters more than a whole life
Learning to feel joy as part of everyday existence – not only from one source
living with a sense of calm instead of constant anxiety
becoming truly brave, not performatively
building equal, mutual relationships
developing self-forgiveness, self-acceptance, self-approval
understanding what makes life worth living
Finding real pleasure in an ordinary, grounded life.
Turn back
Depression of varying intensity, from mild symptoms to suicidal thoughts
It doesn’t only happen after catastrophes. Sometimes it appears without any visible reason.
- Feeling again that you can do things — even small ones
- Feeling alive, rather than just getting through
- Wanting to get up in the morning — not out of duty
- Stepping out of repetitive thought loops
- Finding something that makes being here feel meaningful
- Feeling emotions, beauty, pleasure again
- Treating yourself as someone worth caring for
Turn back
Bipolar disorder
For those who can’t make sense of what’s happening:
at times the energy is overflowing, at others there’s no will to live.
One day everything feels crystal clear, the next — painfully hopeless.
Today feels like a new beginning, tomorrow — like the end of it all.
Today everything seems possible, tomorrow I feel like I’m worthless.
Impulsive spending, travel, sex.
It’s hard to grasp what life really is
(Clear phases lasting from four days to several months)
Learning to distinguish yourself from the phase
Seeing early signs of a phase
Avoiding a deep low
Replacing agitation with calm energy
Keeping a sense of self and balance — as well as relationships and work
Learning how to take care of yourself
Living by your own choices, not by mood swings
at times the energy is overflowing, at others there’s no will to live.
One day everything feels crystal clear, the next — painfully hopeless.
Today feels like a new beginning, tomorrow — like the end of it all.
Today everything seems possible, tomorrow I feel like I’m worthless.
Impulsive spending, travel, sex.
It’s hard to grasp what life really is
(Clear phases lasting from four days to several months)
Learning to distinguish yourself from the phase
Seeing early signs of a phase
Avoiding a deep low
Replacing agitation with calm energy
Keeping a sense of self and balance — as well as relationships and work
Learning how to take care of yourself
Living by your own choices, not by mood swings
Turn back
Narcissistic traits
- When you have to be exceptional – or be nothing at all
- When you don’t really know who you are, but are certain that only the best are loved
- When you hide envy and shame, so others have to know they are worse than you
- When it is safe only in the leading role. But the role is defined by context, so you end up performing roles that aren’t yours
- When the secret wish is love and acceptance, yet no one is allowed to come close.
- So let them admire you – from a safe distance
- When perfection is finally reached, but turns out to be unbearably empty
- When you were told you were born for greatness, but you suspect you were deceived
- Choosing what truly interests you, not what is considered “worthy of attention”
- Stopping equating aliveness with weakness
- Enjoying connection instead of ranking who matters more
- Noticing that the world didn’t fall apart when you showed vulnerability
- Finding meaning in life, rather than in flawlessness
- Remembering who you are, even when no one is applauding
- Letting go of the fear of losing face – because what is truly yours cannot be taken
Вернуться
Crises and extreme situations
- I have experience working with:
- suicidal thoughts and intentions, coping with the death of loved ones (including suicide), self-harm (personal or a child’s)
- war-related experiences (had clients from Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine), forced displacement, sudden relocations, political persecution, refugee status, imprisonment, loss of the possibility to return home
- violence: physical and sexual violence, violence by state authorities, bullying and harassment (including based on LGBT identity), escaping domestic violence;
- experiences of crime;
- legal difficulties resulting from external circumstances;
- major financial losses;
- divorce and breakups, infidelity, prolonged humiliating or degrading relationships;
- serious illness, pregnancy loss, medical trauma, harmful or incorrect medical intervention;
- parents or children with alcoholism, mental disorders, antisocial behavior;
- adapting to life after psychosis, addiction, or situations where one has damaged their own life.
Turn back
Other psychiatric diagnoses
I have experience working with:
- depressive disorders, bipolar disorder (types I and II), cyclothymia
- complicated grief,
- anxiety disorders,
- PTSD and Complex PTSD (C-PTSD),
- personality disorders, including borderline personality disorder (BPD),
- ADHD and autism spectrum conditions,
- schizotypal disorder,
- alcohol and substance use disorders,
- paraphilias,
- сomplex cases with multiple co-occurring diagnoses
Learn more