About me
Hi - I’m Victoria.
I was born and raised in Moldova, and in 2015 I moved to the Netherlands. Before that, I lived in Lithuania and the United Kingdom, where I pursued my studies in Psychology and started my career. I moved to the Netherlands with my husband, with the ambition to further my studies in clinical psychology.
I am familiar with the challenges related to transitioning to another country, leaving behind family, friends, culture, and a career. Because of my personal experience of being raised by bicultural parents, and having been married inter-culturally myself, I can also empathize with the difficulties of dealing with differences in an intercultural relationship and raising multicultural children.
Psychology is my calling. I find great joy in helping, encouraging, and equipping others for hope and change. Throughout the years, I have developed a passion for helping intercultural couples find resources for personal and relationship growth. I am dedicated and committed to you, to supporting you through this process of changing your relationship with your loved one for the better and for the long-term. My goal is to help you feel connected, deeply loved, and emotionally safe with your partner.
I speak Romanian, English, Lithuanian, Russian, and Dutch. Counseling sessions can be conducted in either English or Romanian.
Intercultural Couples
The number of intercultural marriages are continually on the rise worldwide. Despite the many benefits and rewards of an intercultural relationship, partners with different cultures experience various cross-cultural challenges due to differences in language, cultural patterns, values, social expectations, religion, race, ethnicity, or nationality. This may cause conflicts, miscommunication and misunderstandings. The key to these relationships is, however, an acceptance of the differences and a balance between differences and similarities.
Building a relationship is always a challenge, but it’s even more so when the two partners come from different cultural backgrounds. Our culture provides us with a set of expectations, assumptions, and a worldview which may impact the dynamics of the relationships. Cultural differences can be the reason for different values and expectations with regards to marriage, family, and parenting.
I am here to help you navigate cultural differences and find your way to a safe relationship. Intercultural counseling aims to develop a third culture in which both partners are equally respected - and together, we will do exactly that.
Are you an intercultural couple? What is YOUR story? I look forward to hearing it!
“Sessions helped us identify the differences that each of us bring to this relationship. It helped us to think through our flaws, needs, expectations in a deeper level. Now we feel that we are stronger as a couple and became more considerate about each others' needs.“
— Vidmante, Premarital Counseling
Background & Credentials
Experience
My background in clinical research and experience working with a variety of life issues equips me to help you. I believe research goes hand in hand with practice, to allow for accurate, up to-date developments in psychotherapy. During my studies, I have completed a number of clinical and research internships, under the supervision of highly skilled therapists and internationally recognized psychologists.
For the past 7 years, I have worked with (mostly) intercultural couples from a systemic perspective, namely through the lenses of the Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples.
Training
I regularly attend workshops and seminars on the topic of couples counseling, and develop my professional skills in ongoing supervision. I always seek ways to develop my skills, knowledge, and practice, in order to support my clients and facilitate my personal growth.
Specialized training
EFT & Intimate Partner Violence
Repairing Attachment Injuries in EFT
Sex as a Safe Adventure: Connecting Sexually and Emotionally
Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI)
Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT)
EFIT and Trauma: Individuals
Professional registration
I am a member of the Dutch Association of Psychologists (Nederlandse Instituut van Psychologen, NIP), member nr.232057
Education
BA in Psychology from LCC International University
MSc in Clinical and Developmental Psychopathology (research) from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
MSc in Psychology (specialization Clinical Psychology) from Leiden University
Psychotherapist under supervision, specialization Family and Systemic Psychotherapy (in training), from Areopagus Institute of Family Therapy and Systemic Practice
Training on Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples (EFT) - Advanced Core Skills
Facilitator of Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts (SYMBIS), a program for engaged couples
Facilitator of Hold Me Tight, a relationship education and enhancement program
Facilitator of Circle of Security Parenting, a relationship program for caregivers