Professional background

All information about my training paths and chosen method-specific training

About

I am a Hungarian speaking psychologist living in London, and currently working online only.

Higher Education

I earned my BA in Human Behaviour Analysis in 2017, and in 2019 I completed my MA at ELTE, specialising in Adult Clinical and Health Psychology in Budapest.

This orientation has shaped my professional interests and way of thinking ever since. The clinical specialisation proved invaluable, as we examined numerous complex cases and I had the privilege of learning from exceptionally experienced lecturers.

The health psychology component focused on understanding what it means to support someone facing a physical illness and emphasized the close connection between mind and body — when one suffers, the other is inevitably affected as well.

In 2023 I obtained the title of counselling psychologist from ELTE, and in 2025, after several years of study and practice, I became an ISST accredited auxiliary schema therapist.

Internships and study trips

2023

Ágacska Foundation for Adoption and Families

2022

Perinatus Foundation for the mental-physical health of childbirth

2020–2021

NHS Wandsworth Talking Therapies (UK, London)

2020

Szent László Hospital Oncology and Hospice Department

2019

Milton Erickson Institut Rottweil, Németország, (study trip)
Peter Cerny Foundation for the Cure of Sick Premature Babies
Nyiro Gyula Hospital National Institute of Psychiatry and Addictions, Addiction Department, Acute Psychiatric Department
University of Szeged, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

2017–2018

Semmelweis University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

2017

Hungarian Defence Forces

2016

Heim Pál National Pediatric Institute, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

2015-2016

University of Padua (study trip, Italy)

My schema therapy training process

In 2021, I started my schema therapy training at the Hungarian Schema Therapy Association, led by Andrea Bálint, an accredited training schema therapist

2021

Module 1.: Schema Therapy-working with Complex Cases
Module 2.: Schema Therapy Skills and working with BPD (borderline personality disorder)
Module 3.: Schema Mode Work with NPD, Cluster C Personality Disorders and PTSD
Schema Therapy for Auxiliary Professionals Budapest Training Program

2022

ISST Approved Training Program Group Schema Therapy

2023

Schema Therapy for Couples training

2025

Obtaining the title of schema consultant/ auxiliary schema consultant

Continuously from 2021

schema therapy supervision, individual and group sessions

My supervisors:

Andrea Bálint, clinical psychologist, psychotherapist; ISST-Certified Schema Therapist, Trainer and Supervisor
Tünde Vankó, clinical psychologist, psychotherapist, ISST-Certified Schema Therapist, Trainer and Supervisor
Dr. Mária Farkas, clinical psychologist, psychotherapist, ISST-Certified Schema Therapist Trainer and Supervisor

Professional guarantee

I approach my work carefully and always under proper supervision, and I am committed to continually developing my skills and knowledge. I go to conferences, specialist workshops and themed supervision sessions, and I keep myself up to date by reading professional literature. I’ve completed several hundred hours of supervision. I consult with my professional mentors weekly and take part in regular case discussion groups.

Jobs

I regularly spent longer and shorter periods in the UK during my university years, so after graduation I was only able to work in a job where I could work both online and in person. I provided individual psychological counselling in the following communities of practice:

2023-

working privately online and in-person in Budapest and London

2022-2023

Center Psychological Counselling Centre

2021-2022

Mandula Sexual Psychology Counselling Centre

2020-2021

Video Psychologist Online Counselling Platform

THE METHOD

What is schema therapy?

Schema Therapy is a therapeutic approach developed by Jeffrey E. Young and his colleagues, combining the structured nature of cognitive–behavioural therapy with the depth and nuance of more psychodynamic traditions. A range of emotion-focused techniques—such as chair work and guided imagery rescripting—support clients in understanding their difficulties at a deeper level and in practising new, healthier coping strategies.

Schemas can be thought of as deep-seated, long-lasting patterns of thought that shape how we see ourselves, others and the world. At times, however, these “inner compasses” are highly subjective and may not accurately reflect reality; when this happens, they often give rise to difficulties in day-to-day life. In our work together, we explore which maladaptive (not helpful) schemas are present for the client and the kinds of situations in which they are triggered.

Schemas typically develop in response to unmet emotional needs or early deficits. When a schema is activated by a challenging situation (a trigger), a person tends to respond in predictable ways, attempting to manage or resolve the distress. These responses are known as coping modes or schema modes. Each mode comes with its own emotional tone, mindset and behavioural style—essentially different states of self that together make up our inner world and define our psychological resilience.

The aim of Schema Therapy-informed practice is to help these modes relate to one another in a more balanced and harmonious way, enabling a more reflective, integrated and emotionally regulated inner experience. A further aim is to support clients in managing difficult emotions and developing a more compassionate, empathic stance towards themselves. Put simply, the work encourages the growth of an inner, wise and caring companion, helping us become our own greatest source of support rather than an internal critic or enemy.

What does the Schema Therapy process look like in practice?

Generally the sessions are somewhat more structured than in therapies that do not follow a cognitive–behavioural framework. In the first few meetings, the client completes a schema questionnaire, after which we discuss the results.

This provides an opportunity to introduce the key concepts of Schema Therapy and outline the underlying model of personality. We then create a visual representation of the client’s schemas and schema modes—often referred to as a mode-map. Throughout our work we “walk across” this map, using it to help identify recurring patterns as they arise.

Based on the material brought up at the beginning of the session (e.g. something important happened during the two sessions that activated a mode in the client, or an intense emotion appears during the session), I either recommend a cognitive technique (for instance we discuss the topic to better understand it) or I suggest some exercise that might help to understand the coping mode that has been activated. At the end of the session, I ask the client to reflect on how they felt during the session, what they can take away from it, and then we discuss a “homework” that they should pay attention to between sessions.

How long does such a process take?

The length of the process varies, but it’s usually a commitment of several months. It depends on the nature of the difficulty, the client’s motivation, and practical factors such as finances. With some clients, we agree in advance to work together for a set number of sessions—for example, ten sessions over two or three months—and then review what we’ve been able to achieve using schema-focused methods.

In general, the process tends to last longer than six months, and it’s quite common for counselling to continue for a year or more. Naturally, the timeline also depends on when the client’s goals are met—for instance, reducing a certain behaviour or developing a more adaptive way of responding—so it’s hard to predict everything at the outset.

What I usually say is that most people start to notice the benefits within the first few sessions. Clients typically continue for as long as they feel they’re gaining something meaningful from the work and can apply what they’re learning in their day-to-day lives.

What does it mean to be committed to a counseling process?

It means that, from the outset, we agree on the practical framework of the work—such as how often we meet, the length of the sessions, and the payment arrangements—and both client and therapist commit to those boundaries.

On a deeper level, it means forming a therapeutic alliance: psychologist and client working together towards the client’s goals. The therapist brings their professional knowledge and experience; the client brings themselves—their inner world, their instincts, and a willingness to engage. This includes coming to sessions regularly, reflecting on what comes up between sessions, staying curious about their own experience, and bringing material to explore so the process can move forward.

Price

The price of a 50-minute Zoom session is 45 £ .

Cancellation policy

If someone wants to cancel or modify the session 72 hours before the session and none of the newly offered time/s would be suitable for them, the full fee for the session must be paid.

In case of a change of time within 72 hours, I am not obliged to provide a new time, this is more of a flexibility that I try to provide in the majority of cases, but if this is not possible, I have the right to charge the full fee for the session.

For example, if someone has an appointment for 10 am on Thursday, they can cancel by 10 am on Monday without paying a fee.

In the majority of cases, this does not usually cause a problem, we solve it flexibly, but I ask clients to definitely keep this point in mind so that we can avoid unnecessary conflicts later.