“Tell me what approach you use” is the question I get most often. They expect a one-word answer — “CBT” or “coaching.” But the truth is more interesting. My approach is not one-dimensional. I don’t work only with thoughts, only with philosophy, or only with the body. I work with all three simultaneously — because people don’t function through separate channels.
In my practice, I combine cognitive methods (CBT and REBT), philosophical frameworks (Stoicism and logotherapy), and experiential techniques (somatic awareness and mindfulness). The result is an integrative approach that addresses thinking, meaning, and sensation — the three dimensions of every real change.
The Three Dimensions of Change
Most approaches in psychology work with one dimension. Cognitive therapies work with thoughts. Existential ones — with meaning. Body-oriented ones — with sensations. Each of them is effective in its own domain. But people don’t live in just one domain.
The athlete who catastrophizes before a competition doesn’t need only cognitive restructuring. They also need awareness of the tension in their body, and a sense of meaning that will hold them when fear pushes. The entrepreneur with chronic stress doesn’t need only relaxation techniques — they need to understand what beliefs drive them to overwork and what gives them the energy to keep going.
Thinking
CBT + REBT
We identify the automatic thoughts and irrational beliefs that sabotage your efforts. We replace them with more accurate and functional ones.
Meaning
Stoicism + Logotherapy
We build a philosophical framework: focus on what’s controllable, acceptance of the uncontrollable, and finding personal meaning behind the effort.
Sensation
Somatic Awareness + Mindfulness
We learn to recognize the body’s signals — tension, fatigue, emotions — and to be present in the moment, instead of reacting automatically.
Thinking — CBT and REBT
Cognitive work is the foundation. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) works with automatic thoughts — the quick, unconscious interpretations that distort reality. “I’m going to fail.” “I have no right to rest.” “Others can do it, I can’t.” These thoughts determine emotions, and emotions determine behavior.
Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) goes deeper — to the irrational beliefs that generate these thoughts: “I must be perfect,” “If I fail, I’m a loser.” REBT doesn’t just identify thoughts — it attacks the root.
What We Work On
Automatic thoughts, cognitive distortions, irrational beliefs, negative self-talk. Tools: cognitive restructuring, ABC analysis, thought journal, behavioral experiments.
Meaning — Stoicism and Logotherapy
You can change your thoughts, but if you don’t have a clear answer to the question “Why am I doing this?”, the change won’t last. Meaning is the fuel for long-term change. Without it, every system is temporary.
Stoicism provides the philosophical framework — the dichotomy of control (focus on effort, not outcome), acceptance of discomfort, and daily reflection. Stoic practices build mental resilience that doesn’t depend on mood or circumstances.
Logotherapy, created by Viktor Frankl, complements Stoicism with specific work on the question of meaning. Frankl observed that people who have a “why” can endure almost any “how.” In my practice, this means: together with the client, we explore the personal meaning behind their goals — not abstractly, but concretely. Why do you train? Why do you want this change? What do you lose if you give up? The answers to these questions don’t come from the head — they come from values, experiences, and choices.
What We Work On
Personal values, search for meaning, dichotomy of control, acceptance of uncertainty, evening reflection, process-over-outcome focus. Tools: Socratic questions, Stoic journal, values map, Frankl’s logotherapy.
Sensation — Somatic Awareness and Mindfulness
The body knows things the mind refuses to hear. A clenched jaw before the start. Tension in the shoulders you hadn’t noticed until it became pain. The stomach that tightens when you recall yesterday’s match. These signals aren’t random — they are information. And most people ignore them.
Somatic awareness is the ability to recognize what’s happening in your body in real time. Not as an abstract idea, but as a concrete sensation — where is the tension, what is its intensity, how does it change when you notice it. Emotions live in the body before they reach consciousness. If you catch them at the body level, you can respond before they overwhelm you.
Mindfulness is focused presence in the moment — without judgment, without reaction, without trying to change anything. You observe. You notice. And when you notice a thought or sensation, you let it pass instead of feeding it with attention. This is not meditation in the classical sense — there’s no need to sit in lotus position or repeat mantras. In the context of sport and daily life, mindfulness means being here, not in the past or the future.
What We Work On
Body scan, recognizing emotions through the body, nervous system regulation, focused breathing, presence in the moment. Tools: guided body scan, breathing techniques, focused attention, grounding.
How They Work Together
Here’s how a session might look — not abstractly, but concretely:
The client shares: “I can’t sleep before important events.”
Somatic awareness: “Where in your body do you feel this? What exactly is the sensation?” — the client identifies tension in the chest and clenched fists. It’s not “just stress” — there’s a specific body map.
We work with the thoughts behind the tension.
CBT/REBT: “What is the thought when you feel this?” — “If I don’t perform well tomorrow, all my effort has been for nothing.” We recognize the catastrophic thinking and challenge it: “What is the evidence? What is the most realistic outcome?”
We look for the meaning behind the anxiety.
Stoicism + Logotherapy: “Why is this event so important to you?” — we arrive at the values: proving oneself, belonging, meaning. We work with the dichotomy of control: preparation depends on you, the result — not entirely.
Grounding and regulation.
Mindfulness: Finally, we do a brief grounding technique — focused breathing and body scan. The client leaves not only with a new perspective, but also with a concrete tool for the evening before the event.
Not every session includes all elements. Sometimes we work 50 minutes purely on cognitive work. Other times — more body work. It depends on the client, the topic, and the moment. But the framework is always the same: thinking, meaning, sensation.
Why It Works Online
The logical question: “If you work with the body, how do you do it through a screen?” The answer is: somatic awareness doesn’t require physical contact. We don’t do massage and we don’t do exercises that require equipment. We work with verbally guided attention — I ask questions, you direct your attention inward.
“Close your eyes. Notice what you feel in your shoulders… in your chest… in your stomach.” This is equally effective in person and online — because the work happens inside the client, not between us. Cognitive techniques (CBT, REBT) are entirely conversational. Stoic reflection is conversational. Logotherapeutic questions are conversational. And body techniques are guided verbally — which means the online format is not a compromise, but a fully functional channel for the work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to meditate?
No. This is not a meditation class. Mindfulness in the context of my work means focused attention — the ability to notice what’s happening inside you at a specific moment. Sometimes we do it for 2-3 minutes within a session. You don’t need to sit on the floor with crossed legs.
What is logotherapy?
Logotherapy was created by Viktor Frankl — an Austrian psychiatrist who survived the Holocaust. The central idea is that the primary motivating force in humans is the search for meaning. In my practice, logotherapeutic questions help clients find their personal “why” behind their goals — which makes change more sustainable than any technique.
Do I need to be an athlete?
Not necessarily. The integrative approach works outside of sport as well — for people under pressure, in transition, or searching for meaning. If your topic isn’t related to sport, see consultations for personal development.
How is this different from standard CBT?
Standard CBT works primarily with thoughts and behavior. My approach adds two dimensions: meaning (why) and body (what you feel). This doesn’t mean CBT isn’t enough — for many people it is. But when the problem is deeper or the client “knows what’s right but can’t do it,” the additional dimensions make the difference.
How many sessions are needed?
The main format is the Synergistic Protocol™ — 12 weeks, 6 video sessions. This is the minimum for sustainable change. For a specific problem, you can start with a Psychological Profile (EUR 120) — a full session with profiling and a concrete plan.
Next Step
If this approach sounds reasonable and you want to understand how it might work for you — the next step is a free 30-minute conversation. We discuss your situation, your goals, and whether the Synergistic Protocol™ is right for you.
References: Beck, A. T. (1976). Cognitive therapy and the emotional disorders. International Universities Press. | Ellis, A. (1962). Reason and Emotion in Psychotherapy. Lyle Stuart. | Frankl, V. E. (1946/2006). Man’s Search for Meaning. Beacon Press. | Kabat-Zinn, J. (1990). Full Catastrophe Living. Delta. | Robertson, D. (2010). The Philosophy of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Karnac Books. | Mehling, W. E. et al. (2012). The Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA). PLoS ONE, 7(11).