I was born and grew up in Ukraine, studying mathematics and physics, making art, being a professional figure skater and helping my grandparents tend their farm, which ignited my awe for nature's beauty and intelligence.
I immigrated to NYC in 1992, and soon after I started working at my father's antique center in Chelsea.
In the meantime, I was learning software design, which led to an 8 year career in software development — working at small and large firms, including RiskMetrics Group on Wall Street. In 2002, my career pivoted to art gallery management, followed by a certification and training in Creative arts therapy at The New School University. Upon graduation, I founded Creative Pier, New York City's first holistic healing arts center.
In 2011, I traveled to San Francisco to earn my MA in East-West Psychology at CIIS, trained in Hakomi, and later completed two years of doctoral coursework. This training lead me to help build the School of Consciousness Medicine from the ground up, while providing mentorship to students, teaching psychology-based classes, and maintaining my private healing practice.
In recent years, friends, colleagues and local businesses asked me for help with marketing, social media and web design, which met my passion for technology, writing and visual arts, and slowly evolved into a career of its own.
Alongside all of this, I trained in permaculture, deepened my love and knowledge of plants, and created a mixed media art portfolio, which led to exhibits and teaching art classes.
Having grown up in a communal culture, community building has been close to my heart, and it was the focus of my doctoral research. Having held various cultures within myself — Ukrainian and Jewish, Soviet and American, I learned to weave diverse perspectives and backgrounds into my work and way of life. My intention in all that I do is to create peace, meaning and belonging.
