Veronika was born in Russia and immigrated to the United States as a teenager. She is fluent in both English and Russian and welcomes the opportunity to work with Russian-speaking students.
Veronika is a graduate student in Mental Health Counseling at Bastyr University and is completing her practicum at the Bellevue College Counseling Center. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts and Art History from the University of Washington. Her background also includes facilitating art groups and working as a fitness coach, where she supported clients from diverse and often underrepresented backgrounds. Veronika is interested in the ways creativity, physical well-being, and everyday life can contribute to mental health.
Veronika takes an integrative, trauma-informed, and holistic approach to counseling. She views mental health as closely connected to the body, relationships, environment, culture, and life experiences, and she values exploring daily habits and lifestyle as part of the therapeutic process. She strives to create a safe and welcoming space where students can explore their experiences, navigate academic and personal challenges, consider their futures, and develop greater self-awareness. She believes counseling is a collaborative process that can help students recognize and build upon their strengths, find their voice, and develop greater resilience.
Outside of counseling, Veronika enjoys drawing, gardening, spending time with her family, and taking road trips around Washington. She is also a mother to a teenager, which has given her a personal appreciation for the transitions, challenges, and growth that can come with different stages of life.
