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Psychology, Philosophy, Risk, and Adaptation.
My career began with a Master’s degree in Medical Psychology (with Honours) from Kharkiv University, Ukraine’s second-oldest university. While this provided a strong foundation, I was keen to ensure that my clinical skills met international standards. I therefore undertook a five-year training in Group Analytic Psychotherapy , jointly delivered by the European Association for Psychotherapy (EAP) and the Ukrainian Umbrella Association of Psychotherapists (UUAP). The programme combined advanced theoretical study, personal psychotherapy, and supervised clinical work — providing a rigorous grounding in both the practice and ethics of therapeutic work.
As my clinical practice matured, I found myself increasingly drawn to the conceptual questions behind the work: the nature of responsibility, aggression, and the moral tensions within human systems. Psychoanalysis, particularly the Kleinian tradition, opened a path toward philosophical reflection. It became clear that many of the phenomena I was encountering clinically — conflict, guilt, group dynamics — required not only therapeutic but also philosophical insight.
This led me to pursue a postgraduate research programme at the School of Philosophy, Kharkiv University, where I focused on the psychoanalytic and philosophical dimensions of aggression. My thesis explored war as an ethical failure rooted in dehumanisation, drawing on Nietzsche’s Ressentiment, Freud’s Todestrieb, and Object relations theory . Alongside my research, I translated key psychoanalytic texts — including parts of Developments in Psychoanalysis (1952). These works remain in circulation and were among the first of their kind published in the post-Soviet space.
Having completed the required examinations for doctoral defence and having been appointed a lecturer in the university’s Department of Philosophy, I found myself at a professional crossroads: between the academy and practice, theory and application.
Corporate Psychology & Behavioural Risk
It was this blend of clinical and conceptual expertise that led to my next role: designing and leading the Psychological Services Division at PrivatBank , Ukraine’s largest commercial bank at the time. There was no such department when I arrived; I was the only psychologist in the organisation. Over the next seven years, I built and led a team that became a key part of the bank’s internal risk and security infrastructure.
Our work extended far beyond traditional HR. I developed large-scale psychodiagnostic screening programmes, evaluating over 15,000 individuals annually across Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, and Latvia. We assessed candidates for high-risk roles, advised executives on behavioural risks, and supported internal investigations into fraud and misconduct. Under my leadership, psychological screening became a formal part of the bank’s approach to corporate risk.
To deepen this work, I trained in the United States as a Polygraph Examiner, completing an intensive programme at the Arizona School of Polygraph Science — a school accredited by both the APA and AAPP . I studied under two prominent figures in forensic psychophysiology: Tom Ezell, a graduate of the Keeler Institute, longtime homicide detective, and polygraph examiner with the Phoenix Police Department; and Richard Hickman, a graduate of the U.S. Army Military Police School, veteran polygraph examiner with Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Upon returning to Ukraine, I integrated polygraph testing into the bank’s internal processes — particularly for pre-employment screening in high-trust roles and in complex internal investigations.
While I have since developed a more critical stance toward polygraphy and no longer use it professionally, the experience significantly shaped my data-driven approach to psychological risk. Over nearly two decades, I conducted more than 2,000 polygraph examinations and trained over 70 operators in the technique.
Independent Practice & Consulting
In time, I transitioned to independent consulting, founding a specialist firm, Psiwell, focused on human risk and organisational psychology. Over 15 years, I advised large corporate clients across Ukraine on behavioural screening, internal investigations, and post-incident response — often in high-pressure, high-consequence environments.
As client needs evolved, so did the firm. We expanded into strategic HR consulting, advising on performance management, culture fit, and leadership risk during major organisational transitions, including mergers and acquisitions. Our aim was to help organisations make better decisions by integrating behavioural science into their governance and people strategy.
To support this work, I completed a Bachelor’s degree in Law, equipping myself to navigate the legal dimensions of employment risk, regulatory compliance, and corporate liability. This allowed me to deliver psychologically informed advice grounded in legal clarity — a combination especially valued in complex, high-stakes environments.
Adaptation & Strategic Pivot
The full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 brought profound challenges. My consulting business was no longer viable under the circumstances. In response, I joined the Norwegian Refugee Council as an HR Coordinator for Western Ukraine, contributing to humanitarian efforts during a period of war.
Around the same time, I faced a significant health issue that required surgery and long-term recovery. While this period was difficult, it also provided an opportunity to reassess and reframe my professional direction. I made the decision to shift into software development, focusing on building tools and systems that draw on my understanding of human behaviour, risk, and decision-making.
This is not a departure from my previous work, but a strategic evolution. It allows me to continue applying my expertise — now through technology — in ways that are both intellectually engaging and physically sustainable. My background in psychology, philosophy, law, and risk now informs my work in programming, giving me a multidisciplinary lens for solving complex human problems in a digital environment whether that's in designing more intuitive user interfaces, building tools for behavioural risk assessment, or developing systems that account for human factors in security.
Closing Note
Across clinical work, philosophical research, corporate leadership, and independent consulting, the common thread in my career has been a commitment to understanding human behaviour under pressure — and to designing thoughtful, ethical responses to that complexity. My current focus reflects the same values, adapted to a new context.