Medical Psychologist · Moscow · Online · Second Expert Opinion · International Support
Natalia Zentsova — Medical Psychologist, Doctor of Psychological Sciences
I am Natalia Igorevna Zentsova, a medical psychologist and Doctor of Psychological Sciences, professor at the Department of Pedagogy and Medical Psychology, Sechenov University.
Over 20 years of professional practice in psychology, research, and teaching.
My main areas of work are psychological support for addictions, PTSD and the aftermath of psychological trauma, anxiety and depressive states, codependency, chronic stress and emotional burnout, as well as working with complex and combined psychological cases.
I provide psychologist consultations in Moscow and online, offer a second expert opinion, and arrange personal VIP support in Russia and abroad.
Individual consultation — ₽35,000 · 60 minutes
A Medical Psychologist With Research and Clinical Experience
My professional work combines medical psychology, research, teaching, and practical psychological support.
I work with people who need not only psychological support but a professional analysis of their situation: when a problem has persisted for a long time, previous support hasn't given the expected result, relapses keep happening, or different specialists offer conflicting solutions.
As a medical psychologist and Doctor of Psychological Sciences, I look at the problem comprehensively: I take into account the person's psychological state, the history of how symptoms developed, previous treatment and psychological support, the family system, lifestyle, chronic stress, and other factors that may be sustaining the problem.
When needed, psychological work becomes part of a broader, interdisciplinary route involving relevant physicians and other specialists.
I work in person as a psychologist in Moscow, and also provide online psychologist consultations for clients from other regions of Russia and other countries.
Professional Profile
What I Work With
Psychological Support for Addictions
Working with addictive behavior is one of the main areas of my professional practice.
As an addiction psychologist, I work with the psychological mechanisms of alcohol, drug, medication, and other forms of addiction, motivation for change, cravings, relapse risk, and psychological recovery after treatment.
You can reach out to me if a person recognizes the problem but can't stop using on their own; if periods of sobriety are followed by repeated relapses; if treatment has already been tried without a lasting change; or if the family doesn't know how to respond.
A psychologist's work on alcohol addiction can be part of comprehensive support and does not replace medical diagnosis, detoxification, or treatment by a psychiatrist-addiction specialist when these are needed.
Psychologist for Gambling Addiction
Gambling addiction can show up as a loss of control over gambling, betting, and other risky behavior, despite the financial, family, and psychological consequences.
A psychologist's work on gambling addiction focuses on understanding the mechanisms that sustain the addictive behavior, working with impulsivity and emotional triggers, and preventing a return to the previous pattern of behavior.
Psychological Support for Codependency
Addiction affects not only the person themselves but also those closest to them.
I work with relatives and partners of people with an addiction. A codependency psychologist helps work through hyper-control, anxiety, guilt, boundary violations, emotional exhaustion, and recurring family patterns.
A separate task can be developing a clear strategy for how the family behaves: where support ends and enabling the addiction begins, how to set boundaries, and how to talk to a loved one about the need for treatment.
Psychologist for PTSD and the Aftermath of Psychological Trauma
I work with PTSD, psychological trauma, and the aftermath of difficult life events.
Reaching out to a psychologist for PTSD may be relevant with intrusive memories of what happened, avoidance of reminders of the traumatic situation, constant inner tension, sleep disturbances, heightened vigilance, emotional numbness, and other post-traumatic reactions.
Psychological work is structured based on the nature of the traumatic experience, the person's current state, and the need for safe stabilization before working directly with traumatic memories.
Psychologist for Anxiety and Depressive States
Heightened anxiety, chronic tension, low mood, apathy, loss of interest in everyday life, and a sense of having no energy can significantly reduce quality of life.
In a psychological consultation, we analyze the factors sustaining the condition, habitual ways of reacting, stress load, and opportunities for recovery.
If the symptoms suggest a condition that calls for medical evaluation, I recommend a consultation with a psychiatrist or another relevant specialist.
Psychologist for Emotional Burnout and Chronic Stress
Emotional burnout and chronic stress are especially common among people with high responsibility, an intense professional workload, and a long-standing lack of recovery.
A psychologist's work on emotional burnout can include analyzing the sources of chronic tension, professional and personal boundaries, ways of reacting to stress, and factors preventing full recovery.
A separate area of my practice is psychological work with executives, entrepreneurs, and people making decisions under high levels of responsibility.
Complex Psychological Cases
A separate area of my practice is complex and combined psychological cases, when a person's condition cannot be explained by a single cause or a single diagnosis.
For example, addiction can occur together with the aftermath of psychological trauma, anxiety or depressive symptoms, chronic stress, a family crisis, or professional burnout.
It's especially important to get an additional professional perspective if:
- the problem has persisted for a long time;
- previous psychological support hasn't given the expected result;
- relapses keep happening after addiction treatment;
- different specialists give conflicting recommendations;
- several psychological problems are present at the same time;
- it's unclear whether a psychologist, psychiatrist, psychotherapist, addiction specialist, or another professional is needed;
- an already proposed route of support needs to be assessed;
- the family is finding it hard to decide on next steps;
- specialists or a clinic need to be found in Russia or abroad.
A Psychologist's Second Expert Opinion
If a person has already seen specialists, gone through treatment, or received several differing recommendations, a psychologist's second expert opinion may be helpful.
As part of an independent expert opinion, I analyze the history of the problem, existing psychological and medical reports, previous recommendations, the course of the condition, treatment or psychological support already provided, risk factors, and the family situation.
The purpose of this consultation is to look at the case systemically, identify factors that may not have received enough attention, and outline a possible path forward.
Following the consultation, I can prepare a psychological expert opinion and recommendations for further action.
A psychologist's second expert opinion does not replace a medical diagnosis or a physician's prescriptions.
Get a Second Expert Opinion →My Approach to Psychological Support
My work is based on a comprehensive analysis of a person's situation. In the consultation, I assess not only the current complaints but also the history of how the problem arose, life circumstances, psychological state, relationships with loved ones, professional workload, previous experience of seeking help, and factors that may be preventing change.
Psychological State
Emotions, behavior, ways of reacting to stress, subjective quality of life, and existing psychological difficulties.
History of the Problem
When the first symptoms appeared, how the condition has changed, and which events may have influenced how the problem developed.
Previous Psychological and Medical Support
Which specialists have already been involved, which approaches were used, and what result was achieved.
Family System
Relationships with loved ones, conflicts, support, codependent patterns of behavior, and other significant family factors.
Chronic Stress and Lifestyle
Sleep, workload, professional stress, recovery, and everyday-life factors affecting psychological state.
The Need for Other Specialists
If the situation goes beyond a psychologist's competence, I recommend consulting the relevant physician or another specialist.
Methods of Psychological Work
Methods are chosen individually, based on the request, the person's condition, and the goals of a particular stage of psychological work.
Motivational Interviewing
An approach focused on working with internal motivation for change. Especially relevant for addictive behavior and situations where a person sees the consequences of the problem but isn't yet ready to fully give up a familiar pattern of behavior.
EMDR
A method of psychological work that can be used for the aftermath of traumatic events and emotionally significant memories.
Hypnotic Techniques
Can be used as part of individual psychological work, depending on the request, the person's condition, and professional indications.
Biofeedback
Methods aimed at developing self-regulation skills and managing one's psychophysiological state.
Systemic Family Approach
Allows a psychological problem to be considered in light of a person's relationships, family system, and the behavior of those close to them.
Short-Term Methods of Psychological Support
Focused work on a specific request, the current state, and the changes needed.
An Interdisciplinary Approach
When a Psychologist's Support Isn't Enough
Even an experienced medical psychologist should not try to solve problems that fall outside their professional competence.
Where there are relevant grounds, I recommend a consultation with a psychiatrist, psychotherapist, psychiatrist-addiction specialist, neurologist, or another relevant specialist.
In complex cases, I help put together a personalized route of support and, when needed, arrange coordination between specialists.
This approach is especially important when addiction, PTSD, pronounced anxiety or depressive symptoms, and other conditions occur together, where both psychological and medical support may be needed at the same time.
Personal VIP Support
A Personalized Route of Support in a Complex Situation
When a single psychologist consultation isn't enough, personal VIP support is available. It is intended primarily for complex situations that require regular psychological work, the involvement of several specialists, or the organization of a sequential route of support.
- individual psychological consultations
- developing a personalized route
- selecting relevant specialists
- selecting a clinic or rehabilitation center
- coordinating between specialists
- psychological support for the client
- working with the family
- adjusting the route as the situation changes
International VIP Support
Organizing a Personalized Route of Support in Russia and Abroad
For clients who need support outside Russia, international psychological support and the organization of a personalized route are available.
Depending on the specific case, I can help determine the type of support needed, select specialists and medical facilities in another country, put together an interdisciplinary team, and organize professional communication between everyone involved in the process.
- a preliminary expert review of the situation
- determining the type of specialists needed
- selecting a clinic and specialists abroad
- putting together an interdisciplinary team
- coordinating individual stages of the route
- structuring psychological and medical information for specialists
- online psychological support for the client while abroad
- working with the family
- where agreed in advance, the possibility of personal involvement in the support
The geography, team composition, and format of work are determined individually. Medical diagnosis and prescriptions are made by the relevant medical specialists and institutions.
Scientific and Professional Activity
I combine the practical work of a medical psychologist with research and teaching.
- Doctor of Psychological Sciences
- Professor, Department of Pedagogy and Medical Psychology, Sechenov University
- Director and research supervisor of the «Harmony and Health» recovery and wellness center in Nakhabino
- Author and co-author of over 60 scientific publications
- Author and co-author of 5 books
My professional and research interests include medical psychology, the psychology of addictive behavior, psychosocial rehabilitation, psychological factors in health, stress, emotional burnout, and human adaptation in difficult life situations.
• 2005–2008 — Faculty of Management, Financial Academy under the Government of the Russian Federation
• 2008 — Council of Europe, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. “Qualitative Drug Research” course
• 2010 — Short-term professional development, “Prevention of Harmful Habits: Building a Healthy Lifestyle in Schoolchildren”
• 2011 — Russian Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education (RMAPO). Professional development course, “Psychotherapy in Addiction Medicine”
• 2011 — RMAPO. Professional development course, “Clinical Issues in Sexology”
• 2011 — Institute of Innovative Psychotechnologies. Certification course, “NLP Consultant — Specialist (Consultant) in Personal Wellbeing”
• 2011 — Institute of Innovative Psychotechnologies. Certification course, “Short-Term Psychotherapy for Crisis States”
• 2011 — Institute of Innovative Psychotechnologies. Certification course, “Reality Modeling Technologies Using NLP”
• 2012 — International Centre of Evolution, certified international category; ICTA “Practitioner of NLP”
• 2013 — International certified course, ICE and ICTA, qualification awarded: “Enneagram Practitioner”
• 2013 — Makani Academy & ICTA, “Create the Life You Want — the Seven Steps”
• 2014 — Claudio Naranjo seminar, “Coaching Using the Enneagram”
• 2015 — “Business Youth” training series: Tsekh, MZS
• 2016 — Beauty Salon Boss — team management training series
• 2017 — L’Oréal Business School — brand management training series
• 2017 — International seminar on psychocorrection of psychosomatic illness by Gilbert Renaud, “Recall Healing”
• 2018 — International Coach and Trainer Association, “International NLP and Coaching Intensive, Third Generation,” qualification awarded: “NLP Coach-Master”
• 2019 — Joe Dispenza, “The Power of the Subconscious Mind” masterclass
• 2020 — Andrey Parabellum, “Coaching Transformation”
• 2020 — Judith DeLozier online training, “Bloom of Life”
• 2021 — Kamilla Nishanova, “Clarity Camp: Financial Transformation”
Media Coverage
Unwillingness to Take Responsibility, Self-Pity, and Constant Conflicts — Just a Few “Symptoms” of an Infantile Personality
Psychologist Explains How to Help a Child Overcome Video Game Addiction
Psychologist Explains How to Help a Child Overcome Video Game Addiction
My books and articles
Consultation With a Medical Psychologist in Moscow and Online
Where to Start
If you're not sure what kind of support fits your specific situation, an individual consultation with a medical psychologist can be a good first step.
At the first meeting, we'll go through the current situation, the history of how the problem developed, and your previous experience of seeking help, and define the main goals and possible next steps.
If other specialists need to be involved, I'll explain who it makes sense to turn to and how the further route of support can be organized.
I see clients in person in Moscow. For clients from other cities and countries, an online psychologist consultation is available.
Individual consultation — ₽35,000 · 60 minutes