Medical Psychologist Natalia Zentsova
Medical Psychologist Consultation — A Professional Assessment of Your Situation and an Individual Care Route
When a problem has existed for a long time, touches several areas of life at once, or previous help hasn't produced the expected result, it's important not just to pick up another technique, but to understand the situation systematically.
In the consultation, we analyze your psychological state, the history of the problem, your life context, and previous help, and identify the main psychological tasks and next steps. If medical diagnosis or treatment is needed, I recommend seeing the appropriate physician.
What Kinds of Issues You Can Bring
Alcohol, drug, medication, and other forms of addiction
Repeated relapses and psychological support after treatment/rehabilitation
Codependency and difficulties faced by relatives of someone with an addiction
The aftermath of psychological trauma and PTSD
Anxiety, panic symptoms, lowered mood, and apathy
Chronic stress and emotional burnout
Crisis life situations and loss
Complex, combined cases
Lack of the expected result from previous help
The need for a second expert opinion and an individual route
What a Medical Psychologist Is
A medical psychologist is a specialist with psychological education and training to work with the psychological aspects of health, illness, treatment, and rehabilitation. The work can draw on clinical-psychological assessment, psychodiagnostic methods, and psychological-help technologies, within the scope of professional competence.
A medical psychologist does not prescribe medication and does not replace a physician where medical diagnosis and treatment are needed.
How My Consultation Is Different From "Just Talking to a Psychologist"
A consultation isn't just about emotional support. In a complex case, it's necessary to understand the structure of the problem: when and how it arose, what's sustaining it, what attempts at help have already been made, what brought improvement, why symptoms or behavior kept returning, and whether other specialists are needed.
The goal is for the person to leave not with a feeling of "I was heard," but with a clearer understanding of the situation and the next step.
How the Initial Consultation Works
Clarifying the request and the current situation
Analyzing the history of the problem and how it has developed
Assessing the psychological and life context
Discussing previous psychological and medical help
If needed — using psychodiagnostic tools within scope of competence
Identifying the main psychological tasks and risk factors
Discussing the further route and format of help
Where indicated — a recommendation to consult a specialist physician or other professional
What You Can Get From the Consultation
A more structured understanding of the psychological problem
Identification of priority tasks
Recommendations for further psychological work
Clarity on whether a consultation with a physician or other specialist is needed
Recommendations on the sequence of next steps
A decision on whether a second expert opinion or personal support makes sense
When an Expert Consultation Is Especially Useful
The problem has lasted for years
Several interconnected difficulties are present
There have been many specialists and methods
Recommendations contradict each other
The problem returns after treatment or psychological help
The patient or family doesn't know who to turn to next
An independent analysis is needed before a long or costly care route
Psychological and medical problems can overlap. With pronounced depressive symptoms, a suspected mental disorder, a need for medication therapy, severe addiction, withdrawal, psychotic symptoms, or neurological or other medical symptoms, the appropriate physician is needed.
In such cases, the medical psychologist's task isn't to replace medical care, but to identify the psychological tasks and, where necessary, fit them into a broader care route.
Emergency Situations
A planned psychological consultation is not designed for situations involving immediate danger to life. In the case of suicidal intent or a plan, severe impairment of consciousness, overdose, pronounced withdrawal, a psychotic state, seizures, dangerous behavior, or a sudden severe deterioration in condition, urgent medical/emergency help is required.
Moscow and Online
Consultations can be held in person in Moscow or remotely, if an online format fits the condition and the task.
Online is especially convenient for patients from other regions and those abroad, as well as for continuing psychological work while traveling.
If You're Abroad
If you live or are temporarily outside Russia, a consultation can help structure the psychological component of the situation and identify what type of help is needed next. Where medical help is needed, the available options for reaching the appropriate specialists where the patient is located are taken into account.
Second Expert Opinion
If you've already consulted psychologists or physicians, undergone treatment, rehabilitation, or lengthy psychological work, but there's still no clarity, you can opt for a second expert opinion format.
This is a more systematic analysis of the case history, previous help, progress, and a possible further route.
Get a Second Expert OpinionPersonal Support
If a single consultation isn't enough and you need ongoing psychological work, several specialists, help for the family, or coordination of a care route in Russia or abroad, the personal support format is discussed separately.
Personal and VIP Support Natalia Zentsova
Over 20 years of professional practice. Main areas: addictions and repeated relapses, psychological trauma and PTSD, anxious and crisis states, codependency, chronic stress and emotional burnout, complex cases, second expert opinion, and personal support. The approach combines practical, scientific, and teaching work, and is built on an individual choice of methods within the scope of professional competence.
More About MeMethods of Work
Depending on the task, the methods and technologies used may include medical psychology and psychological help, EMDR, hypnotic techniques, motivational interviewing, self-regulation methods, and elements of systemic family and other psychological approaches — within the scope of professional competence and taking the specific situation into account.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a medical psychologist different from a psychiatrist?
Do I need to already have a diagnosis to reach out?
Can I reach out about an addiction?
Can I have the consultation online?
Can a relative come without the patient?
How long does the work take?
Can I bring reports from other specialists?
If You Don't Know Where to Start — Start With a Professional Assessment of the Situation
You don't need to determine your own diagnosis in advance, choose a method, or know exactly which specialist you need. The initial consultation helps structure the problem and identify the next, well-grounded step.