about me

My name is Inese Šuļžanoka, I am a certified Gestalt practitioner, Gestalt therapist in training, a member of the Latvian Gestalt Therapy Association. Currently, I am writing my final thesis at the Riga Gestalt Institute, but two years ago I passed the Gestalt practitioner certification exam and obtained a diploma that allowed me to start therapeutic practice.

In parallel with my official studies, I have participated in a number of additional trainings and courses with such Masters of the field as Jean-Marie Robine (former head of the Gestalt Institute of France, founder of the Gestalt Association of France), Ruella Frank (New York Gestalt Institute), Sophia Verulashvili (head of the Gestalt Institute of Georgia and president of the European Gestalt Association), Lenny Ravich (former head of the Tel Aviv Gestalt Institute), Peter Philippson (New York Gestalt Institute), Jose Luis Gil (Madrid Gestalt Institute), as well as many other prominent industry experts. I have also completed a training course specializing in group leadership (Riga Gestalt Institute, 2023-2024).

In my work as a therapist, the very rich treasure trove of life experience that I carry with me in my life's backpack is extremely useful. I have almost ten years of experience in diplomacy, for several years I represented the interests of Latvian business in Poland, I have diverse practice in the media – I have been both a show host, creator, and producer, and the shows have covered such a wide range of topics as domestic and foreign policy, art and culture, psychology and religion. But, of course, above all – people. I had this wonderful opportunity to meet and work with people of all kinds of levels and all kinds of success – both refugees and presidents.

That is my essence: to take everything that life offers – and to appreciate it.

At some point, looking back at my previous path – at what I had accomplished and experienced in music, diplomacy, business, and journalism, I realized that I was engaging in everything possible except myself. As a result, I started my own therapy. Now I have more than ten years of personal therapy behind me. By understanding my own internal processes more deeply, I became increasingly fascinated by people as such. And I decided that I not only wanted to take for myself, but also to share in this field with others.

How deep, interesting, and wonderful a being a person is! Each of us is like a whole world, where so much happens and where there is so much beauty, fascination, and uniqueness! It just needs to be discovered and appreciated. What I like most about the process of psychotherapy is being present when another person discovers their beauty, value, and uniqueness.

I like the saying – to return to factory settings, to the "manufacturer's settings." I consider this my therapeutic calling – to help a person return to themselves, to their deepest essence. Unfortunately, in our lives, we receive a lot of trauma, experiences, wounds, and develop complexes. Because of this, we put ourselves in a kind of box – this won't work, this is not allowed, I'm not good enough… All these statements are limiting! And most often, they simply aren't true. My experience shows that therapy is a path to a life whose boundaries are broader than we imagine, where it is easier and freer to breathe.

I would be honored if I may accompany you on this journey.