Maarja Oitsalu, clinical psychologist

I am Maarja, a clinical psychologist and educator.

I have spent the better part of my career researching personality and its disorder, and working with people with severe emotion dysregulation and complex psychiatric presentations. As well as trying to guide others in understanding these presentations and working with them more effectively. What drives me most is finding ways to learn about ourselves, our hardships and successes and creating systems to better understand it, and thus guide mastery over our organisms. For me, doing this means combining empirical evidence with sound clinical reasoning, always keeping the basics in mind and our communication transparent and authentic.

I have also dived deep into the worlds of pain science and (resistance)training, and worked with active people (both as a psychologist and as a personal trainer) as well as former athletes who have developed serious issues with anxiety and self regulation following illness and injury that has forced them to stop their previous lifestyle. We can't really view bodies and minds as separates, and bodies that are used to heavy or specific loading often also create intense and specific problems in the mind.

I find that the most effective methods for helping with these complex and often very disruptive symptom presentations are based on a joint conceptualization, an honest and transparent relationship, clear set goals and regular support. This is the basis for creating a solid understanding of ones own body and its processes and consistent practice of techniques that facilitate adaptive functioning. Complex systems need simple practices that take the whole system into account to heal, and support available that extends beyond a montly or even weekly 60 minute session.