Olga Boginskaya

I currently have availability for new clients, with in-person sessions in Abingdon and online appointments between 9am–3pm and 4pm–8pm. Online sessions are also available on weekend mornings.

Are you struggling with grief or complex feelings after a loss,  perhaps guilt, anger or loneliness? Perhaps you keep replaying what happened, wondering whether you could have done more. You may find it hard to sleep, concentrate at work, or have conversations with others.

Sometimes the hardest part is feeling that other people no longer understand. They have stopped asking, while your loss still shapes each day. You may feel pressure to move forward, feel guilty when you enjoy yourself, or struggle with anger towards someone you also deeply miss.

You may also be grieving a life or future that has changed, without a clear ending or anything others recognise as a loss. Finding words for that experience can be part of our work together.

In our sessions, you can talk about what you miss, what feels unfinished and what you find difficult to tell other people. I will listen, ask questions and help you make sense of feelings that seem to contradict each other.

Together, we can explore the self-blame that keeps you awake, prepare for difficult dates or conversations, and find manageable ways to meet everyday demands when your energy is low. Where helpful, imagery or an unsent letter can give you a way to express feelings and words that have had nowhere to go.

There is space to remember the relationship as it really was, including its difficulties. We can explore how to carry that connection while making room for your own life, at your pace.

I'm Olga Sayer, a qualified therapist focusing on grief and loss. My work brings together person-centred and schema therapy. We can attend to what you are experiencing now and explore earlier patterns that may make it harder to ask for support or treat yourself kindly.

Having moved from Russia to the UK in 2013, I understand how belonging and identity can shift between cultures. I offer therapy in English and Russian, in person in Abingdon and online across the UK.

You are welcome to get in touch, even if you don't know where to begin.

My practice focuses on grief and loss, including the effects on your relationships, identity and everyday life. I offer a warm, genuine, compassionate and collaborative approach, with time to explore your experience and practical support where helpful.

What you can expect

• An engaged therapist. I am a very good listener. I listen carefully, ask questions, reflect on what I hear and help you explore experiences that feel difficult to understand.

• Space for any complex feelings. You can speak openly about sadness, anger, guilt, relief, numbness or uncertainty, including feelings you worry others might misunderstand.

• A pace we agree together. You decide what you feel ready to share. We will discuss what you want from therapy and review how our work is helping.

• Support with everyday difficulties. We may explore disrupted routines, difficult anniversaries, conversations with family, or ways to ask for the support you need.

• Different ways to explore your experience. Alongside talking, we may use imagery, writing or creative exercises, with your agreement and when they feel useful.

My approach

• Person-centred therapy provides the foundation: a respectful relationship in which your experience, needs and choices guide our work.

• Schema therapy helps us understand recurring emotional patterns. We may explore how earlier experiences influence self-blame, fear of abandonment or difficulty accepting care following a loss.

Qualifications and background

• I am a fully qualified therapist in the UK and trained as a clinical psychologist in Russia.

• My therapeutic work integrates person-centred and schema therapy.

• My background in linguistics and music informs my interest in language, expression and the experiences that can be difficult to put into words.

Sessions

• In-person appointments in Abingdon and online sessions across the UK.

• Therapy available in English and Russian.

I offer a free introductory call before booking your first session. This is an opportunity to tell me a little about what brings you to counselling, ask questions and get a sense of how I work. There is no obligation to book afterwards.

Your first counselling session

We will explore what feels hardest at the moment, how your loss is affecting you and what you would like support with. You do not need to prepare or have a clear idea of what you want from therapy. We can begin wherever feels manageable.

During the session, we will:

• Talk about your experience and its impact on your feelings, relationships and everyday life.

• Explore the support you have and what has helped or felt unhelpful so far.

• Discuss what you hope for from counselling.

• Go through confidentiality and its limits, fees, cancellations and arrangements for future sessions.

I will ask questions to help me understand your situation, but there is no expectation to share everything at once. You can tell me if something feels difficult to discuss, and you are welcome to ask questions throughout.

At the end, we can discuss whether working together feels right and consider the next steps. You are welcome to take time to decide.