About me

My name is Violeta Chonova – Villy. I am a licensed psychotherapist by the World Organization for Positive and Transcultural Psychotherapy. In my practice, I combine my expertise in different psychotherapeutic modalities like Internal Family Systems (IFS), EMDR, Positive Psychotherapy, CBT, and Ayurveda to create individual therapy for each client.

We are all different and what may work for you may not work for me. That’s why, my focus is to understand your uniqueness and help you most effectively reach your goals in therapy.

I work online and in-person in Lozenets, Sofia, with adults and couples, in Bulgarian and English.

If you wish, we can work entirely with Internal Family Systems (IFS) or exclusively with EMDR therapy — according to your needs and preferences.

Education

Master's degree in Psychology — Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"

Professional certifications

Certified Positive Psychotherapist
Certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) — Level I
Certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) — Level II: Intimacy From the Inside Out
Certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) — Level II: Addictions and Eating Disorders
Certified EMDR therapist
Certified Ayurveda consultant

Trainings completed

IFS Immersion: Integrating Internal Family Systems (IFS) into Clinical Applications
Using Internal Family Systems (IFS) with groups
How Attachment, Trauma & Temperament Shape Personality: Applications from Interpersonal Neurobiology to Inspire Your Clinical Work
Using Internal Family Systems (IFS) to Heal Trauma and Addiction: Compassionate Step-by-Step Strategies for Healing
Trauma Conference: The Body Keeps the Score — healing trauma through the senses, with Dr. Bessel van der Kolk
Internal Family Systems (IFS) for children and adolescents
Somatic Approaches for Working With Anger and Healing Trauma: Essential Clinical Skills and Demonstrations Using Body-Based, Polyvagal, and Neurobiological Interventions
Relational Trauma: Psychodrama and Experiential Interventions for Treating Childhood Wounds in Adult Clients
EMDR – fast safe and proven trauma treatment
EMDR with the different parts in us to treat complex trauma
The Latest Advances and Proven Techniques for Resolving Deeply Held Trauma – Training with Janina Fisher
EMDR for Children – Strategies for Young Clients and Their Adults
Specialized advanced EMDR techniques. Advanced skills for trauma, attachment wounds, and more
Emotional Freedom and Thought Field Therapy (EFT and TFT) training
An Introduction to Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP): Enhanced Relational Interventions for Complex Trauma and Attachment Wounding
Healing with Art Therapy
When There Are No Words: Repairing Early Trauma and Neglect From the Attachment Period With EMDR Therapy
Revolutionizing Trauma Treatment – Bebette Rothschild
Certified Dialectical Behaviour Therapy training
Recognizing and Relieving Stress and Distress – Oh, metaphorical cards
Applying attachment theory to clinical practice. Transforming developmental deficits and building secure attachment
Treating Complex Trauma Using the Internal Family System – Training with Frank Anderson
Changing the ADHD Brain: Moving Beyond Medication
Taming the amygdala. Brain-based strategies to calm the anxious mind
The web of shame in the therapeutic space
Compassion-Focused – Therapy for Traumatic Experiences
EMDR Therapy for Different Ego States – Training with Robin Shapiro
Diploma in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
Calming the inner critic — training with Kathy Steele
Hypnotherapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Exposure and response prevention
Healing from Affairs, Moving Through the Trauma of Betrayal and Infidelity – Training with Tammy Nelson
The Power of Associations – Oh, metaphorical cards
Attachment-Focused EMDR Course: A clinician’s guide to healing trauma and developmental deficits – Laurel Parnel
Working with trauma: Somatic-based interventions to move clients from surviving to thriving
Healing Broken Relationships – Training with Diane Heller and Thomas Hubl

Therapeutic methods I use

EMDR
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Somatic therapy
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Metaphor-based methods
Hypnotherapeutic techniques
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Positive Psychotherapy
Ayurveda

The methods we use vary with the problem we're working on. Over years of practice I've learned to skilfully blend therapeutic techniques to help clients reach their goals.

Pricing

Session	Duration	Price
Individual session	50 min	€45
Extended session	90 min	€80
EMDR intensive (5 hours of active work)	~7 hours total with breaks	€250

You can book a session online, or contact me

What I can help with

Anxiety
PTSD
Traumatic or wounding experiences
Social anxiety
Panic attacks
Depression
Postpartum depression
Burnout
Relationship difficulties — with partner, parent, child, friends
Family therapy
Self-esteem and self-worth issues
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Problems related to life crises

What to expect from therapy

The therapeutic space is something very dear to me, in which you have the opportunity to be yourself and connect with yourself. In our shared space, there is no “should” but “when I’m ready.”

Every approach I use is discussed openly, and at any stage you can ask questions.

We are a team and together, with a lot of understanding and patience, we will work towards your goals in therapy.

Favourite thoughts

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.“ – Rumi

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” - Anaïs Nin

"Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate" - Carl Jung

“Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us act, just once, with beauty and courage. Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in its deepest essence, something helpless that wants our love.” - Rainer Maria Rilke

"There is a voice that doesn't use words. Listen!" – Rumi