Professional CV | Zsuzsa Gyarmati

Career path

2007-2013

Master’s Degree in Psychology:

I earned my MA in Psychology, specializing in Clinical and Health Psychology, at Károli Gáspár University in Budapest, Hungary.

During and after my studies, I lived, studied, and worked in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. I initially studied at Goethe University on a scholarship, then completed a clinical internship at Goethe University Hospital Frankfurt (Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt), and later worked in school integration with Cebeef.

It was in Frankfurt that I was introduced to critical psychology, which has remained my primary theoretical framework ever since. I also gained experience working in a dynamic clinical care setting and supporting the school integration of neurodivergent students and others with special educational needs.

Related Training and Professional Events:
Herausfordernde Verhalten in der inklusiven Praxis – Ein systemischer Zugang zum förderlichen Umgang (Challenging Behaviour in Inclusive Practice: A Systemic Approach to Supportive Responses)

2014-2023

Preschool and School Psychologist

After returning to Hungary in 2014, I worked as a preschool psychologist at Beszélj Velem Foundation Kindergarten and Development Centre (Beszélj Velem Alapítvány Óvoda és Fejlesztőközpont), supporting neurodivergent children.

From 2015 to 2023, I worked as a school psychologist at ELTE Gyertyánffy István Teacher Training Primary School in Budapest. In this role, I provided individual counseling, parent consultations, educational counseling, and teacher consultations. I also led preventive, psychoeducational, and community-building class sessions, and gave occasional presentations for parents and teachers as needed.

Currently, I apply the experience I gained in education by mentoring and supporting early-career school psychologists.

Related Training and Professional Events:
2014 Dr. Peter Vermeulen: Autism as Contextblindness, seminar series
2014 Vadaskert Foundation: The Rules of “COOL-ÉLÉS” Social Skills Development Training and Study Skills Training
2015 Hősök Tere: Growth Mindset and The Bystander Effect modules
2016 Williams LifeSkills (WÉK) Training

2015-2017

Family Therapy Training and Supervision

I completed the 200-hour theoretical and methodological course and the 80-hour supervised training at the Hungarian Family Therapy Association. I am currently a trainee family therapist.

Although I am not currently practicing family or couples therapy, the systemic perspective I gained during my training remains an important framework for my work.

Related Training and Professional Events:
2015 Introduction to Narrative Psychology
2015 “I Love You Like a Mother Loves Her Child…” – Couples Assessment and Therapy
2015, 2016, 2017 and 2023 Annual Conferences of the Hungarian Association for Family Therapy

2016-2017

Autogenic Training Relaxation Therapist

I completed the 100-hour autogenic training course offered by the Hungarian Association of Relaxation and Symboltherapy. I currently use this method in my counseling work, guiding both individual and group autogenic training sessions.

2017-2021

Counseling Psychologist

I completed the postgraduate Counseling Psychologist program at ELTE Faculty of Education and Psychology, specializing in family and couples counseling.

Currently, I work as a counseling psychologist providing individual psychological support. I also collaborate with the Háttér Society as a co-facilitator for 60-hour self-awareness training sessions and occasional workshops as part of their Mental Health training program.

2017-2022

Symboltherapy Practitioner

I completed the 360-hour Symboltherapy training with the Hungarian Association of Relaxation and Symboltherapy.

Currently, I facilitate individual symboltherapy processes and integrate elements of this method into other non-symboltherapy-specific individual and group counseling sessions.

Related Training and Professional Events:
7th International Congress of the Hungarian Society for Relaxation and Symbol Therapy: In Search of Lost and Rediscovered Time (2020)

2018

Impact of the Parental Role on My Professional Perspective

My experiences as a parent have had a profound impact on my professional development. They have guided me toward a deeper understanding rooted in critical psychology, particularly regarding the parental/maternal role and the care system, and have refined my work with parents.

As a parent, I became acquainted with Lia Bumbui, a special education expert, and through her, with the sensory approach. Collaborating with her, along with engaging with recent international literature (an ongoing process), led me to the world of neurodiversity and neuroaffirmative perspectives. This has significantly reshaped my counseling work, whether with neurotypical or neurodivergent clients.

2023

EMDR Practitioner Candidate

I have completed the theoretical phase of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) training and currently work with the method under supervision.

The knowledge gained from trauma therapy about the functioning of the nervous system and the neurodiversity perspective intersect and mutually strengthen each other in many ways. All of this, embedded within the framework of critical psychology, forms for me an exceptionally inspiring and holistic interpretive system.

Related Training and Professional Events:
2025 Child EMDR I Training
2025 EMDR Europe Research and Practice Conference, Prague
2026 EMDR Acute Stress Protocol Training
2026 EMDR Europe Workshop Conference, Oslo