The images on this website are works by visual artist Mihályi Barbara.
I am Zsuzsa Gyarmati, a counseling psychologist, relaxation therapist, symbol therapist, and an EMDR practitioner in training. Adults and teenagers can turn to me for help with life roadblocks, stress, anxiety, and personal growth.
As a critical psychologist, I know that our mental struggles are rarely just personal challenges—they are often reflections of broader social issues and systemic problems.
At the same time, I believe, know, and experience that self-awareness is power.
It helps us see our goals and options more clearly, tap into our inner strengths, and stay grounded. The process of self-discovery brings us closer to understanding our actions, thoughts, and feelings, and helps us treat ourselves with compassion.
The prerequisite for this is a safe space, which for me primarily means equal eye-level, openness, authentic presence, where there is no judgment, rushing, or expectation. Thus, thoughts can become thinkable, feelings can become feelable, and traumas can be processed, giving space to new perspectives and change.
I consider uniqueness a value, and I work in an LGBT+ friendly space with a trauma-informed approach.
As a critical psychologist, I understand mental health within its social context. Psychological suffering doesn't happen in a vacuum: it is shaped and often caused by social inequalities, power dynamics, and unequal access to resources.
Psychology itself is not neutral either; it is an active part of the system it tries to describe. This is evident in mainstream theories that treat mental health conditions purely as individual issues, placing the full burden of responsibility on the individual. This effect is further amplified because access to psychological education and care is also unequal, which dictates whose voices are heard and who gets labeled as "problematic."
For me, critical psychology is more than just a theory—it is a framework for understanding. It defines how I think about suffering, responsibility, and the goal of counseling.
In the eyes of many, psychology is a tool to help individuals "fit back into" the system. From a critical perspective, however, anxiety, burnout, and other struggles are often natural responses to unfair or inhumane situations.
By acknowledging the impact of inequalities and power structures, my goal is to help those who turn to me find ways to advocate for themselves and create meaningful change in their lives.
In this framework, psychological support is more than just relieving emotional distress: it is a small step toward a more equal, livable world.
For me, a critical psychology perspective naturally leads to an intersectional feminist approach, as well as the principle of not assuming there is a single "normal" way we should feel, think, connect, or function.
Because of this, affirmative practice is a core framework in my work, whether through LGBTQ+ affirmation or neuroaffirmation. I do not view individual differences as inherently problematic; rather, the question is how the surrounding social and relational context makes them become so.
A trauma-informed approach is built on safety, trust, and respect for individual experiences. Instead of asking "what is wrong with me," we ask "what happened to me" and how my story affects my nervous system and emotional well-being.
When needed, trauma processing can also take place using the EMDR method—so that the past no longer controls the present.
As a feminist psychologist, I take into account the system of patriarchy, the inequalities affecting women, and the gender role expectations placed on both women and men, along with their harmful impacts on an individual and global scale. I strive to support those who turn to me with sensitivity to all of this, whether regarding family, relational, or professional matters.
Feminist psychology also reflects on how certain psychological theories contribute to maintaining inequalities, while bringing together the theories and best practices that point toward change.
A queer-friendly space.
An LGBTQ+ affirmative approach values the diversity of sexual orientations and gender identities, builds on unique personal strengths, and accounts for the disadvantages and difficulties stemming from society's normative systems.
LGBTQ+ affirmative practice also includes a critique of mainstream, prescriptive psychology. Its goal is not adaptation at all costs, but mental well-being, self-advocacy, the free expression of identity, and building an open, accepting society.
Self-awareness is one of the greatest psychological resources. When I know myself and the background behind my intentions, it becomes easier to handle internal and external ups and downs.
When I know myself, I can adapt better, but I also see more clearly what I choose not to adapt to.
When I know where my beliefs come from, I gain the freedom to choose which ones I want to live by.
Managing non-clinical anxiety and negative stress using autogenic training, relaxation and emotion regulation techniques, alongside psychological counseling.
We examine not only the symptoms, but also the context in which they arose, seeking calm and stability without denying the reality of the social crises and uncertainties around us.
Psychological support in difficult life situations, whether involving decisions, major transitions, or burnout. In these moments, the focus is on stabilization, leveraging resources, and restoring a sense of safety.
Once the foundations are stable, exploring our inner world reveals internalized expectations, expands our possibilities, and allows us to build a new, sustainable balance.
Psychological counseling is a collaborative journey with clear goals. It is not a medical or psychiatric treatment, but a partnership where we work together to understand and process the challenges you face in the present.
First Steps
After you contact me via email or phone, we will schedule our first session. The goal of this meeting is to get a first impression of how I work and for me to see if I am the right professional to support you. Since choosing a therapist is a significant decision, the first session is free of charge. This ensures that your decision to work together is made without financial pressure. If we find that I am not the right match for your needs, I will do my best to provide guidance or recommendations for other resources.
The Journey
The first phase of the process is often about finding stability and restoring nervous system balance. Using various strategies, techniques, and self-exploration, we begin to "draw a map" of your inner world. In a trauma-informed framework, we don't just look at symptoms; we examine their background and the context in which they developed. What feels like a struggle today may have once been a vital survival strategy.
Once stability is established, the process can deepen according to your goals. My methodological toolkit includes: talk therapy (informed by social context), relaxation and imagination techniques, symbol therapy, trauma processing with EMDR
Structure and Frequency
We typically meet weekly for 45-minute sessions, though this can be adjusted based on professional needs. The total duration of the process is individual, but approximately every 10 sessions, we review our progress: Are we moving in the right direction? Are the focus and tools still appropriate? Should we adjust something or start moving toward closure?
Ending the collaboration is usually preceded by 1–2 summary sessions. My door remains open for occasional follow-up consultations in the future.
I work in Budapest and online, in both Hungarian and English.
In the early phase of counseling, and especially in critical life situations, the focus is usually on stabilization. Personalized self-care, stabilization, and relaxation techniques support the development of emotional regulation and self-soothing skills.
Sometimes the difficulties we experience in the present are rooted in unresolved memories from the past. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a method that helps the nervous system process trauma more quickly and effectively. Through this process, the psychological impact of traumatic memories lessens or even disappears, making existing resources more accessible and easier to mobilize. When trauma processing is part of the agreement, EMDR often becomes a central method in our work together, although sometimes it is used to address isolated memories within the process.
You can find more detailed information about the method here.
Working with symbols is a collaborative, creative process that aids self-understanding and deepens processing. Symboltherapy is a specialized approach where we work with mental imagery in a relaxed state. Creating internal images is beneficial in itself, as it gives shape to previously vague or unformed feelings and memories. Exploring them deepens self-awareness, mobilizes resources and inner strength, and supports self-acceptance, self-compassion, as well as improving self-esteem and self-love. This method considers the healthy core of personality development as both a fundamental value and goal, with unconditional respect for each person’s unique, individual aspirations.
You can find more detailed information about the method here.
Autogenic training is a body-focused relaxation technique based on inner concentration, proven to reduce the negative effects of stress and distress. Sometimes we use only parts of this method; other times, we work towards mastering the full relaxation technique, which typically requires 12–15 sessions. It helps develop a relaxation routine, supports the body’s self-healing processes, enables stress relief, and enhances bodily awareness.
You can find more detailed information about the method here.
25 000 HUF
70 EUR
Psychological counseling or parent consultations in English, for clients living in Hungary. Sessions typically last 45 minutes.
The first session is free of charge.
30 000 HUF
80 EUR
The contribution rate is intended for clients living in higher-income countries or with a higher income, for whom the standard fee represents a relatively smaller financial burden.
The additional amount helps fund free or reduced-fee counseling sessions for clients living in Hungary who would otherwise have difficulty affording psychological support.
Choosing the contribution rate is voluntary. If the standard fee is more appropriate for your financial circumstances, you are very welcome to choose that option.
The reduced fee is available to clients living in Hungary who would otherwise find psychological counselling difficult to afford due to their financial circumstances.
The fee is determined individually, based on each person’s circumstances and by mutual agreement. Availability is limited.
30 000 HUF
80 EUR
The reduced fee is available to clients living in Hungary who would otherwise find psychological counselling difficult to afford due to their financial circumstances.
The fee is determined individually, based on each person’s circumstances and by mutual agreement. Availability is limited.
50 000 HUF
140 EUR
90-minute psychological counseling or parent consultation in English.
In certain cases, 90-minute sessions are available, for specific goals or for parent consultations involving both parents.
+36 20 32 32 766
gyarmatizsuzsa.pszi@gmail.com
Online psychological counseling via Google Meet (worldwide)
Középpont Pszichológiai Tanácsadó
1114 Budapest, Bocskai utca 14.