Psychologist
Natālija Ledskalniņa
Clinical and health psychologist, CBT therapist Natālija Ledskalniņa provides consultations to adults and adolescents at DAP Pain Clinic, helping them cope with emotional and psychological difficulties and find solutions in challenging life situations.
A clinical psychologist is a specialist who provides psychological counselling and conducts psychological assessments, helping patients understand the causes of emotional difficulties and develop ways to cope with them. A CBT therapist is a specialist who helps identify and change patterns of thinking and behaviour that contribute to or maintain emotional difficulties, as well as develop practical skills to improve well-being and quality of life.
Specialisation:
- anxiety, inner restlessness, prolonged stress, fears and panic attacks;
- low mood and lack of motivation;
- burnout syndrome;
- excessive health-related concerns, fear of illness and hypochondriacal symptoms;
- chronic pain and psychological difficulties associated with persistent pain;
- eating disorders — overeating, bulimia and anorexia;
- obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) — intrusive thoughts, repetitive behaviours and rituals;
- other emotional and psychological difficulties that interfere with everyday life.
Psychological assessment — assessment of emotional state, cognitive processes (thinking, memory and attention) and personality characteristics for the purpose of clarifying a diagnosis, as well as preparation of a psychological assessment report upon referral from a physician.
Professional organisations:
- Member of the Latvian Association of Clinical Psychologists (Latvijas Klīnisko psihologu asociācija);
- Member of the Latvian Association for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (Latvijas Kognitīvi biheiviorālās terapijas asociācija).
Education:
- Rīga Stradiņa University — Professional Master’s Degree in Psychology;
- Rīga Stradiņa University — Professional Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology;
- Qualification as a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist — ODYSSEA International CBT Institute.
Languages:
- Latvian (LAT), Russian (RU).
Professional experience:
- Riga Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology — work in an inpatient addiction treatment unit and within the Minnesota programme; individual and group work with patients with various types of addiction.
- Crisis and Counselling Centre “Skalbes” — crisis counselling.
- Outpatient Centre “Veldre” — group work with patients diagnosed with depression.
- Association “Nova Vita” — individual psychological counselling related to addictions.
- Riga Central Prison — individual and group work.
- Regularly expands professional knowledge through participation in international conferences, training programmes and professional working groups.