About Me

I’m Emil Bonev, a clinical psychologist. I’m also a certified cognitive behavioural consultant, a hypnotherapist and the deputy chair of the Bulgarian Society for Schema Therapy. I practise EMDR under supervision and am working towards certification.

​

Education and Qualifications

I hold master’s degrees in general psychology and clinical psychology, as well as several other academic degrees in fields outside psychology. Education has always been an important part of my professional and personal development. It helps me bring a broad perspective and an analytical approach to the difficulties my clients face.

​

My Therapeutic Approach

I work primarily within a cognitive behavioural framework, drawing on schema therapy and hypnotherapy to tailor my approach to your needs. We can also use one of these approaches on its own if you have a particular preference and it suits what you’d like to work on.

• ​Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based approach that provides a clear structure for understanding and changing unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaviour. A relatively brief course of around 15 sessions can lead to measurable and lasting improvements, depending on what you’re working on. Where helpful, I draw on techniques from schema therapy or hypnotherapy within the CBT framework.

• Schema Therapy builds on CBT and places greater emphasis on the emotional experiences behind long-standing difficulties. We explore how painful experiences and relationships with important people in your life have shaped the way you think, feel and respond today. Working with those experiences can help you develop healthier ways of relating to yourself and others.

• Hypnotherapy is the clinical use of hypnosis. During a session, I guide you into a state of focused attention, where we can work with suggestions that fit your own views and goals. You might revisit a memory from a different perspective or imagine responding differently to a future situation. I may use hypnotherapy on its own or alongside other approaches when working with concerns such as distressing memories, phobias or addictive behaviours.

• EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It was originally developed to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). During EMDR, you focus on a distressing memory or a related experience while engaging in bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements. The aim is to help you process painful memories and reduce their impact on your life today. EMDR is also used to address a wider range of difficulties linked to distressing experiences.

 

Languages I Work In​

I offer psychotherapy and consultations in Bulgarian, English and Italian. I use all three languages in sessions and in written communication, which allows me to work with clients from different cultural backgrounds and in the language they feel most comfortable using.