Khrystyna Zhyvago
Khrystyna Zhyvaho is a psychiatrist, child psychiatrist, psychotherapist, PhD MD, and Scientific Secretary of the Ukrainian Institute of Schema Therapy.
BOOK A CONSULTATIONAbout the specialist
Khrystyna Zhyvaho is a psychiatrist, child psychiatrist, psychotherapist, PhD MD, and Scientific Secretary of the Ukrainian Institute of Schema Therapy.
Khrystyna Zhyvaho is a psychiatrist, child psychiatrist, psychotherapist, PhD MD, Scientific Secretary of the Ukrainian Institute of Schema Therapy, and clinic founder. She is a certified supervisor and accredited schema therapy trainer of the International Society of Schema Therapy (ISST), and co-founder of the NGO "Ukrainian Institute of Schema Therapy."
Professional experience: 15 years. She specializes in the treatment of complex conditions using cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and schema therapy, medical and social rehabilitation, clinical psychiatry, child psychiatry, clinical psychology, and related areas.
Author of over 40 published works, including articles in SCOPUS-indexed scientific journals. She is fluent in English and conducts consultations in English.
Education & Credentials
Bogomolets National Medical University (Residency/Internship in Psychiatry).
Bogomolets National Medical University (Defense of Master's thesis on "Clinical picture, diagnostic features, and level of functioning in depression among patients with paranoid schizophrenia"; defense of Candidate dissertation on "Medical and social rehabilitation of patients with paranoid schizophrenia presenting with symptoms of depression").
Ukrainian Institute of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (Schema Therapist, CBT Therapist).
Institute for Schema Therapy Frankfurt, Germany (IST-Frankfurt) – Couples Schema Therapist.
SafePath Institute (Netherlands) – Multidisciplinary Team Trainer.
WellBeing University (Australia) – Schema Coach.
ISST Certification Program in Child and Adolescent Schema Therapy (Romania) – Child and Adolescent Schema Therapist.
Supervisions and training programmes in the USA, UK, Scotland, Germany, Australia, Israel, etc.
I welcome you for a consultation if:
You have felt depressed for a long time, and the future seems hopeless.
You are struggling to realize your full potential.
You have been suffering for a long time and are looking for high-quality help.
You want to improve your adaptability in this turbulent life.
You have a complex somatic disorder, and you have been recommended to see a psychiatrist.
You suffer from chronic pain with no apparent cause or clear diagnosis.
You know you want to change thinking patterns ingrained in childhood, but don't know how yet.
You are tired of enduring and hoping that it will "go away on its own."
Your loved ones underestimate or dismiss your condition.
You blame yourself for all your problems.
You are unable to cope with your daily tasks, worry about inconveniencing others, and cannot seem to "pull yourself together."
You find it difficult to regulate your emotions.
You cannot sleep, and your emotions interfere with your relationships and living a fulfilling life.
You want to get rid of excessive anxiety.
Anxiety affects the quality of your life, making it hard to make choices and look to the future with peace of mind.
Someone close to you has begun to change in personality and/or behaviour.
You worry that you are losing a loved one and don't know where to turn.
You want to recover from stress.
It feels like life will never be the same again.
You want to manage existing mental health issues.
You are looking for confidentiality, understanding, and help with solving your problems.
"My areas of interest include working with anxiety disorders and complex conditions in patients who lead socially active lifestyles. Therefore, it is essential to tailor the gentlest possible treatment for them, ensuring they can maintain their vitality and daily activity to the fullest extent."
What I can help you with
What do people ask us most often?
Your first consultation with a psychiatrist helps the doctor build a complete picture of your condition and determine what kind of support may be appropriate. Before the appointment, briefly write down what is troubling you, when it started, and how the symptoms affect your sleep, appetite, work, studies, or relationships.
If you have medical records, test results, or a list of medications and supplements you take, bring them with you or have them ready for an online consultation. You can also prepare questions for the doctor about a possible diagnosis, treatment options, medication side effects, and the next steps.
Consider seeing a psychiatrist if anxiety, low mood, sudden mood changes, panic attacks, intrusive thoughts, or changes in sleep or appetite last for more than two weeks, interfere with daily life, or continue to worsen. A consultation is also important if you experience suspiciousness, hallucinations, a sense of losing control, thoughts of self-harm, or thoughts of not wanting to live.
Seeking psychiatric help does not mean that your condition must be severe. An early consultation can help identify the causes sooner, create a safe care plan, and prevent symptoms from becoming worse.
During the first consultation, the doctor will listen carefully to your concerns and ask questions about the history of your condition, your lifestyle, previous treatment, and possible risk factors. These questions are intended to provide a more accurate understanding of your situation, not to judge you.
By the end of the appointment, you will receive an initial explanation of your condition and recommendations for the next steps, which may include further assessment, psychotherapy, medication, or monitoring. The care plan is tailored to your individual needs.
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who diagnoses and treats mental health conditions and can prescribe medication. A psychiatrist can assess your condition, establish or clarify a diagnosis, recommend treatment, including medication, and monitor your progress over time.
A psychologist generally helps with emotional difficulties, behaviour, and personal experiences without prescribing medication. A psychotherapist uses therapeutic methods appropriate to their approach. If you are unsure which specialist to see, an administrator or clinician can help guide you based on your needs.
One common myth is that seeing a psychiatrist automatically leads to hospitalization, being placed on a register, or losing control over your treatment. In reality, a consultation begins with a conversation, an assessment of your condition, and an explanation of the available care options.
Treatment is discussed with the patient, and information about the consultation remains confidential. You can see a psychiatrist not only during a crisis, but also when symptoms first appear.