Russia

Varvara V. Sidorova, PhD, REAT®, associate professor at the Department of Clinical and Counseling Psychology at Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, head of the postgraduate program of Expressive Arts Therapy at MSUPE, director of Arts Therapy Center “”ArtDOm””, founder and first president of Expressive Arts Therapy Association (Russia), director of Expressive Arts Therapy Institute” “Arts and Consciouness”” (Russia).

Varvara V. Sidorova completed her second Ph.D. in EGS in 2023 “”Play of consciousness: culture-oriented expressive arts therapy””. She completed her first PhD in Psychology in 2005 with her thesis “Cross-cultural research of the image of consciousness (on the materials of Russian and Japanese cultures)” at the Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Counseling. Prior to this, Varvara completed an MA in psychology from 1991-1998 at the Moscow State University of M.V. Lomonosov.

Since 2005, Varvara has been the Head of a two-year Continuing Education Program “Intermodal Expressive Arts Therapy” at the Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, within the Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Counseling. Since 2012, Varvara has been an organizer of an annual International Expressive Arts Therapy Festival in Moscow. In 2016, through her initiative, the Russian Association of Expressive Arts Therapy was established and she was the first president of REAA. She is a Director of the Arts Therapy Center “”ArtDom”” in Moscow and has a private practice with more than 20 years experience. Varvara is a member of the Russian Professional Creative Union of Artists and Graphic Designers (since 1995) and a member of the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA) (since 2007). She is an artist and has had solo exhibitions.
Since 2023 she is the director of Expressive Arts Therapy Institute “”Arts and Consciousness””.

Natalya Borovkova is a certified psychologist and artist based in the Netherlands, where she serves as a member of the Russian Association of Intermodal Expressive Arts Therapy. She is a graduate of the Law Faculty at Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia in 2006 (Qualified lawyer). Deciding to change her career toward the healing power of creativity, she later completed advanced programs including “Practical Application of Art Therapy Methods: An Integrative Approach” (Qualified Psychologist) and “Applied Intermodal Expressive Arts Therapy” at the Institute “Art and Consciousness” (Specialist in Intermodal Expressive Arts Therapy). As curator of library resources for the Institute of Arts Therapy “Art and Consciousness,” she supports educational initiatives while developing her private practice focused on Russian-speaking clients. Specializing in intermodal expressive arts therapy, she integrates diverse modalities and methods such as, metaphorical cards, fairy tale therapy, phototherapy, creative writing, mind mapping, neuro-emotional integration to foster self-discovery and healing. An accomplished artist and nominee for the Luxembourg Art Prize, she has illustrated a Tarot deck and created over 100 paintings. When not guiding clients through creative journeys, Natalya enjoys exploring new artistic expressions and curating resources that bridge psychology and imagination.