- 15 years experience
- Speaks three languages
- Focus on relationships
About Irina
Irina Sundukova, LPC, helps people who are feeling stuck in relationships, family life, or their relationship with food. She speaks English, Spanish, and Russian and brings 15 years of clinical experience. She aims to make starting therapy feel manageable for someone who is nervous about the first step.
She creates a calm, nonjudgmental space where people can say what they are thinking and feeling. Sessions focus on building practical skills to manage anger, depression, and difficult conversations. She listens for patterns that keep problems repeating and works with clients to try different ways of responding.
Her work draws on methods like cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy to help people notice thoughts and test new behaviors. Emotionally-focused and dialectical approaches are used when relationships or intense emotions are central concerns. These tools are explained plainly and used alongside whatever the person brings to the room.
Irina supports people dealing with codependency, attachment struggles, commitment worries, and control or communication problems. She also assists with blended family challenges, separation, and feelings of emptiness, guilt, or shame. Conversations may include practical steps, role play of difficult talks, and emotion regulation techniques.
Sessions are paced to match each person’s goals and comfort level. Irina emphasizes collaboration and small, doable changes that build toward a more satisfying life. Prospective clients are encouraged to consider whether this practical, relational approach fits their needs before scheduling.
How certain therapy methods translate to online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify personal values and take small actions that match those values. Online sessions can use ACT exercises to notice thoughts and plan value-driven steps for daily life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on spotting thought and behavior patterns that keep problems going and trying new responses. In remote sessions this often means setting simple between-session tasks and reviewing how they went together. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) concentrates on relationships and on expressing emotions clearly so connections improve; it can be used online to practice conversations and track changes in how people relate.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will help clients choose and adapt methods based on their goals, needs, and preferences. Decisions about using ACT, CBT, EFT, or elements from DBT are made together, and plans can change as progress is made.
Confirm the available session options before booking, since specific formats are not listed in the biography. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when time is tight, and remove travel time. It also supports scheduling across time zones for international clients. Conversations and skill practice are the same core work whether meeting in person or online, and sessions are adjusted to fit each person’s routine and goals.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
15+ years
Credentials
Pennsylvania
Languages
English, Spanish, Russian
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Irina commonly help with?
She helps people with relationship difficulties, family conflict, eating and food-related issues, anger, and depression, plus related concerns like codependency and attachment issues.
What style of therapy can I expect?
She uses a practical, conversational style that focuses on listening first and then introducing strategies from approaches such as CBT, ACT, DBT, and emotionally-focused work to address emotions and behavior.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 15 years of professional work experience supporting people with relationship and emotional challenges.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC, licensed in Pennsylvania.
Which languages are offered for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English, Spanish, and Russian.
Can people outside the US work with her?
She accepts international clients; confirm time zones and scheduling when arranging sessions.
How do fees and billing work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin a therapy relationship?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a time according to the therapist's availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.