Meet Dr. Natali Mei

Hello, and welcome to my page!

I am a doctor of psychology, a cognitive-behavioral therapist, an addiction counselor, an author, and an entrepreneur. My approach to psychotherapy is the result of not only my professional knowledge but also my personal experience of overcoming addictions.

What makes me different from other therapists is that I am not just a psychologist; I am a former addict who has gone through many life trials, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and various addictions, including substance abuse. Cognitive-behavioral therapy was the solution for my own healing and also for many of the great people that I worked with.

I was born in Moscow, Russia, but left the country with my parents when I was a kid and grew up in Budapest, Hungary, and Uzhhorod, Ukraine. During the early years of my life, I suffered from verbal, physical, and sexual abuse, but I couldn’t share this with anyone, which led to long-term depression and anxiety.

My first education was in business administration, and I worked as an international business development and real estate professional for many years while living in 10 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the US.

I can tell you from my personal experience that addiction, regardless of its form, is essentially a psychosomatic condition that emerges when one loses the capacity to experience happiness without external stimuli.

Apparently, when I achieved some success, providing my family and myself with all the necessities for a comfortable life, I also developed a whole bunch of addictions. My addictions were not my only problem; they were the symptoms of the pain that I had from an early age, suffering from a lack of parental attention, loneliness, and being exposed to verbal and sexual abuse.

Thus, having reached everything I thought I wanted (a prestigious job, a wealthy husband, and a nice house in Miami), I was profoundly disappointed by what I encountered in that place, which had once been the pinnacle of my world. Consequently, I lost my sense of direction, ceased to appreciate life's simple joys, and found myself ensnared in a web of excessive consumerism, materialistic pursuits, endless beauty procedures, globetrotting, indulgence in entertainment, sexual pleasures, alcohol, and all types of recreational drugs.

Alcohol and drugs became my daily routine, slowly taking away everything from me: my relationships, my career, and my mind. Overdosing on coke, weed, and alcohol led to hallucinations. After having witnessed my own death, visiting the other world, and receiving a message from the higher power, I turned to the church for comfort and even tried to submit myself to the monastery. I have stopped all earthly pleasures and become obsessed with the Bible and religion. However, that didn’t help me regain myself. I spent three years in loneliness, hiding from the world.

I started studying psychology in 2020, during the COVID pandemic, in order to deal with my problems since I could not find a suitable psychologist for myself. Not a single psychotherapist aroused my trust and desire to openly talk about my problems. “They only need money,” I thought, looking at how other people went to psychologists for years and were treated in expensive clinics but could not solve their problems.

In search of answers to the questions that tormented me, I began to study psychology, which helped me understand myself and my true inner motives.

Psychology helped me understand that, having been repeatedly subjected to psychological abuse, for a long time I lived as if in a cocoon, isolating myself from the rest of the world with the help of alcohol and other substances.

Once I had gotten rid of false goals, I experienced metamorphosis and overcame depression and all my addictions. At that moment, I realized that my highest goal was to help other people stop addictions by changing their mindset. This is the reason why I decided to specialize in addiction problems.

Since I started my psychology practice, I have gained enough experience to understand what tools can help people overcome psychological crises and addictions. And so I developed my therapy toolkit that helps people from all walks of life overcome their mental problems.

Now I am based in Italy and work with international clients online, as permitted by my internationally recognized psychology diploma from a Russian Institute of Psychotherapy and Clinical Psychology.

I wrote a book, “MindShift to Recovery,” that contains practical tools for overcoming addiction and post-addiction life planning. You can buy my book on this page below or on Amazon. If you’d like to know more about my counseling program, book a free assessment session.

What is CBT?

CBT, or cognitive-behavioral therapy, is an approach to psychotherapy that focuses on changing destructive patterns of thinking and behavior. The focus is on the connections between our thoughts, feelings, and actions. The essence of CBT is changing the negative, distorted beliefs that shape our perception of the world and ourselves.

Example situation: Alcohol addiction

Distorted Thoughts: Olivia, an A-list celebrity, faces constant stress while on tour, which leads to alcohol addiction. Her thoughts include "I can't handle pressure," "I'm always judged by my success," and "Alcohol is my only way to cope with emotional difficulties."

Emotional reactions: Olivia experiences feelings of anxiety, exhaustion, and loneliness. Her emotional reactions manifest themselves in frequent mood swings and storms of anger, as well as a feeling of constant dissatisfaction.

Behavioral reactions: Avoiding stressful situations on tour, Olivia often resorts to drinking alcohol, using it as a means of relieving tension and pressure. This leads to frequent drinking before performances and during rest periods, creating a spiral of addiction.

CBT-oriented steps:

1. Identifying Distorted Thoughts:

Olivia begins to recognize and record distorted thoughts associated with her perfectionism and fear of failure in show business.

2. Reassessment of Beliefs:

The therapist helps Olivia reconsider her beliefs about her self-worth and success, developing healthier views about her career.

3. Exposure techniques:

Olivia is implementing gradual changes in her touring regimen, gradually reducing stress levels, and finding a substitute for alcohol in her practices to manage emotions.

4. Working with a therapist:

Olivia undergoes therapy sessions where she discusses her emotional experiences, aspirations, and struggles with addiction, developing strategies for effective rehabilitation.

The goal of Olivia's cognitive-behavioral therapy is not only to overcome her alcohol addiction but also to change her thinking and behavior, creating a path to psychological health and growth in show business.

How can CBT help to stop addiction?

CBT is very helpful due to its focus on practical methods. This approach helps people develop strategies to effectively cope with stress, anxiety, depression, and PTS. One of the key benefits of CBT is its emphasis on specific, measurable goals, which makes the therapeutic process more results-oriented. By applying the principles of CBT, people can develop new, healthier ways of thinking that replace destructive thoughts, promoting better understanding of themselves and control of their lives.

Example situation: Cocaine addiction

Distorted Thoughts: Emma, a successful young businesswoman, faced a severe cocaine addiction as a result of the stress and pressure of her career. Her thoughts include beliefs such as “Without cocaine, I will not be able to effectively run my business,” “It is the only way to cope with constant stress,” and “Cocaine gives me the confidence to make difficult decisions.”

Emotional Reactions: Emma experiences deep anxiety, fear of failure, and concern about her professional status. Her emotional reactions include avoiding situations where she cannot use cocaine and seeking temporary relief through drug use.

Behavioral reactions: Due to her addiction to cocaine, Emma began to avoid situations that could cause anxiety. She prefers to isolate herself from colleagues and friends, encountering communication problems and postponing important business meetings. Seeking temporary relief and consolation, she turns to cocaine, often mixing it with alcohol and antidepressants.

CBT-Focused Steps:

1. Identifying Distorted Thoughts:

Emma begins to write down her distorted thoughts related to the need for cocaine to successfully manage her business and overcome stress.

2. Reassessment of Beliefs:

The psychologist helps Emma reconsider her beliefs about the need for cocaine, identifying alternative strategies for managing stress and maintaining professional success.

3. Exposure techniques:

Emma is implementing changes in her lifestyle, gradually reducing her cocaine use and replacing it with healthy alternatives.

Cognitive behavioral therapy allows Emma not only to cope with her addiction to cocaine but also to change her thinking and behavior, creating the basis for a systematic recovery from addiction and achieving mental maturity.

10-step online counseling program for overcoming addiction/SUD

I offer an online counseling program for people struggling with addiction / Substance Use Disorder consisting of 10 weekly sessions; each session is 60 minutes long.

The program price is EUR 700, payable at once or split in two payments of EUR 350 each. I don't take insurance.

The advantages of my therapy are:

1. Accessible: Conducted online, sessions can be attended from the comfort of one's home, using a computer, tablet, or smartphone.

2. Individual approach: the Ultimate Life Planning process offers a unique opportunity to craft an individual life scenario tailored to your specific needs. It covers the eight dimensions of happiness, each essential to achieving authentic happiness that is meaningful to you personally, and provides a roadmap to reclaiming your life's joy. A comprehensive life planning process not only helps you achieve your goals but also encourages a continual lifetime evaluation of your true desires, keeping your mind on your happiness goals and away from your DOC.

3. Best price offer: the therapy program price is EUR 700, which is EUR 70 per session—that is at least 50% cheaper than any addiction therapy in Europe and the Americas.

Your bright future awaits you!

Get on the path to recovery by joining our online counseling program.