Migration & Integration

I left Moscow for Paris after the outbreak of the war between Russia and Ukraine.Before that, I worked as a psychotherapist with both Russian and Ukrainian clients. I had never distinguished between people based on their nationality. After the war began, however, I found myself facing an important choice: either adapt to the circumstances or remain faithful to my professional and human values — respect for the rights, dignity, and worth of every individual.

I left Moscow for Paris after the outbreak of the war between Russia and Ukraine.Before that, I worked as a psychotherapist with both Russian and Ukrainian clients. I had never distinguished between people based on their nationality. After the war began, however, I found myself facing an important choice: either adapt to the circumstances or remain faithful to my professional and human values — respect for the rights, dignity, and worth of every individual.

For more than four years, I have been supporting people who were forced to leave their homes and rebuild their lives in European Union countries, particularly in France. Among them were Russians, Ukrainians, and people from many other cultural backgrounds. Drawing on this experience and my research, I developed an adaptation programme for migrants.

For more than four years, I have been supporting people who were forced to leave their homes and rebuild their lives in European Union countries, particularly in France. Among them were Russians, Ukrainians, and people from many other cultural backgrounds. Drawing on this experience and my research,
I developed an adaptation programme for migrants.

This programme helps people navigate the pain of loss, adapt to the rules of a new country, rebuild their lives, and at the same time learn to appreciate and respect the place that has become their new home. It supports integration, encourages active participation in society, and helps people understand and follow local laws while preserving their inner resilience.As a result, people gradually stop feeling isolated, abandoned, or devalued, and begin to regain a sense of direction, confidence, and
the resources needed to move forward with their lives.

This programme helps people navigate the pain of loss, adapt to the rules of a new country, rebuild their lives, and at the same time learn to appreciate and respect the place that has become their new home. It supports integration, encourages active participation in society, and helps people understand and follow local laws while preserving their inner resilience.As a result, people gradually stop feeling isolated, abandoned, or devalued, and begin to regain a sense of direction, confidence, and
the resources needed to move forward with their lives.

my story

my story

My adaptation and support programme for migrants in a new country is a step-by-step method that I developed based on working with emotions and anxiety.

My adaptation and support programme for migrants in a new country is a step-by-step method that I developed based on working with emotions and anxiety.

What emotions do people inevitably face during migration? These emotions should not be avoided. It is essential to acknowledge them, name them, and move through them.

What emotions do people inevitably face during migration? These emotions should not be avoided. It is essential to acknowledge them, name them, and move through them.

Nostalgia, sadness

Nostalgia, sadness

Anxiety, fear

Anxiety, fear

Anger

Anger

Euphoria, enthusiasm, joy

Euphoria, enthusiasm, joy

Self-compassion tinged with grief

Self-compassion tinged with grief

People who completed the programme

People who completed the programme

Testimonial published with the author’s permission.

Testimonial published with the author’s permission.

Anna Grushevaya

Fashion & Style Expert

My name is Anna Grushevaya. I worked with Ekaterina Kuzina on a voluntary basis during the period of my forced migration.

From the very first session with Ekaterina, I felt warmth, comfort, and a sense of safety. I no longer felt alone. I felt supported, understood, and accepted without judgment.

Ekaterina helped me rediscover my strengths and reconnect with the resources I already had within me. She helped me recognize and embrace my own capabilities.

When someone is going through intense stress, it is very easy to lose their bearings and feel like a blind kitten. What is much harder is finding someone who can accept you in that state and help you get back on your feet. Ekaterina did exactly that.

My story is the following: after the outbreak of military actions in 2022, I emigrated from Ukraine to France.

Today, I live in Paris. I work in the fashion and style industry, as well as in a company where my role is relatively passive.

Before the war, I lived a happy life under very good circumstances. But when my city was occupied, it became unbearable to stay. The person I loved told me it was time to leave because it had become too dangerous. I had to go. It was terrifying.

But the most difficult part came afterward. He was taken prisoner, and I had no idea what had happened to him. It was an immense shock and a source of stress that deeply shattered me.

Today, two years later, I am still rebuilding my life. I am learning to find support again, regain confidence in myself, and trust what is truly essential — my inner state.

Ukrainian, Fashion & Style Expert living in France.

Anna Sh 

TikTok Creator

I, Anna Sh, worked with Ekaterina Kuzina on a voluntary basis during the period of my forced migration.

After the outbreak of military actions in 2022, I moved from Moscow to Paris, where I held the position of Global Account Director at TikTok France.

My relocation was sudden and involuntary, and I had to go through a complex adaptation process in France, accompanied by the feeling of abruptly losing my home and my usual points of reference.

At first, my request to Ekaterina was solely related to emigration: I was looking for support in my adaptation process and help in accepting this new reality.


Russian, employee of a tech platform in France.

  • Anna Grushevaya

    Fashion & Style Expert

    My name is Anna Grushevaya. I worked with Ekaterina Kuzina on a voluntary basis during the period of my forced migration.

    From the very first session with Ekaterina, I felt warmth, comfort, and a sense of safety. I no longer felt alone. I felt supported, understood, and accepted without judgment.

    Ekaterina helped me rediscover my strengths and reconnect with the resources I already had within me. She helped me recognize and embrace my own capabilities.

    When someone is going through intense stress, it is very easy to lose their bearings and feel like a blind kitten. What is much harder is finding someone who can accept you in that state and help you get back on your feet. Ekaterina did exactly that.

    My story is the following: after the outbreak of military actions in 2022, I emigrated from Ukraine to France.

    Today, I live in Paris. I work in the fashion and style industry, as well as in a company where my role is relatively passive.

    Before the war, I lived a happy life under very good circumstances. But when my city was occupied, it became unbearable to stay. The person I loved told me it was time to leave because it had become too dangerous. I had to go. It was terrifying.

    But the most difficult part came afterward. He was taken prisoner, and I had no idea what had happened to him. It was an immense shock and a source of stress that deeply shattered me.

    Today, two years later, I am still rebuilding my life. I am learning to find support again, regain confidence in myself, and trust what is truly essential — my inner state.

    Ukrainian, Fashion & Style Expert living in France.

  • Anna Sh 

    TikTok Creator

    I, Anna Sh, worked with Ekaterina Kuzina on a voluntary basis during the period of my forced migration.

    After the outbreak of military actions in 2022, I moved from Moscow to Paris, where I held the position of Global Account Director at TikTok France.

    My relocation was sudden and involuntary, and I had to go through a complex adaptation process in France, accompanied by the feeling of abruptly losing my home and my usual points of reference.

    At first, my request to Ekaterina was solely related to emigration: I was looking for support in my adaptation process and help in accepting this new reality.


    Russian, employee of a tech platform in France.

The stages of adaptation and integration

The stages of adaptation and integration

Stage n°1

ANXIETY AND FEAR.

Anxiety, doubts, and uncertainty.

These emotions will appear and disappear, only to be replaced by others. It is important to be prepared for them and not withdraw into yourself for too long.


Stage n°2

AGGRESSION.

Whether repressed or expressed, sadness can also take the form of aggression turned inward.

Aggression toward oneself is almost always present. It is essential to identify and acknowledge it in order to manage it and channel it toward change rather than destruction.


Stage n°3

NOSTALGIA AND MEMORIES.

Nostalgia can be very seductive, but it traps us in the past and prevents us from creating, experiencing the present, and moving toward the future.

It is important to use the past as a foundation and a source of experience for the present, rather than as an escape from reality.


Stage n°4

SELF-COMPASSION.

Compassion toward yourself, your past, your parents, and your family.

It eases guilt and reduces self-victimization. It also helps restore the confidence needed to build a new chapter of life.

Stage n°5

EUPHORIA AND JOY.

Euphoria is often linked to new opportunities, new places, and new encounters. Everything feels new.

This can both frighten and inspire, producing a powerful emotional effect.

However, euphoria is often followed by disappointment and exhaustion, accompanied by a sense of emptiness.Experiencing joy is essential, but it is equally important to regulate moments of euphoria and maintain inner balance.

The detailed rehabilitation program and the emotion-focused method presented on this page are available upon request.

Paris, 48°8566 Nord — 2°3522 Est

What matters is not what you do,

but the mindset you bring to it.

Paris, 48°8566 Nord — 2°3522 Est

What matters is not what you do, but the mindset you bring to it.