Initially a biologist, Maria studied psychology in Saint Petersburg State University, and then trained to be a therapist in the Moscow Gestalt Institute.

Maria worked as crisis counselor within the education system with children and adolescents who survived violence and suicide attempts. She has her own practice currently and teaches career training courses for those employed in the education sphere on topics such as bullying, suicidal behavior and others.

Since 2013 Maria volunteers as a psychologist for the project Children 404.

“Children have a hard time dealing with the strange and often absurd things that are created and upheld by adults. In my work I feel I have to discuss violence, injustice and other mistakes that exist here and now, in our society. That is the only way we have of changing anything. Side by Side is for me an incredible place in terms of the feeling of freedom, where you can always count on hearing the voices of like-minded people.”