AM: You’re often called the “Oprah of Ukraine.” How do you feel about that comparison, and what unique perspective do you believe you bring as a Ukrainian woman psychologist?
Natalia Kholodenko: It is a huge compliment, because Oprah has been an inspiration to so many people around the world. At the same time, I carry my own voice and my own story as a Ukrainian woman. Growing up in Ukraine shaped me deeply. I have seen how women hold families together in the hardest circumstances, how they survive loss and still find the strength to care for others. My perspective as a psychologist comes from that reality. I do not speak from a pedestal, but from lived experience of resilience, struggle, and renewal.
AM: Can you take us back to your childhood in rural Ukraine, what first inspired you to pursue psychology, and how did that early dream evolve into the career you have today?
Natalia Kholodenko: I grew up in a small village where people rarely spoke about their feelings. There was so much silence around pain. Even as a child I was curious about why people suffer and how they heal. That curiosity became a dream, and over the years it grew into a career. I wanted to give people what I saw was missing: words for their emotions and tools to move forward. Today that early dream has grown into a mission to help millions of women find their voices and their power.
AM: When the war forced you to leave Kyiv with your children, how did that personal experience of displacement shape the way you now work with women and families in exile?
Natalia Kholodenko: Leaving Kyiv was one of the most painful experiences of my life. One day we had a home, routines, and a sense of safety. The next day it was gone. I know what it feels like to wake up in a new country, carrying fear and grief while trying to stay strong for your children. That experience changed the way I work with families. I meet them not just as a psychologist, but as someone who has walked the same road. I bring not only professional tools but empathy and proof that even after displacement, a new chapter is possible.
AM: Many women struggle to balance their roles as mothers, professionals, and individuals with their own dreams. How do you personally manage these different roles in your life?
Natalia Kholodenko: For me it is not about balance in the perfect sense, but about rhythm. Some days I am more of a mother, other days more of a professional, and sometimes I need to be just a woman with her own passions. I give myself permission to move between those roles without guilt. I also remind myself that when I nurture my own dreams, I am teaching my children an important lesson: life is not only about sacrifice, it is also about growth and joy.
AM: Your motto, “The future is stronger than trauma,” is powerful. What does it mean to you personally, and how do you help other women embody this idea?
Natalia Kholodenko: To me it means that pain does not get to write the ending of our story. Trauma leaves marks, but it does not define what is possible. I help women embody this by guiding them back to hope in small, practical ways. Sometimes it begins with learning something new, sometimes with daring to dream again, sometimes simply with the decision to take one step forward. Healing begins with the belief that tomorrow can bring more than yesterday took away.
AM: As someone who has worked in both Ukraine and Europe, do you notice cultural differences in how women talk about and approach mental health?
Natalia Kholodenko: Yes, there are differences. In Ukraine, women were often taught to stay silent about their struggles and to endure quietly. Therapy was still seen by many as something unnecessary or even shameful. In Europe there is more openness, although of course challenges exist there as well. What unites women across all cultures is the desire to be heard, to be seen, and to know that their struggles matter. That part is universal.
AM: Your initiatives, like the All-Ukrainian Psychological Marathon, aim to empower women beyond traditional therapy. What practical tools or practices do you recommend to women rebuilding their lives after crisis?
Natalia Kholodenko: What helps most is creating daily rituals that ground you, like writing in a journal or simply taking a walk in nature. Connection with others is also essential, because healing is much faster and deeper when we are not alone. And finally, creative expression is powerful. Music, art, dance, or writing allow women to transform pain into strength and beauty. These practices help women not only survive but begin to rebuild their lives.
AM: You’ve collaborated artistically, even singing alongside icons like Gloria Gaynor. What role do music, art, and creativity play in the healing process for women?
Natalia Kholodenko: Art speaks directly to the heart. Music in particular bypasses words and touches a place beyond pain. Singing with Gloria Gaynor, who gave the world the anthem “I Will Survive,” was unforgettable. It reminded me that art can turn suffering into strength. For women, creativity is not just healing, it is also reclaiming joy and giving voice to parts of ourselves that trauma tried to silence.
AM: What advice would you give to women who feel stuck in pain, whether from personal loss, war, or simply life’s challenges, and don’t know how to move forward?
Natalia Kholodenko: I would say: do not wait until you feel completely ready, because that moment may never come. Healing starts with small steps, even if they feel imperfect. Allow yourself to imagine a future beyond your pain. Surround yourself with people who believe in you, and remember that your story is not over. The hardest moments are not the end, they are the beginning of something new.
AM: Looking ahead, what is your vision for Ukrainian women (and women everywhere) when it comes to empowerment, resilience, and creating a brighter future?
Natalia Kholodenko: My vision is for women to live without apology. I want them to embrace their strength, their dreams, and their right to happiness. For Ukrainian women, who have endured so much, empowerment is not only about survival but about creation. It is about building businesses, raising children, making art, and shaping futures that prove resilience is stronger than destruction. And this vision belongs to women everywhere.
AM: Tell us more about your latest collaboration with the Better World Fund in Venice
Natalia Kholodenko: The Better World Fund in Venice gave me the chance to bring Ukrainian voices to a global stage. My work there was about connecting psychology with art and humanitarian dialogue. It was a way to show that healing is not only about therapy rooms but also about culture, creativity, and international solidarity. It reminded me once again that when we combine science with art and compassion, we can inspire real change.