How to Be Human, or Know Thyself

About This Conversation

The Philosophy Bridges project continues its series of interviews devoted to the search for self, inner wholeness, and authenticity in the modern world.

Our guest for this conversation is Olga Ryabinina, a helping practitioner and master's student in the "Psychological Counseling and Psychotherapy" program at the Institute of Pedagogy and Psychology of Education, Moscow City University (MCU), as well as a mindfulness instructor. She lives, studies, and develops her practice in Moscow.

Olga was born and raised in Saransk (the capital of the Republic of Mordovia), where she earned her first higher education degree and began her career as a journalist. In 2000, she moved to Moscow and worked at leading federal media outlets — Argumenty i Fakty, Channel One, and others.

She has been interested in psychology since her youth, and more than ten years ago began building a professional path in this field, as well as in creative pursuits: she has experience as a co-author in playwriting, has participated in film and theater productions, and has performed poetry readings. In addition to her core education, Olga studied at the Institute of Innovative Psychotechnologies, completed acting and screenwriting courses, as well as an introductory course in art therapy. She works comfortably in both individual and group formats.

Her professional interests center on the psychology of self-determination and self-knowledge; practices of self-regulation and mindfulness; existential psychology and the philosophy of being; phenomena at the intersection of science and cultural practices; the power and significance of thought and word; and music, literature, and art.

In her free time, Olga writes poetry, takes photographs, travels — and draws inspiration from many other pursuits.

In this conversation with Olga, we discuss what it means to remain human and to know oneself — at the intersection of psychology, philosophy, and creativity.