Krasi Kirova has a conversation with our psychologist Martin Axelsson about his work and what are the influences that have shaped his treatment approach.
Hi Martin, can you tell me how you decided to make a profession out of psychology and what has been your professional journey so far?
Like a lot of people, I didn’t have a straightforward career path. I finished high school with no clear idea about what I wanted to do, so I took off around the world. I lived overseas for a few years and dipped my toes in different professions during my twenties.
I’ve always been fascinated by psychology and what it means to live a good life, so with a bit of lived experience behind me, I went back to study psychology as a mature age student. Loved it. And here I am. Right now I work in private practice and university setting helping people from all walks of life.
What are some particular areas of interest in your practice?
My interests include areas that can be difficult to acknowledge – some might say a bit socially taboo. Things like addiction, drugs, gambling, and pornography. I appreciate the opportunity to talk with people about those areas that can be challenging to bring up with anyone. Acute and complex trauma, and chronic pain are other areas I’m really interested in.
In some circumstances I like to use hypnosis and experiential techniques like Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR) in my practice. They can be really effective in working with trauma, sleep, anxiety, phobias, OCD presentations, depression, and building motivation for life changes. Hypnosis can raise an eyebrow, but it can be really beneficial too. I promise not to make you cluck like a chicken.
What are some important lessons you have learned through experience that were not part of your formal academic study?
How challenging it can be for people to acknowledge problems and reach out for support. How difficult it can be to initially open up to another person – even to professionals. It’s a huge step for anyone to come in and open up about problems in their life.
What do you love about being a therapist?
The people. I am in constant amazement at the stories and experiences shared. It’s a HUGE privilege to have people express that trust and I learn so much from my clients. Working to make a positive change in their life is really rewarding. Plus, I love reading up and listening to podcasts on psychology (nerd alert).
If there’s one thing you wished your clients knew about treatment or mental illness, what would it be?
That mental health problems or diagnosis aren’t a life sentence. The stigma around mental health is slowly being shifted towards a positive light (hurray!). We all suffer in different ways and times during life – it’s normal – and acknowledging our difficulties and reaching out for support is a great step to move past it. I’d also wish clients knew that it takes tremendous courage to ask for help. Bravery doesn’t always look like it does in the movies.
And lastly, I am curious to know what interests and hobbies do you have outside of the area of psychology?
In my down time I like to be physically active with things like yoga, mountain bike riding and going for walks or hikes. I’ve also started to learn hip-hop dancing. I’m a terrible dancer and not all that confident to let loose, so it has been a great challenge for me. I definitely haven’t levelled up my dance skills to consider a career change. Yet.
Beyond that I really enjoy catching up with friends, playing guitar, reading books and traveling.
