Valeriya Kovbuz doesn’t just coach people through tough times, her expertise as a coach is how deeply she sees people – not just what they say, but what’s underneath. She has a way of gently bringing someone back to themselves, especially when they feel lost or off track. Her work isn’t about fixing – it’s about remembering. She creates space that feels safe, clear, and grounded. And she brings together emotional depth, structure, and a quiet kind of wisdom that helps people find balance – not by changing who they are, but by coming home to themselves.
As a mental well-being coach and advanced practitioner in Transactional Analysis, Valeriya has spent the last five years guiding hundreds of people, mostly women, through the messiness of life’s emotional weight. Her Tree of Balance by Kovbuz framework, a beautifully simple yet powerful tool, is changing how people handle stress, burnout, and big life changes. From her home base in Ukraine to clients across Europe, the US, and Australia, Valeriya’s work is striking a chord. As a Master’s student in Psychology at the University of Derby, she’s blending research with real-world practice, and as a speaker at Global Motherhood Leadership Summit held at Harvard University in May 2025 is proof her ideas are resonating far beyond her office.
I sat down with Valeriya to learn about the Tree of Balance by Kovbuz and why it’s become a lifeline for so many. “I kept seeing people—especially women—carrying so much,” she says, “Responsibilities, unspoken feelings, the pressure to keep it all together. I wanted to create something that didn’t just patch things up but helped them reconnect with their own strength.” That’s where the Tree of Balance by Kovbuz comes in. Picture a tree: its roots are the nurturing part of you, the Parent ego-state in Transactional Analysis, grounding you in self-care. The trunk is your Adult self, steady and rational. The crown is the Child, where your emotions and creativity live. Valeriya uses this image to help people map out where they’re stuck—maybe their roots feel shaky or their crown’s overgrown—and find balance again.
What makes the framework special is how practical it is. Valeriya’s worked with over 100 clients. She uses one-on-one sessions, group workshops, and her Emotional Detox mindbook—a collection of journaling prompts that feels like a monthly heart-to-heart with yourself. “It’s not about fixing what’s broken,” she explains. “It’s about noticing what’s already there—your clarity, your boundaries, your sense of being enough.” She’s taken this approach to international stages, like the All-Ukrainian Family Camp of Transactional Analysis, where she’s led masterclasses on everything from self-esteem to child development stages based on Pamela Levin’s theories. Her 2024 session on developmental stages was a hit, with attendees saying they left feeling “seen and ready to try something new.”
Valeriya’s not stopping with individual clients. She’s a member of groups like the International Coach Federation South Florida, and she’s working on a professional manual to teach other practitioners the Tree of Balance by Kovbuz. “I see it in schools, support groups, anywhere people need to feel steady,” she says. She’s already turned the framework into digital tools and reflective guides, and her speaking at the 2025 Scientific and Practical Conference where she talks about “Current Issues in the Theory and Practice of Modern Psychology: Challenges, Perspectives, and Interdisciplinary Approaches” which blend stories and science leaving audiences with both insight and practical steps.
What sticks with you after talking to Valeriya is her belief in softness as strength. “Resilience isn’t about being tough all the time,” she says, leaning forward like she’s sharing a secret. “It’s about feeling safe enough to be vulnerable.” That’s the heart of the Tree of Balance by Kovbuz: a way to come back to yourself, no matter how stormy life gets. As she gears up to expand her work, from community programs to global stages, Valeriya’s mission is clear—helping people find their own roots, trunk, and crown, one gentle step at a time.
