A path to understanding and lasting change.
If you are struggling, you are not alone—and it is not too late. In calm, confidential conversation, we will explore what is weighing on you and find a way forward, step by step, at your pace.
Professional psychotherapy based on transactional analysis and logotherapy. I work with individuals, couples and, by arrangement, families. The first consultation is free and carries no obligation.
Damjan Hosta
Psychotherapist
When is the right time?
You do not need to wait for a breakdown to seek therapy.
People most often seek therapy when anxiety or low mood persists; when burnout and sleeplessness take hold; when the same arguments recur in a relationship; after separation, bereavement or job loss; with low self-esteem, guilt or shame; or when life feels empty and the question arises: “What is the point of it all?”
Therapy can also be valuable when everything appears fine on the outside, yet you carry an inner tension that willpower and effort have not resolved. Speaking with a professional is not a sign of weakness—it is a decision not to leave your wellbeing to chance.
Two schools of thought that complement one another.
Transactional analysis
Transactional analysis was developed in the 1950s by psychiatrist Eric Berne. It begins with a simple yet precise idea: three ego states operate within each of us— Parent (rules, demands and care internalised from adults), Adult (clear assessment of the here and now) and Child (emotion, spontaneity, as well as early adaptations and fears). The state from which we speak shapes how an interaction unfolds.
In therapy, we also examine your life script: —early decisions about yourself, other people and the world (“I must be perfect”, “I must not ask for help”) that once made sense but now limit you. We also identify recurring games —patterns of communication that repeatedly end in the same painful feeling.
The work is transparent and collaborative: we define and record goals together, and you understand what we are doing and why. Transactional analysis is especially suitable for people who want to understand, not merely find temporary relief.
Often helpful with anxiety, low mood, low self-esteem, recurring conflict, relationship difficulties and setting boundaries.
Logotherapy
Logotherapy was founded by Viennese neurologist and psychiatrist Viktor E. Frankl, a survivor of the concentration camps. Its central premise is that our deepest motivation is the search for meaning —and that meaning can be found even in circumstances we cannot change. When that sense fades, what Frankl called the existential vacuum may emerge: boredom, apathy and the feeling that nothing truly matters.
In practice, alongside symptoms we explore what is truly valuable in your life: what you create, whom you love, and what stance you can take towards what cannot be changed. Specific techniques include Socratic dialogue (guided questions that help you reach your own answers), dereflection (redirecting attention away from excessive self-observation) and paradoxical intention, particularly useful when fear itself has become the object of fear.
Often helpful with grief, serious illness, burnout, midlife crises, loss of meaning and major life transitions.
The approaches complement each other: transactional analysis clarifies how a pattern repeats, while logotherapy explores what gives it purpose and which direction is worth taking.
Working with individuals, couples and families
Each format has its own framework and rhythm. Together, we consider which is right for you during the free initial consultation.
Individual therapy
One-to-oneA confidential one-to-one conversation, usually once a week. Suitable for anxiety, low mood, stress and burnout, low self-esteem, grief, traumatic experiences and decisions that feel impossible to make alone.
Couples therapy
RelationshipsWe work with the couple as a whole: what happens between you, how an argument begins and how it repeatedly ends. No one is “to blame”, and I do not take sides—I support the relationship. Common themes include recurring conflict, distance, rebuilding trust after infidelity, intimacy, parenting, and deciding whether to move forward together or separate with dignity.
Family therapy
By arrangementWhen distress affects several members of a family—adolescent difficulties, separation, illness, loss or strained intergenerational roles—family work may be appropriate. We agree in advance on its scope, participants and process.
Business coaching
EntrepreneursFor entrepreneurs and leaders facing daily pressure, responsibility and decisions they may have no one to share with. Coaching is not therapy: it focuses on goals, leadership, team communication, work–life boundaries and preventing burnout. If deeper distress becomes apparent, I say so openly and suggest a therapeutic framework.
Your path towards change
Therapy is a structured journey, adapted to your pace and goals. Nothing happens without your agreement.
A free initial consultation
We get to know one another. You explain what has brought you here, and I describe how I work. Together, we decide whether I am the right person for you. If not, I will say so and, where possible, suggest another path.
Initial sessions and agreement
During the first few sessions, we clarify the picture and set a specific goal—what should be different by the end. Agreement on goals, frequency and approximate duration is integral to transactional analysis and remains clear and open to review.
Regular sessions
Sessions last 50 minutes and usually take place weekly at the same time. A regular rhythm is not a formality—continuity is what makes change possible.
Reviewing progress and ending
At intervals, we pause to review what has changed and what has not. Therapy ends in a planned way when the goals have been reached—not abruptly.
What the research shows
Psychotherapy is not a matter of belief—its effectiveness is measured. Below are summaries of recent research reviews covering both approaches I use, so that you can make a decision based on evidence rather than promises.
Transactional analysis: systematic review and meta-analysis
Vos in van Rijn, Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 2022
A review of 41 clinical studies found moderate to large effects of transactional analysis on symptoms of psychological distress (g = 0.66), social functioning (g = 0.62) and self-efficacy (g = 0.80); the effect on general wellbeing was smaller (g = 0.33). Effects were stronger in work with individuals, couples and families than in school or prison settings.
Brief transactional analysis psychotherapy for depression
Vos in van Rijn, Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 2025
A small controlled pilot study (66 participants) tested 16 sessions of brief transactional analysis psychotherapy for mild to moderate depression. Participants improved significantly in depression, anxiety, distress and quality of life—comparably to cognitive behavioural therapy and more than treatment as usual. The authors stress that this was a pilot study requiring confirmation.
Logotherapy for depressive symptoms
Cornelius-White et al., The Journal of Humanistic Counseling, 2025
A meta-analysis of 35 studies with 1,656 participants found a very large effect for logotherapy compared with wait-list groups and a large effect compared with other active approaches, maintained at follow-up. The authors note substantial variation among studies and that most were conducted in Asia—further research is needed.
Meaning-centred therapies
Marco et al., Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 2023
A systematic review of six studies involving people with depression and no physical illness found that meaning-centred therapies reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety and strengthened a sense of meaning more than wait-list controls, psychoeducation or cognitive behavioural therapy. The authors describe them as probably efficacious, while calling for stronger study designs.
The Effectiveness of Transactional Analysis Treatments and Their Predictors
Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 2022
View source →Brief Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy for Depression
Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 2025
View source →Logotherapy for Depressive Symptoms: A Meta-Analysis
The Journal of Humanistic Counseling, 2025
View source →Effectiveness of Meaning-Centred Psychotherapies in Depressed Participants
Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 2023
View source →Research describes group averages, not a prediction for any individual. Psychotherapy is not a substitute for emergency medical care or treatment supervised by a psychiatrist.
What you may want to know before you begin
Will it really help me?+
No one can honestly guarantee an outcome. What research does show is that most people who remain engaged in regular therapy experience meaningful improvements in wellbeing and functioning. The strongest predictor of success is not a particular technique, but the quality of the relationship with the therapist.
That is why the first consultation is free: it allows you to see whether you feel sufficiently safe with me. If there is no movement after several sessions, we address this openly and, if needed, adapt the approach or I refer you elsewhere.
How long does therapy take, and how often do we meet?+
When will I notice the first changes?+
What happens in the first session?+
Is the first consultation really free?+
Is everything I say confidential?+
How is therapy different from talking to a friend?+
Do I need a referral or diagnosis?+
What if I do not know what to say?+
Can I come alone if my partner does not want to?+
Are online sessions available?+
How do I book?+
Where do sessions take place?+
What if I need help right now?+
What if the therapist is not right for me?+
Will I have to relive painful experiences?+
What if I cry or cannot find the words?+
Can I stop whenever I want?+
Why is the fee not listed on the website?+
What if I cannot attend an appointment?+
I take medication prescribed by a psychiatrist. Is therapy still worthwhile?+
Can I bring my child or the whole family to therapy?+
The first step is the shortest.
A few lines in an email are enough. We can leave the details for our conversation.
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Send an email to damjan@svetovalnica.com with a brief description of the issue and your telephone number.
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I will call you back within 48 hours to arrange an appointment.
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The first consultation is free and carries no obligation.
Vojkova 63, Ljubljana
The therapy room is on the ground floor and is accessible by public transport. Free parking is available in front of the building, so you will not need to search for a space before your appointment.
Open in Google MapsWork beyond private practice
Damjan provides volunteer therapy at the Vič Home for Older People.
Psychosocial counselling for DARS and the Student Organisation of Ljubljana.
Do you need help right now?
In an emergency, call 112. For confidential support in distress, the Samarijan and Sopotnik helpline is available 24 hours a day on 116 123.