Conversations with Ilona Kharlamova

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ilona Kharlamova.

Hi Ilona, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Thirteen years ago, I moved to the United States from Ukraine. It was a major life transition — a new country, a new language, and a completely different culture — and I had to rebuild both my personal and professional life from the ground up.

I have always felt a natural connection to children and to psychology, although for a long time I never considered it as my future profession. However, the support and belief of one very close person in my life encouraged me to make this choice — a decision that ultimately changed everything for me.

Over time, this path became not only a personal challenge, but also the foundation of my professional identity. I pursued education and hands-on training in child psychology, and today I work as a child psychologist at “Ymka Child Development Center”, supporting children and families with anxiety, communication difficulties, emotional regulation, and adaptation challenges.

Through my work with children — especially those from immigrant families — I clearly saw how often children struggle not because they don’t want to communicate, but because they don’t yet have the tools to express their feelings and needs.

This insight became the starting point for KidsSpeak, a project we are launching together with my partner, Ekaterina.

KidsSpeak is a system of communication cards designed to help children express their emotions, needs, and internal states in a safe and accessible way, even when words are not enough. The project combines my professional experience as a child psychologist with a shared vision that Ekaterina and I hold: creating practical, visual, and emotionally supportive tools for children and families.

Today, I am at a point where my immigrant journey, my clinical practice, and my entrepreneurial work have come together with one clear purpose — this is no longer just a profession for me, but a true calling and a meaningful way to support children and families in real life.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely not been a completely smooth road.

One of the biggest challenges was starting my professional path as an immigrant. Moving to the U.S. meant adapting to a new language, a new system, and different professional standards, while at the same time building credibility and trust from scratch. That process required patience, resilience, and a willingness to continuously learn and adapt.

Professionally, working in child psychology also comes with emotional challenges. Supporting children and families through anxiety, trauma, migration, and developmental difficulties requires not only clinical knowledge, but strong emotional boundaries and self-regulation. Learning how to sustain myself in this work long-term was an important part of my growth.

When it comes to building KidsSpeak, one of the main challenges has been translating a clinical idea into a practical, scalable product. Turning real therapeutic needs into something simple, accessible, and useful for families and professionals required many iterations, testing, and thoughtful collaboration between psychology and product development.

At the same time, these challenges shaped both my professional identity and the project itself. They taught me flexibility, clarity of vision, and the importance of creating solutions that are grounded in real experience rather than theory alone.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a child psychologist working with emotional regulation, anxiety, communication difficulties, and adaptation challenges in children. In my practice, I focus on understanding the underlying causes of behavior and working with the family as a whole.

I work at “Ymka Child Development Center” and am also a co-founder of KidsSpeak, a project I develop together with my partner, Ekaterina. KidsSpeak grew out of real clinical practice and is designed to help children express their feelings and needs through simple visual tools.

What distinguishes my work is a practical, thoughtful approach combined with both professional experience and a personal understanding of the adaptation challenges children and families face in new environments.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that meaningful progress happens when you stay patient, consistent, and grounded in real needs rather than quick results.

In my work with children and families, I’ve seen that lasting change comes from small, thoughtful steps and from truly listening — both to children and to their environment. This applies equally to clinical work and to building projects like KidsSpeak.

I’ve also learned that resilience, openness to learning, and the ability to adapt are essential — especially when working across cultures, systems, and life transitions.

Pricing:

• The KidsSpeak communication card sets are offered as a standalone product for families and professionals
• Individual sessions and family-based support are available through Ymka Child Development Center

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.instagram.com/ilona_on_mind?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kidsspeak_official?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/listing/4442509800/?ref=share_ios_native_control