Violeta Teslev-Klett, LCSW, Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy

09/16/2025

11/05/2024

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11/05/2024

🎨 "Orphaned" by Nikolay Kasatkin (1891)

🏛️ Location: Private Collection

🔍 The Story Behind the Artwork: Painted in 1891 by Russian artist Nikolay Kasatkin, Orphaned is a somber portrayal of two children grieving by a grave, likely that of a parent. Kasatkin, known for his dedication to depicting the struggles of the poor and working class, was a member of the Peredvizhniki (Wanderers), a group of artists focused on social realism. This piece reflects the harsh realities faced by orphaned children in rural Russia, capturing their isolation in a vast, barren landscape. The muted colors and desolate scenery underscore the profound sense of loss and abandonment, inviting viewers to reflect on themes of mortality, poverty, and resilience.

🖼️ Symbolism and Details: The barren, colorless landscape and the children’s tattered clothes signify the hardships and deprivation of rural life in 19th-century Russia. The simple wooden crosses and absence of adult figures amplify the children’s vulnerability and solitude. The boy kneels, head bowed, while the younger child stands behind, evoking a quiet, understated grief. This restrained display of sorrow, typical of Kasatkin’s work, focuses on the dignity and endurance of ordinary people amidst hardship.

🤔 Why It Matters Today: Orphaned remains relevant as a powerful depiction of childhood loss and the struggles of the underprivileged. Kasatkin’s commitment to social realism draws attention to the neglected and marginalized, resonating with contemporary audiences who grapple with similar issues of poverty and social inequality. The painting encourages empathy and a deeper understanding of the resilience required to endure loss, particularly for children in vulnerable circumstances.

09/06/2024

Actually there are two [psychoanalytic] frames: one that is suggested… and the other—that of the “ghost world” on which the patient (and the therapist) projects.

Lazar, Rina (2018) We Were the Future. Psychoanalytic Dialogues 28:512-519

04/06/2020

When a child is struggling, the whole family is affected. I want to help you make good decisions for your kids and navigate the challenges of parenting, especially during these difficult times.
I will help your child/adolescent understand and manage feelings more effectively; recognize and change poor coping strategies; and re-examine negative feelings about himself and others. The goal of treatment is not simply to overcome immediate troubles but to help each child or adolescent reach his or her full potential in all areas of life and to build a deep, long-lasting strength and resilience, to strengthen and restore the relationship between the child and parents to a more normal, loving and mutually gratifying one.

This is a good source for parents during these times and not only:

Finding Clarity in an Age of Too Much Information

03/27/2020

I was thinking today that we hear a lot these days about social isolation and being quarantined used interchangeably, however those two are not the same. There is an important difference between isolating ourselves in a way of preventing and protecting and feeling disconnected. We can help that feeling by doing a few simple things consistently:

1 - Establish routines at home. Your home now is your office, your gym and your entertainment. Try to designate to each activity a specific area. Listen to your body and its needs: food and sleep.

2 - You can reorganize and recreate new social routines using technological and virtual tools. Share a coffee with a friend via video chats.

3 - Pick up a hobby online. In order to stay connected with others try taking up a group hobby online: bookclubs, painting, singing etc.

4 - Empathy. It you see someone being affected by the pandemic emotionally, try to listen, try to understand how they feel, try to connect with their emotions helping them to feel that they are not alone.

5 - Synchronizing apps. Maybe you already heard that there are some apps like Netflix, Spotify allow multiple users to see and hear the same thing at the same time?

STAY SAFE BUT DON'T FEEL DISCONNECTED. REACH OUT. THERE IS A LOT OF SUPPORT OUT THERE.

03/27/2020

A few more advices how not to confuse anxiety symptoms with COVID-19 symptoms

Behavioural psychologist Jo Hemmings () talks through how to cope with feelings of general anxiety, health anxiety and fear of isolation as th...