Julia Bykova, MS

Julia Bykova holds a Master of Science in Psychology from Kyiv International University, with her graduate education evaluated by WES as equivalent to a U.S. master’s degree. She brings more than 20 years of experience in psychology, child development, parent education, behavioral support, and family services. Her background includes working as a psychologist and parent educator, owning and directing a childcare and learning center, and working as an Early Intervention Child Development Specialist supporting children with developmental delays and their families. She is currently pursuing professional counseling licensure in New Jersey.

Throughout her career, Julia has worked closely with children, young people, and parents navigating developmental, behavioral, emotional, and relational challenges. She is especially passionate about emotional regulation, parent-child relationships, family dynamics, developmental differences, communication, resilience, and helping young people build stronger coping and life skills. She also has experience supporting families navigating ADHD, autism, emotional dysregulation, and challenges related to technology and excessive screen use.

Julia’s approach is integrative, strengths-based, and person-centered, drawing from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), motivational interviewing, mindfulness, attachment theory, family systems principles, trauma-informed care, and developmental psychology. She brings warmth, curiosity, patience, and a nonjudgmental presence to her work, focusing on understanding the person behind the behavior. With young people, she prioritizes building trust and helping them develop greater self-awareness, recognize their strengths, and learn practical skills they can use in everyday life.

Julia also values working collaboratively with parents to understand the developmental and emotional needs underlying their child’s behavior. She helps families recognize patterns, strengthen communication and connection, and develop realistic strategies around boundaries, routines, and emotional regulation. Wonder’s family-centered approach strongly resonates with Julia because it considers the young person within the context of their relationships, environment, development, and family system rather than viewing challenges in isolation.

Outside of work, Julia is a mother of two and loves spending time outdoors, including hiking, biking, paddleboarding, camping, going to the beach, and discovering new places. She also has a strong interest in psychology, mindfulness, personal growth, and human relationships. Julia believes that a diagnosis or difficult season never defines a young person or family, and she strives to help clients recognize their strengths, possibilities, and capacity for meaningful change.