As a professional, I am dedicated to psychology - and this profession has many faces. Within my PhD studies, I am researching whether the altered state evoked by dancing can lessen physical and psychological problems - in short whether dance-trance can heal. My other professional hat lays with training - I develop, deliver and coordinate education at a multinational company. Last but definitely not least I do psychological counselling and therapy. I have been trained as a person-centered therapist and a psychodramatist, so I prefer to attend to both body and mind when trying to understand a problem or change a behaviour.

I believe that each person has the potential within to develop and become their best possible self - and I just wish to be the facilitator of this development, who secures a safe place to relax, experience, experiment and finally see something new come to life.

If you are seeking psychological counselling, feel free to contact me at szirmai dot anna at gmail dot com.

1. Where did you grow up?
Budapest - the Buda side, to be more exact.

2. What Hungarian traditions bring back fond memories of your childhood?
I have been a scout for ten years and whenever I hear the expression "Hungarian tradition", I think of those times. I think that was the best possible way to get to know our cultural heritage: by being actively involved with it, by singing, dancing, visiting villages.

3. What would you miss most if you moved away from Hungary?
The humour probably - I have no idea why Hungariany are so fond of word jokes, but they can make my day and the Hungarian language is especially fit for word jokes, because of its complexity.

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
I would start on the Buda side with the Castle district - moving on to the Pest side, whatever is around and close to the Andrassy radial avenue. This way they could end their day in any of the ruin pubs, like Szimpla Garden.

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
Túróscsusza - never managed to translate it.

6. What is never missing from your kitchen?
Curry - I am fond of Indian cuisine (though rather a fan than a master of it).

7. What is your favourite place in Hungary?
Somogy county. My Father was born there and we still visit grandparents there. The hills, the forests, the whole landscape is smoothing for my soul. Also the northern side of Lake Balaton, ("Balaton Felvidék") is an adventerous and hidden little place to fall in love with. (I didn't dare to add XIth district of Budapest where I currently live and is in my opinion the center of everything that is great in life - history, culture, nature and friends.)

8. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
I am a psychologist which already entails many different careers (for me that's training, individual therapy, research and psychodrama). But if not any of those, than probably cultural anthropologists, because I am fascinated by the overlaping, overarching symbols and rituals of the world.

9. What's a job you would definitely never want?
I am scared of blood and unable to memorize things without a reason or logical connection - so there is no medical- or law-education in my future.

10. Where did you spend your last vacation?
Croatia, island of Hvar. I have never met a Hungarian who has been to Croatia and is not in love with it.

11. Where do you hope to spend your next one?
Cycling through the Checz Republic with my favourite people.

12. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
Dancing was, is and probably will stay my love, so I am spending my free time with anything dance-related.

13. What can't you resist?
Caramel and cheese. Not necessarily together.

14. Red wine or white?
If you ask me, then red - If I look at what I had recently, then white.

15. Kolbász or szalámi?
Only kolbász, bored with salami.

16. Book or movie?
Book, then movie.

17. Morning person or night person?
Annoyingly morning person. But I found out I am not the only one, so now I have someone to spend the mornings with during summer vacations.

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?
Currently the future of my country, but I'd rather not elaborate on that.Otherwise national mental wellbeing and the treatment of psychiatric and psychological illnesses - because I can have an influence on that.

19. Buda or Pest side?
Buda. I was born here, moved to be a young adult in Pest, now more peaceful times arrived and I am back in Buda again.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
"Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today." (James Dean)