Hi, I’m Max, the co-founder of Praus and a lifelong advocate for emotional well-being and personal transformation.

I spent my childhood on the ancient island of Cyprus, surrounded by history, myth, and a vibrant tapestry of cultures. That early experience of living between worlds sparked a curiosity that has carried me across continents and through countless perspectives, always searching for wisdom about what it means to live well and to grow stronger through life’s challenges.

Empowering others is my passion and my purpose. Through Praus, I blend evidence-based practices like CBT and DBT with the enduring wisdom of Christianity, Eastern philosophies, and the insights of psychology’s great thinkers. My hope is to help you discover your own inner strength and navigate the complexities of life with resilience, compassion, and authenticity.

I believe deeply in radical acceptance—the art of embracing what we cannot change, while courageously working to transform what we can. I also believe in self-actualization: that each of us is both who we are now and who we are becoming, and that the journey between the two is where meaning is found.

I’m inspired by Marsha Linehan’s insight: “We can’t think ourselves into new ways of acting, only act ourselves into new ways of thinking.” Lasting change, I’ve found, comes not just from new ideas, but from new actions—one step at a time.

My professional path includes family-based therapy for nonprofits and coordinating resources for those in need, always with the goal of helping people tap into their own capacity for growth and contribution. My academic background is in psychology, and my work is grounded in the belief that giving back and empowering others is essential to fulfillment and happiness.

Rather than focusing on division or blame, I believe our greatest progress comes from building inner strength and using that strength to support and uplift those around us. When we empower ourselves, we create the foundation to empower others—and together, we can foster a more compassionate and flourishing community.

Let’s grow stronger, together.

~ Max