Evidence over intuition
Every technique we teach is backed by research in psychology and communication studies. We don't rely on vague instincts. If a method can't be explained and replicated, we don't include it in our program.
We help coaches understand what words can't say
Nonverbal signals shape every coaching conversation. A client's posture, breathing pattern, or micro-expression often reveals what they're not ready to articulate. We've spent years learning how to read these signals and use them ethically.
Yarnkul started in 2021 when three practitioners realized they were teaching the same thing in different cities. We combined our methods, tested them with dozens of coaches, and built a program that works in real sessions.
How we got here
Back in 2019, I was running coaching sessions that felt incomplete. Clients would say one thing, but their body language told a different story. I'd notice tension in their shoulders or a shift in breathing, but I didn't have a reliable framework to work with these signals.
Around the same time, two colleagues in Lviv and Odesa were wrestling with the same problem. We met at a professional development workshop, compared notes, and realized we'd each developed complementary approaches. One focused on micro-expressions, another on spatial dynamics, and I'd been working with vocal tone patterns.
We spent six months integrating our methods, then tested the combined approach with 38 coaches. The feedback was clear: they could read their clients more accurately and intervene at better moments.
That became the foundation of Yarnkul. We're not trying to replace verbal coaching skills. We're adding a layer that makes existing skills more effective. Every technique we teach has been used in actual sessions, often hundreds of times.
Today we work with coaches across Ukraine, running workshops and one-on-one training. The methods keep evolving as we learn from each cohort, but the core principle stays the same: understand the whole message, not just the words.
What guides our work
Ethics first
Reading nonverbal signals gives you access to information clients might not be ready to share. We spend significant time on boundaries, consent, and responsible use. Manipulation has no place in coaching.
Practice-based learning
Theory alone doesn't change how you coach. Our workshops include extensive practice with video analysis, role-playing, and supervised sessions. You leave with skills you can use immediately, not just concepts to think about.
The people behind the program
Lesia Kovalenko
Founder, Nonverbal Analysis
Spent eight years studying micro-expressions and facial coding before moving into coaching. Worked with over 200 coaches to refine observation techniques. Still runs a small private practice in Kyiv.
Dmytro Shevchuk
Co-founder, Spatial Dynamics
Background in theater direction before transitioning to coaching in 2017. Specializes in how physical space affects client comfort and disclosure. Develops most of our workshop exercises.
Oksana Petrenko
Co-founder, Vocal Patterns
Trained as a speech therapist, then moved into executive coaching. Focuses on how vocal tone, pace, and volume reveal emotional states. Handles all our one-on-one training programs.