This post was created by John Quise

In recent decades, the market for psychology and self-development practices has experienced a real boom. Yoga, meditation, coaching, and dozens of author-developed schools — all of this reflects society’s growing demand for inner resilience in times of uncertainty. Yet one central question remains: which methods truly work, and which merely create the illusion of progress?

Against this backdrop, the emergence of new systems often meets with skepticism. The Deep System of Self-development (GSR), created by Dmitry Ustinov, a former programmer from Krasnoyarsk, is one of them. It promises not mere adaptation but transformation — working with the root causes of problems. In Russia, the method has already found its audience, and in recent years it has become a subject of academic interest: in 2025, HSE University and the company Brainstart (Skolkovo) published a pilot study confirming the positive impact of GSR on participants’ psycho-emotional state.

We met with Ustinov to understand how a former mathematician turned to psychology, what makes his method different from others, and what pitfalls await people on the path to self-development.

— Dmitry, how did you come to psychology, and why did you decide to develop your own method?

Since childhood, I’ve been sensitive — I felt more than I could explain. That’s why I was drawn to various practices, to psychology, to gestalt. But it didn’t become a profession — I studied applied mathematics and worked as a programmer.

Exploring the inner world was my hobby until life presented me with concrete challenges — for example, how to increase my income. Existing methods — yoga, meditation, psychology, esotericism — helped me understand what was happening, but they didn’t answer the question: “What do I do about it?”

That’s when the idea arose to create a tool that truly changes the root cause of a problem and delivers results. This is how the first Module of the GSR system appeared. At first, I applied the method to myself — and saw that it worked. The first session already helped me break through my financial ceiling. Then I tried it with other people — the results were confirmed. When the waiting list for sessions grew to six months, I realized it was time to create a course so that anyone could master the method independently.

— What are the core principles behind GSR?

First and foremost — safety and integrity. We don’t remove or add anything to a person’s inner world; we simply “bring order.” It’s like a metaphor: a wardrobe has fallen, clothes are scattered, and you keep tripping over it. A session lifts the wardrobe, puts it back in place — and life becomes easier.

The second principle is effectiveness. Each session works through a specific feeling, and the change happens immediately and permanently.

The third is depth. GSR doesn’t operate at the level of explanations or adaptation, but at the level of root causes. Most methods teach you to adjust. I believe it’s essential to change the foundation itself.

And most importantly — care for the person. We don’t retraumatize, and we don’t require extreme actions. The practice is always carried out in a calm and safe state.

— How does GSR differ from other self-development methods?

Many methods suggest adaptation: to understand the cause, accept it, and learn to live with it. But the problem itself remains. In GSR, it is resolved.

Another difference is the absence of “relapses.” There’s no need to work through the same feeling over and over again. Once it’s processed — that’s it.

And finally, the effect shows up in real life. After a session, your perspective on the situation changes — and with it, your actions. I am convinced that external change is only possible after internal change.

— What kinds of problems do people most often come with?

The two most common issues are money and relationships.

Many people want to increase their income. We have a specific framework for moving toward goals. There are cases where people have gotten out of millions in debt or multiplied their income several times over.

As for relationships, the method helps both in preserving families and in building new, healthy connections. There are stories of couples who came on the verge of breaking up — and managed to save their relationship.

— What is important for successful work with the methodology?

The key is an inner decision and a willingness to work on yourself. Simply buying a module is not enough. It’s like a gym: a membership alone won’t make your body strong.

What’s needed is practice, honesty, and responsibility. It’s helpful to keep a journal, analyze results, and follow the technique. Then, changes in real life will not take long to appear.

— What obstacles do beginners most often encounter?

The most common is a lack of self-trust: “I won’t be able to do it.” Also, the desire for quick results or the search for a “magic pill.” Sometimes, it’s about not following the technique precisely.

But these are temporary difficulties. If you keep trying and asking questions, everything becomes easier. Moreover, these very barriers can be worked through using GSR itself.

— What changes in people’s psycho-emotional state do you most often observe?

People become calmer and more resilient. Situations that once threw them off balance stop triggering them. Awareness and stress resistance increase.

With years of practice, their outlook on life itself changes: it becomes richer, more engaging, and there’s a growing desire to invest in loved ones and in oneself.

— How do you continue to develop your method?

Right now, GSR is constantly being expanded. New modules are being added, with different training formats — both online and offline. Trainings are held every two months or even more frequently.

We are also conducting scientific research. The first pilot results have confirmed our observations: the method has a positive impact on both emotional and physiological states. This is a direction we intend to keep developing.

— And finally: what mistakes do people most often make on the path of self-development?

The first mistake is expecting quick results. The second is failing to take action in real life, hoping that inner work alone will change everything.

But the biggest enemy is self-deception. When a person lacks the resource to look honestly at themselves, they end up circling around the same problems. Yet the moment there’s a readiness to face one’s true self, the path to change opens.

GSR remains a relatively young method, and research into its long-term effects is only just beginning. The first data from pilot scientific projects confirm the practice’s positive impact on emotional well-being, but larger-scale independent studies have not yet been conducted.

Nevertheless, interest in the system continues to grow steadily — first in Russia, and now beyond its borders.

The story of its creator — the transition from programmer and mathematician to developer of a psychological method — reflects a broader trend: the search for modern tools of self-knowledge and self-regulation. In this sense, GSR is less an alternative to traditional psychology than another path people choose in their effort to better understand themselves and take charge of their own lives.

This content was produced independently from the Worldcrunch editorial team.