Counselling and psychotherapy are always connected with growth and change, with the wish to feel, think, behave or exist in a different way.
I have chosen the pomegranate as my logo because of its complex beauty and multicultural character and because it is a symbol of change.
I am trained in clinical psychology, systemic therapy and counselling. Below are the most important principles I rely on as a therapist:
Counselling
Counselling is suitable for clients who are able to lead their daily lives but are facing problems which they find difficult to cope with. Counselling works on the basis of trust, acceptance and confidentiality. The relationship between the counsellor and the client is of crucial importance.
Integrative approach
Integrative counselling draws on techniques from different types of counselling and therapy to tailor a highly personalized approach. For example, stress management techniques and well defined cognitive-behavioural exercises can be combined with other therapy forms (including the approaches below) to optimize the short and long term effects of counselling. The use of the different psychotherapy elements always happens in a transparent way and in agreement with you as a client.
Behavioural Medicine and Health Psychology
My identity as a therapist is deeply rooted in my academic background, including my previous work as a university researcher and teacher at a medical university in the fields of behavioural medicine and health psychology. This background has taught me how important it is to develop healthy coping strategies, to recognise and reduce unhealthy ones, and to have practical tools to prevent or manage the physical and emotional consequences of stress.
It has also shaped my understanding of the body and mind as an inseparable whole, continuously influencing one another.
Humanistic psychology
Humanistic psychologists encourage people to think about their feelings and to take responsibility for their thoughts and actions. The emphasis is on the individual as a whole, self-development and achieving the highest potential rather than on problematic behaviour. It is based on the view that everyone has the capacity and desire for personal growth, given the right conditions.
Systemic thinking and therapy
Systemic thinking is about seeing things in interactions: if we do something, people around us will react, which -in turn- has an effect on us. Systemic therapy looks to recognise unhealthy patterns in your relationships and tries to identify ways to make them more constructive. To achieve/learn new ways of communication is crucially important in this process.
Existential psychotherapy
Existential psychotherapy explores the feelings about life's ultimate concerns, such as the inevitability of death, freedom and its responsibilities, isolation, and meaninglessness. Counselling can help you confront your anxieties and negative thoughts concerning existential issues, enabling you to make decisions about how to deal with life problems in your own way.