Psychotherapy

As a licensed psychological psychotherapist with a behavioral therapy orientation and many years of clinical experience, I provide professional support. I work with scientifically grounded therapeutic methods and place great importance on a trusting and respectful collaboration on equal footing. This helps you cope with current difficulties and use the skills developed in therapy for future challenges.

(Cognitive) Behavioral Therapy

"One of the cardinal features of cognitive therapy is that it stubbornly refuses to buy into your sense of worthlessness" by David D. Burns

As this quote suggests, behavioral therapy has evolved over time: from an approach strongly focused on externally observable behavior to a method that recognizes the complexity of human experience and takes into account both the individual's life history and their social context.

Modern (cognitive) behavioral therapy therefore includes individualized behavioral analyses that consider not only observable behavior but also maladaptive thought patterns, emotional responses and physical reactions. These analyses form an important basis for jointly developing therapy goals and a corresponding treatment plan, a guiding structure for therapy that can be adjusted when relevant new developments arise.

Typical elements of such a treatment plan include examining and changing entrenched, often distressing core beliefs, and strengthening skills in relaxation, emotion regulation, mindfulness, social competence and self-care. Depending on the clinical presentation, exposure to feared and avoided situations and sensations is used to support habituation and reduce anxiety. At every step, your dignity and autonomy, self-worth and individual resources remain central to our joint therapeutic work.

"I'm working for you as a therapist. But I'm not up here and you're down there. And what you're struggling with, at other times and with other areas I'm struggling with." by Stephen C. Hayes

Beyond therapeutic methods, one of the most important foundations of successful psychotherapy is the therapeutic relationship. In addition to professional expertise, my attitude and conduct as a therapist are therefore essential.

I do not primarily see "my patient," but a person who is the expert in their own life, who in some life areas has far greater competencies than I do, and who in the current situation can use my professional expertise for specific difficulties. Discretion, transparency, honesty, authenticity, appreciation and empathy are fundamental for me; humor and occasional self-irony are also part of my therapeutic style.

"Most of the work happens between sessions." (a common CBT supervision principle)

In addition to our collaboratively active and content-rich sessions, what you do between sessions is also crucial for therapeutic progress. The more often you can test and apply session content in everyday life, the more effective and sustainable therapy becomes. To support this process, I will suggest tasks between sessions that fit your current themes and insights.

Scope of Treatment

I do not categorically exclude specific diagnostic groups in my practice. At the same time, throughout my professional development I have been able to build deeper expertise in some life situations, psychological characteristics and diagnoses than in others. These include:

• Burnout, depression and dysthymia
• Trauma
• Grief
• Anxiety disorders (including social phobia, test anxiety and generalized anxiety disorder)
• Giftedness and high sensitivity
• Bullying
• Personality accentuations and personality disorders
• Difficulties after major life changes, e.g., acquired brain injury, transition to parenthood and migration
• Difficulties related to challenging family situations, including illness in relatives, family conflicts and violence
• Culturally sensitive psychotherapy, including for Muslim patients

Even if your concern is not listed above, you are very welcome to get in touch and we can clarify together whether I can support you.

Further orientation

Difference to coaching/counseling: Coaching/Counseling

Information on fees and billing: Fees