Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapeutic theories and methods

I draw on different theories and methods from different therapeutic schools in my psychotherapy sessions, integrating them to form the basis for my psychotherapeutic work. Each method has its own specific advantages, and different individuals might benefit from different approaches. This is why we choose the therapeutic approach together.

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy assumes that all people learn different basic beliefs about themselves, other human beings and their environment in their individual learning history. These beliefs can be helpful or unhelpful. In the latter case, these learned beliefs can lead to the development of unfavorable behavior and psychological problems. But they can be unlearned through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and be replaced by new and more beneficial beliefs.

  • Schema Therapy: Schema therapy assumes that people can develop certain schemas early on in their individual learning history. These are persistent emotional and behavioral patterns as well as body reactions, which nearly always follow the same routine and are connected to an important biographic subjects . As an adult they can lead in specific situations to very unpleasant emotions, which are often perceived as overwhelming. At the same time, people develop specific coping strategies to cope with these unpleasant emotions, which can be helpful for a certain time period but then reach their limits. Schematherapeutic work helps you to understand and work on your biographic schemas, in order to enable yourself to develop other coping strategies. Thereby you can learn to treat your old wounds and satisfy your needs in a way, which is good for you.

  • Emotion-focussed Therapy: Emotion-focused therapy places its focus on the emergence of emotions and our ways of dealing with them. It is based on the principle that all emotions are correct, important and welcome for a psychologically healthy life. But most people learn in their individual learning history, that some emotions are not acceptable and must not be shown. This can lead to psychological problems. Through emotion-focused methods you can learn to discover your suppressed emotions, (re-)connect with them (in a protected setting) and thereby free yourself from old burdens.

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: The acceptance and commitment therapy is based on the knowledge of the cognitive behavioral therapy as well as Buddhist-philosophical traditions. It assumes that it is not always necessary to change unhelpful beliefs or thoughts, and that we can instead develop acceptance for them. This approach can enable individuals to become more relaxed in their behavior and thoughts.

  • Minduflness-Based Methods: Mindfulness-based methods can help you to spend more time in the here and now. Through these methods, you can learn to perceive your thoughts, emotions and body reactions more frequently and to come into closer contact with them. This can enable you to understand your own needs better, to treat them and yourself more carefully and to devalue yourself less.

  • Racism-critical Psychotherapy : Racism-critical psychotherapy acknowledges that people who are perceived as non-white are often subject to discrimination (everyday racism). This is taken into account in a racism-critical psychotherapy and is not ignored or made taboo. My many years of work in a contact and counseling center for refugees and migrants (Kontakt- und Beratungsstelle für Flüchtlinge und Migrant_innen e.V.) has sensitized me to the the issue of racism in therapy and counseling and shaped my approach to it.

Treatment Spectrum

I use the term disorder here in the sense that, from my perspective, psychotherapy is suitable for changing mental states which are currently putting your life into ‘disorder’. This term is explicitly not intended to be stigmatizing. My treamtent spectrum includes:

  • Depression
  • Panic disorder
  • Chronic pain
  • Phobias and anxiety disorder
  • stress-related symptoms
  • Obsessive compulsive disorder (obsessive thoughts, obsessive behavior)
  • Psychosomatic disorders
  • Sleeping disorders
  • Eating disorders
  • Posttraumatic stress disorder
  • Crises and dissatisfaction in one’s own lifestyle

If you should not find your issue on this list, please contact me anyway and we will find a common language.

Primary and further education:

  • 2014 - 2019 : Training as a psychological psychotherapist, Berliner Fortbildungsakademie für Psychotherapie, Berlin
  • 2007 – 2013: Bachelor- und Masterstudium der Psychologie an der Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
  • 2012: Needs-orientated interviewing
  • 2011: Group and conflict moderation (mediation)

Psychotherapy and Yoga

Read here, why I am convinced, that psychotherapy and yoga can complement each other in a helpful way.