How I work

My expertise encompasses Somatic Experiencing^®, EMDR, integrative Gestalt therapy, systemic and family constellations; as well as attachment psychology.

I focus on the physical and neurological processing of trauma by regulating the autonomic nervous system. In cases of shock trauma, this process can be complemented by bilateral stimulation (e.g., eye movements).

My therapeutic work is framed by an integrative and holistic approach that connects body, mind, and soul, and also addresses the healing of dysfunctional attachment patterns as well as the clarification and resolution of familial or systemic entanglements.

Holistic and Culturally Sensitive Psychotherapy

Integrative Gestalt Therapy
is a central element of my approach. It promotes the awareness and integration of emotions, thoughts, and bodily sensations, supporting clients in unfolding their potential and developing new perspectives. The therapeutic process is dialogical, creative, and resource-oriented, taking place in a respectful and open environment.

Cultural sensitivity
means honouring the diversity of life paths, values, and experiences, and tailoring therapy to the individual needs and backgrounds of each client. My practice is open to everyone—regardless of origin, gender, or religious beliefs.

Therapy in four languages
To reach as many people as possible, I offer psychotherapy in German, English, French, and Spanish.

Resource- and Body-Oriented Trauma Therapy

My main areas of focus are:

Somatic Experiencing^®: A gentle, body-based trauma therapy that helps resolve stress and trauma in the nervous system and restore natural balance.
Full Embodiment: Fostering conscious body awareness to better understand and integrate emotional and physical reactions.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): A bilaterally stimulating method for processing distressing memories and fostering new perspectives.
Resilience Building: Developing coping skills and strengthening your capacity to withstand future challenges.
Integration: Through integration work, I support clients in acknowledging traumatic experiences and incorporating them into their lives, enabling them to gain new quality of life and inner stability.

The therapeutic process takes place in a safe, appreciative setting and is guided by your individual needs and resources.

Attachment-Informed Psycho-Trauma Therapy and SAFE® Parenting Courses

My attachment-oriented approach is characterized by appreciation, empathy, and the provision of a secure framework in which new relational experiences become possible. I work with attachment dynamics in trauma therapy to foster individual strengths and support sustainable change for my clients.

SAFE® Parenting Courses

In addition to my attachment-based approach in psycho-trauma therapy, I offer attachment-promoting SAFE® courses. The SAFE® course (Secure Attachment Formation for Parents) supports expectant and new parents in building a secure bond with their child. The course provides practical guidance on topics such as sensitivity, parental competencies, and the development of a stable parent-child relationship. Parents learn to better understand their children’s needs and signals and to respond empathetically—laying a valuable foundation for healthy development and successful relationships.

Systemic and Family-Focused Therapy

A central element of my work in this area is systemic and family constellation. Through constellation work in individual sessions, relationships and dynamics within the family become visible, allowing recurring patterns and underlying motives to be recognized. My aim is to dissolve entanglements in this way and initiate positive changes in family interactions.

I complement this approach with biographical work. In a professional setting, we reflect together on your life story and formative experiences. I support you in identifying unconscious patterns, gaining new perspectives, and discovering your own strengths—for greater clarity and agency in the here and now.

Systemic and family-focused therapy helps you strengthen your relationships, overcome challenges, and foster personal development—tailored to your needs, resource-oriented, and solution-focused.

Coaching

Organizations active in International Cooperation, Organizations engaged in Development Cooperation, Organizations providing Humanitarian Aid

Support and Training for International Professionals Before, During, and After Deployment

Training, Support, and In-House Coaching for Short- and Long-Term Assignments

Consulting and Training Goals:

Motivation for the assignment
Realistic assessment of one's own potentials and limits, especially regarding intercultural challenges
Ability to manage stress
Ensuring the best possible and mutually beneficial deployment for all involved (professional, family, and partner organization)
Emotional stability during and after the assignment
Fewer difficulties with reintegration
Building Resilience
Trauma and its effects
Burnout and secondary trauma

Before Deployment

Preparation for assignment:
 I offer training sessions and group workshops on the following topics:

Cultural sensitivity
Stress management
Self-care
Trauma-sensitive approaches to working with vulnerable people

Working in a developing country is a major step outside the familiar environment of the professional and demands a high degree of flexibility and adaptability. Even for those who have undertaken this step many times, each new assignment is uncharted territory. Cultural differences, extreme climatic conditions, the complexity and richness of foreign languages, and opaque or seemingly illogical work structures are just a few of the many elements professionals face from the start of their deployment. Sooner or later, these challenges push them to their limits. Globalization should not lead to the misconception that we are all naturally interculturally competent and open-minded.

During Deployment

Emotional support and counselling throughout assignment:
I provide consultation via Skype, phone, and email, as well as in-person coaching and mediation if needed.

Work as a development cooperation professional is complex and requires considerable flexibility and proactivity both professionally and personally. Meeting these demands is not always easy. Sometimes a change of perspective is all it takes to reassess seemingly hopeless situations and find solutions. In other cases, emotional support is necessary to cope with highly stressful incidents.

Typical conflicts where I offer support include:

"I can't keep work from affecting my private life."
"The workload exceeds my capacity."
"Conflicts within the partner organization deeply affect me and drain my motivation."
"I find it very difficult to make social contacts and feel very lonely in this country."

After Returning Home

Support for processing experiences and reintegration in Germany:
I offer individual sessions and group courses.

Reintegration Challenges:
Returning home is often not as easy as expected. It requires sufficient time to integrate experiences into familiar routines and customs. Some struggle to come to terms with returning and feel alienated in their own country. Others come back deeply affected by their experiences and face new, unfamiliar conflicts within family and social circles. Often, those who stayed behind have little interest in hearing about life during the assignment and cannot imagine what it was like. This can lead to feelings of emptiness, loneliness, and lack of energy after returning home.