About Me
My path to Gestalt therapy was not straightforward but has taken me through many different places and experiences – some joyful, some challenging, and some deeply painful. Looking back, I see how much these experiences have shaped me, both personally and professionally.
My fascination with nature first led me to study biology, eventually completing a PhD in molecular cell biology. My work in scientific research, including two and a half years in Sweden, later brought me to Cologne, where I worked as a lab manager at a research institute.
While science taught me a great deal about the complexity of life, my own life also confronted me with experiences that could not be understood through scientific knowledge alone. Painful losses and personal crises introduced me early on to the emotional challenges of change and transformation. Like most of us, I developed different ways of coping – some helpful, others less so. One profound personal crisis eventually became a turning point in my life. It opened the door to a deeper process of self-discovery and inner growth.
Since then, mindfulness and meditation have become an important part of my life. A daily meditation practice helps me to stay grounded and connected – to myself, to others, and to the world around me. My understanding of human needs and the importance of connection in relationships has also deepened through my training in Nonviolent Communication (NVC), based on the work of Marshall Rosenberg.
My therapeutic journey began with training in Humanistic Psychotherapy, including Person-Centered Therapy, developed by Carl Rogers, as well as my first encounters with Gestalt therapy, founded by Fritz Perls. I was deeply drawn to the experiential, integrative, and holistic nature of Gestalt therapy. It resonated with the way I understand people and the process of change, while also allowing me to bring together many of the different strands of knowledge and experience I had gathered throughout my life.
This eventually led me to further training in Integrative Gestalt Therapy, completing the DVG certification as a Gestalt Counselor.
Through my work with clients, I have become increasingly aware of how important a trauma-sensitive approach can be, especially for people who have experienced trauma – whether shock trauma or trauma that has affected their development and the formation of attachment. Such experiences can have a profound and lasting impact on how we relate to ourselves, to others, and to the world around us. For this reason, I am currently deepening my knowledge and skills in this field through further training in Dialogical-Humanistic Trauma Therapy at the Munich Institute for Trauma Therapy, in collaboration with the GestaltAkademie Köln.
Today, I work as a Gestalt therapist and licensed healing practitioner for psychotherapy. My approach brings together my scientific background with a deeply human, mindful, and compassionate way of being with people.
I believe that every person carries within them a capacity for healing, growth, and change. Sometimes, we may lose touch with that capacity, especially when life has been difficult. And sometimes, having someone by our side who listens, stays present, and meets us with compassion can make it possible to take the first steps towards finding our way again.
Therapeutic Qualifications
- Currently education in Dialogic-Humanistic Trauma Therapy (MIT—Munich Institute for Trauma Therapy and GestaltAkademie Cologne)
- Licensed Healing Practitioner for Psychotherapy (2024, Cologne Public Health Office)
- Gestalt Therapy / Certified Gestalt Counselling (DVG) – Two-year training at the Eichgrund Institute for Integrative Gestalt Therapy (E.I.G.)
- Humanistic Psychotherapy – Two-year training in Person-Centered Therapy and Gestalt Therapy (Thalamus School, Essen)
- Training in Nonviolent Communication – One-year foundational training (Beate Waltrup, CNVC)
- Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) – First responder for mental health support
- Meditation Practice – Regular participation in 5-, 7-, and 10-day retreats since 2010 (Vipassana, Adyashanti)
Contact
If you would like to schedule an initial consultation or have any questions, you are warmly invited to leave me a message.
I look forward to hearing from you!
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