Welcome to my Gestalt therapy Practice in Cologne

When high expectations of yourself become a burden

Perhaps you are used to expecting a lot from yourself, taking responsibility and somehow managing even difficult situations. From the outside, things may seem to be going well – yet you notice that you are losing energy, direction or a sense of enjoyment in life.

Perhaps you often doubt yourself, find yourself caught in the same conflicts again and again, or realise that although you understand and analyse a great deal, this understanding alone does not seem to change how you feel.

Sometimes there is also a more fundamental question underneath it all:

What really matters to me – and how do I actually want to live?

In my practice for Gestalt therapy and psychological counselling in Cologne, I support people in gaining a deeper understanding of themselves and their relationships and in finding ways of living that feel more genuinely their own.

There are many different reasons for seeking therapeutic support, including:

• high expectations of yourself and the feeling of never being quite good enough
• self-doubt and difficulties with self-esteem
• stress, overwhelm and exhaustion
• difficulties recognising your own needs or setting boundaries
• recurring conflicts in relationships, family life or at work
• periods of transition or personal crisis
• questions of meaning, direction and the desire for change

You do not need to know exactly “what is wrong” or what you want to change before coming to therapy. Sometimes that uncertainty is precisely where therapy begins:

I know that something no longer feels right – but I do not yet know what needs to change.

When thinking about it is no longer enough

People who are highly reflective are often very good at observing themselves, understanding connections and looking for solutions. This can be a great strength.

And yet many people know the experience of having understood something for a long time and still finding themselves returning to the same feelings, doubts or patterns of behaviour.

Gestalt therapy therefore goes beyond thinking and analysing. Together, we also pay attention to what you are experiencing in the present moment: your feelings and needs, recurring patterns, and the ways in which you relate to yourself and to others.

The aim is not to optimise yourself further or become even better at functioning.

Instead, therapy can offer a space to discover what you need, what matters to you, and which familiar patterns may no longer fit the person you are today.

In this way, understanding can gradually open the way to change.

What matters to me in my therapeutic work

Alongside my therapeutic work, I come from a scientific and academic background. I therefore know an environment in which analytical thinking, achievement, responsibility and high expectations of oneself are often taken for granted.

In therapy, I believe in offering a relationship that is non-judgemental and does not provide ready-made answers.

Instead, I would like us to explore together, with openness and curiosity, what is happening for you:

What am I feeling? What do I need? What do I expect of myself? Which patterns keep repeating in my life – and how do I actually want to live?

There is room for uncertainty, contradictions and things that are not yet fully understood.

For me, therapy is not about moving closer to an idea of how you “should” be. It is about gaining a clearer sense of who you are and what feels right for you.

Getting to know each other

The therapeutic approach itself is not the only thing that matters for therapy to be helpful. Just as important is whether you feel comfortable with me, taken seriously and understood.

In an initial session, we can get to know each other, talk about what is currently on your mind, and explore together whether working with me feels like a good fit for you.

If you feel that this speaks to you, you are very welcome to get in touch.