Q+A

Please check out the frequently asked questions and my answers below. If you can't find what you're looking for, don't hesitate to contact me. I'm happy to help.

When can psychotherapy help me?

Do you wish for a change in your life? Are you in a difficult situation with your partner or family? Do you experience suffering that makes it difficult for you to fully live your life? I want to support you in unraveling your knot.

There can be many reasons to begin a therapy process.

The following list from the Psychotherapy Association provides a collection of points that indicate it's time to seek support.

When to Consider Psychotherapy

Unexplained Physical Symptoms: I feel sick or have pain, even though my doctor has declared me organically healthy or medical findings offer no sufficient explanation.
Reliance on Medication: For a long time, I've only been able to keep going with stimulants, tranquilizers, or sleeping pills (psychotropic drugs).
Sudden Panic/Anxiety: Without apparent reason, I get racing heart palpitations and fear that I will die.
Debilitating Anxieties: I have anxieties that burden or restrict me: e.g., fear of contact with other people, fear of authorities, fear of large open spaces, fear of confined spaces, fear of exams.
Troubling Thoughts: I am often plagued by thoughts I dare not speak to anyone about (feelings of shame and guilt, feelings of hatred, feelings of inadequacy, the feeling of being persecuted or controlled by others).
Self-Harm Tendencies: The pressure inside me increases so much that I am prone to self-harm.
Lack of Drive and Pleasure: I feel lethargic and unmotivated, exhausted, or constantly overwhelmed.
Persistent Sadness: I am often down and find no joy in life.
Loneliness and Isolation: I am sad and lonely.
Overwhelming Life Changes: I am in a stressful transitional situation (e.g., severe illness, death, unemployment, divorce, separation, accidents) that is difficult to manage.
Suicidal Thoughts: I sometimes think about commiting suicide.
Strained Relationships: I am in a relationship that is very burdensome to me.
Parental Overwhelm: I feel permanently overwhelmed by my children.
Recurring Social Difficulties: I repeatedly have major problems in contact with other people (e.g., at work, family members, school, etc.).
Addiction: I am addicted – to alcohol, drugs, food, hunger, love, gambling.
Compulsive Behaviors: I feel internally compelled to constantly think or do the same things (e.g., compulsive washing, locking doors, ruminating), although this greatly restricts my life.
Unrealized Potential: I should make better use of my abilities and don't know how.
Sexual Difficulties: I am not coping with my sexuality.
Decision Paralysis: I am afraid of making decisions, and that torments me.

For Children and Adolescents:

Behavioral or Psychosomatic Issues: My child shows behavioral problems or has psychosomatic issues.
Aggression, Withdrawal, or Social Struggles: My child often reacts aggressively or is sad and withdrawn. They have difficulty getting in touch with peers.
School-Related Difficulties: School anxiety, learning, and concentration difficulties can also be expressions of psychological problems.

What does the initial consultation look like?

In the first session, we'll focus on getting to know each other. You decide whether you're interested in pursuing therapy with me. During this session, I'll explain what to expect in psychotherapy and listen to you. This is the first step in getting to know your life and your concerns.

How do you know when it´s time to ask for support?

Being a parent means facing challenging situations right from the start. But what tells you, you are you overwhelmed enough for family therapy, parenting counseling, or learning coaching? Ultimately, you decide at what point an outside perspective would be helpful.

A good indicator that you might need support is when exhaustion can't be resolved by periods of rest. And honestly this describes the majoritiy of parents and guardians of young children or teenagers in puberty.

With my many years of experience as a counseling teacher and special education teacher, I can also advise you on questions regarding school, learning, and neurodivergence. Neurodivergence or neurodiversity describes the phenomenon that brains are organized in different ways. This makes us individuals. The term also includes ADHD, ADD, autism spectrum, developmental delays, and much more. Let´s talk about in what areas the child or family needs help and which parts of issues are actually totally normal, healthy steps in developement under different circumstances.

I am also happy to help you with questions about where to get a diagnosis, for example, if it's needed for school.

If you're unsure whether you should seek help, even if you don't have quadruplets, others seem to manage everything easier, or you can sleep for an hour every two weeks, please feel free to call me. We can then discuss what would be helpful and sensible. I allow myself to phrase this with a wink, as I often encounter the uncertainty people feel about admitting they are struggling.

Especially working with families, it often becomes clear that even shorter processes can make a big difference in quality of life.

“Being a mother feels to me like pulling a fitted sheet that's much too small over a mattress that's much too big. Some corner always comes up short.” Nora Imlau in "Bindung ohne Burnout"