What is my background?
As a trauma therapist, I provide support in cases of shock trauma (after accidents etc.) and developmental trauma (e.g. due to early attachment disorders, neglect). Some people also seek more orientation after personal crises.
I have been attending relevant training and further education courses for over 20 years. Today I am a certified therapist for Somatic Experiencing (SE), the Neuro Affective Relational Model (NARM) and EMDR. As an accredited junior assistant, I also support the Somatic Experiencing training program in the context of therapeutic self-awareness. In addition, I have attended numerous (body) psychotherapy training courses. I received the state license for psychotherapeutic work (according to the Heilpraktikergesetz) from the Berlin Health Department.
Yoga and meditation help me to stay mindful and awake in contact with my patients. Presence is a key success criterion for therapeutic work. I also learned skills during my yoga teacher training that I couldn’t learn from books.
For a long time, I worked as the managing director of a medium-sized management consultancy and managed intercultural projects. I traveled to Asia, Africa, Europe and America, including crisis regions. I originally studied economics (graduated with distinction), with a focus on systemic and behavioral approaches.
What has shaped me?
My own life experiences are the most important resource: long-term friendships, coming to terms with the middle of my life and life as a father with two sons.
Working with traumatized people (Kovler Center), at Amnesty International (Chicago) or mentally ill people (L’Arche by Jean Vannier).
In my work with organizations, I have experienced how the professional environment can increase stress and trauma. There are also sick organizations! In therapy, this is important in order to differentiate between the causes and effects of symptoms (for example, chronic stress or burnout).
What approach am I taking?
It is important to me to consider the body, feelings, thoughts and behavioral patterns in the healing process. Therefore, signals from the body (body intelligence) or emotional feedback, among other things, are actively explored. “Just talking doesn’t help!” was also the apt title of a psychotherapeutic congress. The integrated approach has been confirmed by neuroscience. A literature tip by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk can be found at the bottom of this page.
Activation of resources through, among other things, memories of helpful people, situations or physical sensations. It helps to become aware of your own strengths (again). An excessive focus on deficits and symptoms can lead to a “problem trance” (G. Schmidt). The question of the desired state is therefore of great importance.
Process orientation: There is no rigid procedural concept (manual with checklists and “tools”). Instead, my approach follows the goals and individual possibilities of the client. One exception is the EMDR protocol, which follows a predefined scheme. EMDR was recognized by the World Health Organization in 2013 as an “extremely effective method” for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Further education and training in psychotherapy, bodywork and mindfulness:
1986 Gestalt Workshop (Giessen)
1992 Training ACEM Meditation (Oslo)
1993-1996 Own depth psychology-oriented psychotherapy (Berlin)
1997-1999 Systemic leadership and consulting
2005 Shiatsu Training (Shendo, Berlin)
2007 Yoga teacher training (Shivananda Yoga) – bodywork, breathing techniques, yoga philosophy and psychology
2005-2009 Bodywork, Gestalt work, holotropic breathing, sexuality; assistance (Ilka Stoedtner and others)
2007-2008 Reichian work and bioenergetics (Alice Moll, Berlin)
2008 Seminar “Path of Love” (UTA institute Cologne)
2008 Workshop Psychology and Spirituality (Urs Bütikofer)
2007-2008 Holotropic Breathing
2008 Hoffman Quadrinity Process
2009 Supervision course in process-oriented psychology (Urs Bütikofer)
2009 “Making Love” and “Slow Sex” (Diana Richardson)
2009 – 2019 Regular Vipassana retreats (10 hours of mediation daily for 10 days) and Vipassana for Executives
2010 The Universal Experience (Alan Lowen)
2011-2013 Training series of the Learning Love Institute. Humanistic approach by Amana and Krish Trobe PhD (Harvard University)
2017-2019 Somatic Experiencing (SE) certification (training course, supervision, self-awareness, intervision)
2020 – 2022 Advanced training Arche Medica Berlin, state alternative practitioner examination (Berlin health authority)
2020 Advanced training “Polyvagal theory for clinicians” with Dana Deb
2021 Learning Love Institute Teachers Training for therapists
2021-2023 Supervision by Krish Trobe PhD
2022 Psychotherapists’ conference “Just talking doesn’t help …”
2022 and 2023 Further training with Prof. Dr. Ulfried Geuter, Body Psychotherapy (Berlin)
2022-2023 Active member US Association for Body Psychotherapy, introduction of quality standards
2024-2026 Certification NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM); (training course, supervision, self-awareness, intervision)
2024-2025 Support for research project at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (trauma-sensitive organizations)
2025 Publication on trauma-sensitive team and organizational development (link to article)
2025 Certification as EMDR therapist (Institut Mahr, Berlin), course recognized by VDH
From 11/25 I will be an intern as part of the Somatic Experiencing (SE) training (accredited junior assistant)
Ongoing intervision, supervision and self-awareness for psychotherapeutic work
As a certified SE user, active member of Somatic Experiencing e.V.