psychological counselling
When can psychological counselling be beneficial?
You are a relative of someone with a pain disorder, a mental health condition, or a neurological disorder, and you would like a better understanding of the diagnosis, support in coping with the illness, and a more harmonious life together. You can find more details here.
You are in a challenging life situation and would like to develop new coping strategies to emerge stronger.
You have experienced a loss and wish for gentle support in your grief.
You are facing a major change or are already in a period of transition and are looking for more courage and confidence.
You want to learn how to set boundaries with others, strengthen your self-esteem and improve your resilience.
You feel overwhelmed, tend to procrastinate, and wish for more clarity, order, and structure.
You want to improve your mental health and reduce stress, recognise signs of exhaustion earlier and live more mindfully.
You want to develop and maintain a healthier lifestyle, e.g. eating healthier, exercising more, sleeping better, or living in accordance with your menstrual cycle.
What do I offer?
I offer an open and empathetic ear as well as a space for self-reflection and self-discovery. Based on my expertise in psychology and neuroscience, as well as my professional experience as a clinical neuropsychologist, I will explain the underlying neurobiological and psychological mechanisms in an understandable way, advise you on your options, and work with you to develop resources that can help you overcome challenges and emerge stronger. I also offer guidance on communication and strengthening relationships in interpersonal conflicts. Alongside professional recommendations, my approach always focuses on promoting self-care and self-efficacy. If this resonates with you and your needs, I would be happy to arrange a free introductory call. I look forward to hearing from you!
Some issues benefit from a combination of psychological counselling and systemic coaching (for example, in cases of severe stress, it can be helpful to supplement stress management recommendations with coaching tools for greater structure and clarity). In our introductory call, we will discuss together which approach best suits your needs. During our sessions, I will be transparent about when I am acting as a psychological counsellor and when as a coach.
It is very important to me to emphasise that psychological counselling cannot replace psychotherapy. I also do not make diagnoses. Since it is easy to lose track of things with the abundance of mental health support services available, I recommend reading my short guide to help you navigate the mental health jungle.
How I work
1. Empathetic,
appreciative & authentic communication
2. Science-based yet understandable explanations
3. Advice individually tailored to your personal situation
My specialisation: psychological counselling for relatives of patients with chronic pain, neurological or mental illness
Accompanying a person with chronic pain, mental or neurological illness can, next to many beautiful shared moments, also trigger feelings of helplessness and lead to reaching one's own limits.
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How can I cope with the diagnosis and the changes that have come with it?
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What happens in the brain with this disease?
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What are the typical symptoms?
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What psychological mechanisms might be behind this?
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How can I be there for my partner/friend/colleague/family member without losing myself? How can I offer support while also setting boundaries and taking care of myself?
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How can I improve my communication with my loved one?
These and many other questions concern family members, for example, of dementia patients. Dementia, in particular, can place an enormous burden on family systems, accompanied by gradual changes and many small goodbyes. Supporting family members is therefore a cause close to my heart, having worked as a clinical neuropsychologist for over two and a half years.
For many illnesses, including dementia, there are free local information services and support groups available (e.g., through the German Alzheimer's Association). However, if you would like individual advice tailored to your specific family situation, I would be happy to arrange a free introductory call.
Navigating the Mental Health Jungle
The jungle of mental health support services can be quite overwhelming. Who should you contact for which issue? How do you recognise reputable services? Here you will find a short guide to help you navigate this.