Therapy & Counselling in English

Why do just one page on this?

I could have transferred the whole website to English as I’ve seen others do. But since Artificial Intelligence (AI) is out there, you can just translate easily by copy & paste and understand what people want you to know. I could have used AI myself to write some content on the things that I have to offer and about who I am.

Still, I figured it would be more relatable if I would just write something on my own.

So, what you get here is a shortened interpretation of the information on this website with a flavor of my style of writing in English, that could give you an impression about my ability to communicate in this language.

Yes, I looked up some of the words and how to properly phrase some of the stuff, but I did not let AI write this ;-)

Who is writing here?

The professional

I’m educated as a professional working in the field of children’s services. I have been working with children, young people, and their families for over 30 years in different fields ranging from youth and child care work to counselling parents.
I have a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and was trained as a child and youth care worker prior to that.

I found a certain challenge in counselling parents and began to train in systemically informed counselling for parents which eventually led to becoming a Systemic Family Therapist (SG certified). I was interested to get more proficient with couples and trained in Systemic Couples Therapy. Systemic (Family) Constellations became yet another fascinating way to work with human beings.
Things eventually led to a trauma-informed and trauma-sensitive work with (therapeutic) modalities like Internal Famliy Systems Therapy (IFS) and Somatic Experiencing (SE)®.

Today I’m still employed as a social worker working with children, youth and their families. In my self-employement as a healing practitioner for psychotherapy I work with couples, families and individuals as well as facilitating groups.

I adhere to the code of ethics of the following professional bodies which I’m a member of:

• Systemische Gesellschaft (SG), Berlin

• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Systemaufstellungen (DGfS), Krefeld

• Somatic Experiencing® Deutschland e. V., Essen

For more on my professional background see Über mich (About) or reach out for a conversation.

I’m constantly learning by deepening and expanding my knowledge and getting to know other helpful modalities.
I engage in peer-consultation and supervision to ensure that your needs are being met and my work is well informed and as safe as possible.

The human being

I immensely enjoy working with people as it is very rewarding to watch them get to their potential in being a more relaxed parent, being able to relate in a different way with their partner(s) or overcome past adverse childhood experiences that have had an impact on their life up until now.

I regard my clients as the experts in their lives, whereas I’m “only” accompanying them with what I have to contribute to their processes.

I’ve had my share of struggles in my life, else I wouldn’t have come to the point where I am now, offering what I’ve learned. And learn I did, as most professional helpers, not only from education, trainings, and books.

When processes or life take their toll on me I’m taking therapeutic sessions myself.

Balancing things out

As a human being I like to do things that keep me healthy and happy, like listening to music and playing some on my own.
I enjoy a good meal, I even find some time to cook now and then.

English as my second language and my motivation to dive deeper

Childhood & Youth

Very early on my mother reacted to my language-curious part and taught me some words in English and we used to have little conversations. In secondary school English would become my favourite subject and up to this day I do like reading books and watching movies in English.
Some visits to Great Britain and the United States in my teens and an extended time in the United States after finishing school helped me improve my English.

Professional

I read a lot of recommended literature for my trainings and if available I prefer the English original over the translation. What kind of falls short is the talking to people and thereby practising and staying on top of your skills.

Just recently I had the chance (and challenge of sorts) to participate in a training in Bristol (UK) for around two weeks altogether. I had a lot of fun and it worked surprisingly well to speak another language not only “in session” but in between as well.
I’ve done counselling and therapy before with people who are native speakers or use English as their second language. The people I’ve worked with so far as well as the participants and assistants of my recent training offered a lot of encouragment for my English speaking part. So I’m now choosing to be more visible using English in treatment as well.

About

(the short & selected story)