Counselling
Do you feel that everyday life could be better but you dont know what the problem is? Do you feel there are obstacles in your way that limit your progress? Are you anxious, restless or do you have insomnia? How about the relationship with your partner? Is conversation sparse or is it at the stage where you think about moving on?
Here, Life Counselling starts with support, encouragement and advice on how to overcome these challenges. You have the solutions to your problems within, and I will support you finding them.
When we talk, we can take the time and space to explore your problems without criticism or judgment. I am happy to help you find new perspectives, developing solutions for your concerns and recognising your gifts and strengths. Together we can identify your needs and find new purpose and joy in your life.
Counselling topics
Reorientation – decision-making: You no longer feel challenged or comfortable at work and want to change occupationally, perhaps you need new goals, or help in dealing with stress, time management, or strategies for conflict resolution.
Successful relationships: Good relationships do not function on their own, but require care and attention from everyone involved. If you feel neglected, your needs are no longer perceived, conversation and interaction become less and less, the time together loses quality or you can no longer laugh and be happy together, it makes sense to get help from outside. As an impartial counsellor, I help you to listen to, and trust your inner voice, to improve communication and to gradually move towards a resolution.
Grief counselling: We can all have experiences that leave us feeling despondent and at a loss. Everything can change from one day to the next when we are confronted with the loss of a partner, child or other family member. Not knowing what to do, sleepless nights or feelings of guilt and anger are appropriate and normal reactions. I can accompany you through the process of mourning and saying goodbye with sensitivity and help create the space in which you can express your pain and develop new perspectives. The loss of a job, health or a dream also causes grief and this requires processing in a similar way.
Self-awareness – Self-worth: Questions like Who am I? Where do I come from, what are my roots? Why am I the way I am? When are things going to get better?
We can explore the family history, recognise and work on patterns, get to the bottom of fears and insecurities, explore strengths and abilities, draw on resources, look beyond the horizon.
Abuse: You can`t find words for events from your childhood, adolescence or adult life when people came too close and made you feel uncomfortable? Did they hurt you either emotionally or physically? Are you ashamed to talk about it because you partly blame yourself for what happened? You can turn to me in confidence with these sensitive issues and we will gently address your needs at your own pace.
Counselling methods
I advise you according to the findings of systemic therapy and in a person-centred, solution-oriented way.
Throughout our life we need to interact with others such as family, a circle of friends, or workplace colleagues. People are shaped by such interaction and such mutual influence. Consequently, both the causes of problems as well as solutions can be found in these
Patterns of Behaviour
In order to track down behavioural patterns from within your family of origin, we draw up a genogram which shows where events repeat themselves and can initiate a process of change.
The System Board
A constellation of your problem or issue with figures on the family system board allows you to look at your problems from all sides. A change of perspective does you good, opens up new ways of looking at things and brings noticeable relief.
The Inner Child in us all
Issues that have accompanied you since childhood and which repeatedly trigger a reaction in you are dealt with by confronting the “inner child”. Beliefs that became fixed at a young age, such as “I can never do that, I’m too…….!” are brought to light and re-evaluated.
Beyond that, psychological counselling offers an extensive treasure trove of methods that are applied according to need. Often, the possibility to confide to a neutral person in a protected setting helps to reduce tension and provide lasting benefits.
Counselling process
Initial interview
Call or write to arrange a free appointment of around 30 minutes. This could be a phone call, a conversation via Skype, or Zoom for a first meeting.
You tell me about your concerns, your wishes and what you hope to gain from the counselling.
If we both feel that we can work together, we clarify the process of counselling and take things forward.
What happens next?
The initial counselling session then takes place online either via Skype or Zoom. This saves on travelling and has advantages in that you can be in familiar surroundings, devoting yourself to our conversation in a thoroughly relaxed way.
If we decide to meet in person, counselling rooms are available.
Sometimes it is good to meet in the open air for a walk & talk, to breathe fresh air, to feel the wind or the sun on your skin. Walking has a lot of positives and we can make use of this dynamic.
Counselling can be undertaken in English or German.