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What sets me apart

Sound Professional Knowledge

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I studied psychology directly after finishing high school without any waiting period. I am certified in various therapeutic approaches and only use methods whose efficacy I can explain based on their effects on the brain and nervous system. I have been deeply engaged in the fascinating and vast field of mental health for 20 years. Continuous advanced training ensures that my therapeutic methods remain at the cutting edge of current knowledge. Psychoeducation is a key element throughout my work—you should be able to understand exactly what is happening within your psyche and your inner world. Knowledge is empowerment.

Self-help Tools

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With me, you will learn a variety of tools that enable you to help yourself and regulate your emotions. This empowers you to become self-efficacious and autonomous. Since every person is unique, you will discover techniques from widely differing modalities, allowing you to choose exactly what works best for you. Being able to care for yourself when you are struggling is empowerment!

Freedom of Therapeutic Methods

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As an alternative practitioner for psychotherapy running a private practice, I am free to choose my own therapeutic methods. I am not restricted to a single modality or bound by the strict coverage catalogues of statutory health insurance companies. Instead, I work integratively, combining different approaches in a way that is exactly right for you at any given moment.

Privacy & Confidentiality

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Since I bill you privately, no insurance company or employer will ever know that you are seeking support. Your visits with me will not be recorded in any official medical file. This can be highly relevant for future civil service appointments (Verbeamtung) or promotion procedures. As an alternative practitioner for psychotherapy, I am, of course, bound by strict professional confidentiality.

Please clarify independently whether your private health insurance or supplementary insurance policy will cover any of the costs.

Short-Term Appointments

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With me, you won’t encounter months-of-waiting lists. As a rule, I can offer you an appointment within two weeks. Furthermore, following our initial consultation, there is no additional waiting period for medical reports or assessments, which would normally be required for cost coverage by statutory health insurance companies. Appointments are arranged individually with you, as frequently as is precisely right for your current situation.

My Intuition

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As an intuitively perceptive person, I offer you the support of my sensitive awareness. This allows us to uncover the underlying factors of your concerns more quickly and clearly. If you are highly perceptive and sensitive as well, I can show you how to live well and stably with your sensitivity—without judging or devaluing yourself, but instead learning to celebrate it as a true strength!

Nervous System Regulation

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With me, coaching and therapy are not just about talking, which can often reinforce distressing memories without offering a solution. Instead, we work directly with your nervous system to de-stress the corresponding response. This allows what we process in therapy to become deeply anchored in your body.

Many Years of Self-Experience

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In addition to sound professional knowledge, the quality of a guide is determined by the inner work they have done on their own issues. As part of my training, I have completed many hours of self-experience and personal therapy in the modalities I offer. After all, you can only guide someone as far as you have gone yourself.

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Honoring All of Your Parts

I operate on the premise that everyone's psyche consists of various parts. This is both positive and healthy. In psychotherapy, keeping all these parts in view—especially those that may not want any change at all, or are even afraid of it—is a true game-changer. This particularly applies to people for whom other therapeutic methods haven’t quite worked, even if they don't know why. With me, ALL of your parts are welcome! Including the skeptical ones, the anxious ones, those that cannot or do not want to trust, and even those that have absolutely no desire for coaching.

No New Age Practices

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Particularly in the alternative coaching and psychotherapy scene, an increasing interest in spirituality has been observable in recent years. While spirituality represents a highly valuable resource—especially for trauma survivors—there is often a rampant proliferation of esoteric practices adopted from the New Age movement into psychotherapy. Within this trend, there is certainly harmful and destructive spirituality! In my work, I distance myself from esoteric practices, making my services particularly well-suited for religious and faith-based individuals.

My qualifications (selection)

-Psychology studies at the University of Wuppertal

-certified alternative practitioner for psychotherapy

(German: Heilpraktikerin für Psychotherapie)

-certified therapist for Integrative Psychotherapy (IPT) at the HPA

-certified EMDR-therapist

-certified IFS-therapist (Prof. Richard Schwartz)

-Further training with Dr. Klinghardt in MFT (mental field techniques) and PK (psychokinesiology)

-Master seminars at the IFS Institute in Canada, including on complex trauma and dissociation (Joanne Twombly), IFS and the eating system (Kim Daniels), IFS for shame and guilt (Martha Sweezy)

-Seminars on spirituality and IFS with Richard Schwartz and Robert Falconer (UBs and Guides, Past Lives, Trauma Healing through Spiritual Connection)

-Seminars with Kay Gardner on legacy burdens

Portrait photo of Maria Winkler, state-certified alternative practitioner for psychotherapy in Wuppertal, featured on the website subpage detailing her qualifications and specializations in trauma therapy.

Disclaimer:

I offer no promise of healing!