About me

Since 1995 I am professionally working in the areas of therapy and social work. I provided therapy experiences in various clinical settings utilizing a broad range of psychotherapy methods.

My trainings are focused on family therapy, psychodrama, Gestalt, and Ericksonian Hypnoses. I also focus on innovative approaches with adolescents in wilderness therapy.

I received my education from leading experts in Germany and the USA. I enlarged my experiences through social projects in Thailand and many years in the USA. I completed my vocational trainings as a nurse and doctors assistant, hold a BA in Social Work, and a MA degree in Counseling Psychology (MFT) from Santa Clara University, CA.

I am a married woman, mother of two children (27y/20y) and live with my family in Berlin, Germany.

Work Experience

Jul 2011 – Jul 2013 Star Vista Counseling Center, San Carlos

Working with families and children

MC Nair Academy, East Palo Alto

Providing individual and group therapy to middle school students; integrating family consultation and counseling

Sep 2012 – Mar 2013 Externship at Mental Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA

6 month training in 3 modalities: strategic family therapy, Ericksonian Hypnotherapy and Hypnosis, Gestalt therapy from a systemic perspective. Learning the art and skill of doing therapy in front of the one-way-mirror.

July 2011 – Aug 2011 Second Nature Therapeutic Wilderness Program, Utah

Field experience; working with teenagers and young adults. Working with families in the field and participate in phone conferences.

Sept 2010 – July 2011 YWCA Support Network- Domestic Violence Agency

Providing individual Therapy for women and children

Facilitating a weekly support Drop- In Group for victims/survivors of Domestic Violence

Co-Facilitating a children’s support group

Feb 2011 – July 2013 Suicide and Crisis Hotline Santa Clara

Providing phone counseling/support/resources

Individual therapy for survivors of suicide

Spring quarter 2010

Winter quarter 2011

Santa Clara University

Co- leading a student process group for group therapy class

Nov 2007 – June 2008 Children and Family Services, Palo Alto

Providing individual and family counseling

Aug 2007 – June 2008 Elementary School Counseling Program PAUSD

Individual and group counseling with elementary school children, Parent consultation; Palo Alto, CA.

Jun – Aug 1997 Residential Home for Teenagers

Working in a multidisciplinary team in Heidelberg/Germany, where we created a treatment plan: Youth development activities, problem solving skill development, case management, needs assessment, after school tutoring, supervising camp activities: drama, sports, music, dance.

Jan – Jun 1997 Women’s Shelter

Temporary living place for women and their children after domestic violence or hospitalization. Facilitate group activities, weekly counseling and goal setting meetings, parenting education, living skills, career counseling- job placement, outreach counseling to schools and youth organizations for children.

Professional Training

MA of Arts in Counseling Psychology

  • Santa Clara University, CA, USA 2011
Graduate in Social Work

  • Certificate from University Darmstadt, Germany, 2000
    Study of Masters program in Social Work; final thesis: “Support system/network of schools in Palo Alto, CA” 1999.
Nurse (SRN)

  • State registered Nurse – Germany, 1985
    Trained at Nursing School, Luenen, Germany 1982 – 1985
Physician Assistant

  • Certified Physician Assistant – Germany, 1982
    Training 1980 – 1982

Publications

“Wilderness- an Intervention for Teenagers” 2006,
self published booklet; ISBN 0-9785520-0-8

“Das Pflegekinderwesen in den USA”
The foster care system in the USA; Kindeswohl 03, 2000; ISSN: 0936-4463