Psychodynamic psychotherapy

Psychodynamic psychotherapy is not merely about treating individual symptoms — it aims at a deeper understanding of the psychological backgrounds of mental distress. Current problems are often connected to earlier experiences, inner conflicts and recurring relational and experiential patterns that continue to affect the present.

For me, psychotherapy therefore means working together to clarify which patterns have developed in a person's life, why they repeat themselves in the here and now, and how they influence current experience and behaviour. The past is not the goal of therapy but a key to understanding the present.

The aim is to make unconscious conflicts more conscious, to recognise recurring patterns, and thereby to gain greater inner freedom and better coping strategies in everyday life. I accompany you in this process with empathy and patience in individual sessions, typically 50 minutes once a week.

In my psychotherapeutic work I draw, among other approaches, on conflict- and structure-oriented psychotherapy following Rudolf and on psychodynamic diagnostics and treatment planning according to OPD-3. At the same time, I hold the view that psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural, humanistic and systemic perspectives can meaningfully complement each other in many areas without abandoning the psychodynamic core of treatment (Rudolf, 2014, 2020; Arbeitskreis OPD, 2024; Wöller & Kruse, 2018).

Treatment focus areas

I treat, among others, the following conditions and constellations of symptoms:

Diagnostics as part of treatment

A particular focus of my practice lies in thorough diagnostic assessment. Especially with more complex presentations, long-standing problems or unclear courses, it is important to examine symptoms in a differentiated way and to avoid premature oversimplification.

This applies in particular to questions such as:

• ADHD in adulthood
• Personality assessment
• Complex clinical presentations
• Differential-diagnostic classification

Further information can be found on the ADHD & Diagnostics page.

Mindfulness training in my psychotherapy practice

Depending on the presenting issue, mindfulness exercises and breathing meditation can be a meaningful complement. Mindfulness-based approaches have become an established part of the methodological repertoire in many areas of Western psychotherapy, even though they do not belong to the classical core of guideline-based psychodynamic psychotherapy within the statutory health-insurance system. The scientific evidence is particularly strong for depression, anxiety, stress and relapse prevention; positive findings also exist for attention, cognitive functions and certain aspects of self-regulation. In my practice, such exercises may be recommended alongside psychodynamic psychotherapy and — depending on the treatment framework — integrated directly into therapy. In private health insurance, psychodynamic work can often be combined more flexibly with other evidence-based approaches, including formal mindfulness exercises.

Scientific studies and reviews on the efficacy of mindfulness for various mental disorders can be found in, among others: Haller, Breilmann, Schröter, Dobos, & Cramer, 2021; Hofmann & Gómez, 2017; Hofmann, Sawyer, Witt, & Oh, 2010; Jansen, Gleeson, Bendall, Rice, & Alvarez-Jimenez, 2020; Kim & Jung, 2025; Kraemer, Luberto, Hall, Ngo, & Yeh, 2020; Nandarathana & Ranjan, 2024; Zainal & Newman, 2024.

Fees and billing

Psychotherapy in my practice can be covered by statutory health insurance, private health insurance or on a self-pay basis. For persons with statutory health insurance there are no costs.

For privately insured patients and self-payers, I bill psychotherapeutic services on the basis of the German fee schedule for psychotherapists (GOP/GOÄ).

Psychotherapy

* An initial consultation with comprehensive diagnostics in my practice includes two sessions as standard plus the administration of at least three psychological questionnaires.

For private health insurance, the level of reimbursement depends on the individual tariff. Any difference between the reimbursement and the invoiced amount is to be borne by the patient.

Further information on fees in my private practice can be found here: Fee information (PDF)

Coaching / counselling

Patient information on the treatment process

Further information on the course of psychotherapy, organisational questions and practical arrangements can be found on the Patient information page.

Further information for patients

Reliable information about psychotherapy, finding a therapist and crisis or emergency services can be found at the following links:

• About psychotherapy – Basic information on psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic professions
• How can I find a therapist? – Guidance on finding psychotherapy practices, appointment services and private practices
• In an emergency – Overview of emergency and crisis services, including 112, 110 and 116117
• Further information for clients and patients – Materials and guides from the BDP, including on coaching, crises and psychological counselling