My stance
Psychotherapy is peace work
for me.
For me, trauma therapy means understanding and breaking cycles of violence by viewing children and adolescents not through a deficit-oriented lens, but through a stressor- and development-based lens – with respect for the often creative way in which they and often their families have tried to survive under difficult conditions.
My motto: Trust the Process.
The idea of peace as
Initial situation
Even as a teenager, I was involved in youth work and, after graduating from high school, completed a peace service with Alaska Children's Services in Anchorage. Following this, I studied special education alongside human medicine at the University of Cologne and simultaneously worked with refugee children and on a ward for people with HIV – experiences that profoundly shaped my perspective on trauma, exclusion, and social responsibility.
As a medical student in the 1990s, I completed a clinical rotation in the USA at facilities for traumatized individuals, where I had the privilege of learning from figures such as Sandra Bloom and Bessel van der Kolk. My work with the Working Group for Intergenerational Consequences of the Holocaust (PAKH) deepened my interest in the political, social, and structural effects of trauma. Through the mentorship of Vamik Volkan, my understanding of group psychological processes and their influence on inner and outer peace expanded. In addition to these activities, I am a co-developer of the international online course: Medical Peace Work .
Vita
Professional background
I am a board-certified specialist in child and adolescent psychiatry , psychosomatics and psychotherapy, as well as certified in special psychotrauma therapy with children and adolescents (DeGPT), addiction and mental health in complex emergencies (LSHTM, London) and as an EMDR KJ trainer (EMDR Europe).
I completed my depth psychological and psychotherapeutic training at the Tavistock Institute in London, as well as at Stellenbosch University in South Africa and at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) .
After my studies, I worked in various countries affected by emotional trauma, including South Africa and Kosovo.
From 2008 to 2023 I worked as a senior physician at various clinics in Northern Germany, and my stressor-based approach as well as my trauma therapy skills shaped my work in outpatient, (partial) inpatient and acute inpatient settings.
For many years, I was the senior physician in charge of the trauma unit of the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), and together with the Institute of Legal Medicine, I established the Children's KOMPT unit (now Childhood House Hamburg). My responsibilities also included managing the outpatient clinic for refugee children and their families. The focus of my work was primarily on interdisciplinary collaboration at the UKE and the development of a structured, networked trauma therapy system in Hamburg for the benefit of children and families affected by violence.
I have been able to apply my skills as a certified EMDR therapist and trainer in various clinical contexts – including the integration of EMDR into the concept of the addiction day clinic for adolescents at the UKE, as well as into the care of complexly traumatized patients on the children's and acute wards of the Jule specialist clinic in Lübeck or the Psychiatric Clinic Lüneburg.
These many years of practical experience continue to shape and underpin my seminars, training courses and further education programs to this day.
In 2023, I received an offer to head the psychosocial and medical component of the EU research project PROMISE Elpis at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. The project aimed to develop strategies for the care of children and adolescents affected by technology-based sexualized violence , particularly within the context of Childhood Houses and Barnahus structures. We successfully completed the project in autumn 2025.
Following this, I accepted an invitation from Saarland University Hospital and have been working there as a research associate at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy since November 2025. At the same time, I decided to reduce my clinical work in favor of KST-Traumahilfe (KST Trauma Support ). However, since I am convinced that good teaching needs a practical foundation, I continue to work as a trauma therapist within the framework of the "Rapid Intervention" program and as a supervisor.
Since 2025
Since November 2025, I have been pleased to have a part-time contract with Saarland University Hospital as a research associate. My area of expertise is trauma therapy, child protection, and the Childhood House.
Since 2025
Since October 15, 2025, after 23 years with KST-Traumahilfe, I have been fully self-employed as a therapist, lecturer, supervisor and EMDR trainer.
2023-2025
From April 2023 to September 2025, I led a sub-project within the EU research project PROMISE Elpis at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Charité Berlin. For nine months, I also served as interim project manager for the entire project. The goal of PROMISE Elpis was to develop quality standards for psychosocial care at Childhood Houses in Germany and internationally. This work allowed me to combine my experience from recent years with my interest in improving interdisciplinary care for children who have survived violence.
Our results and materials can be accessed here.
2002 - 2025
From 2002 to 2025, alongside my clinical work, I was active nationally and internationally as a lecturer (2008), supervisor (2012) and EMDR trainer (2017).
2017-2023
From October 2017 to March 2023, I worked as a senior physician at the child and adolescent psychiatry department in Lüneburg and implemented stressor-based treatment approaches, primarily on the acute and children's wards of the clinic.
2014-2017
Von November 2014 bis Oktober 2017 arbeitet ich als Oberärztin im Bereich Jugendsucht am UKE mit Fokus auf Trauma und Sucht und arbeitete in der Ambulanz für seelisch erkrankte Kinder sowie in einer Hamburger Kinderarztpraxis.
2013-2014
From April 2013 to November 2014, I worked as a senior consultant at the specialist clinic for child and adolescent psychiatry, psychosomatics and psychotherapy of the Vorwerker Diakonie in Lübeck.
2016-2023
From 2016 to 2023 I was a member of the management team of the Children's Trauma Institute.
2007-2013
From 2007 to 2013, I worked as a senior physician at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE). There, I headed, among other things, the outpatient clinic for refugee children and their families and, in close cooperation with the Institute of Legal Medicine under the then-director Prof. Püschel, established the interdisciplinary consultation service for violence and trauma (child protection).
2010
In March 2010, I received an invitation to the Fetzer Institute for several weeks to study gang violence and peace studies; subsequently, I was a Visiting Scholar at Harvard University, Department of Global Health, and in April 2010 at Yale University, Department of Child Psychiatry.
2002-2007
From 2002 to 2007, I worked in cooperation with the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) and the "Children for Tomorrow" Foundation in the townships of Cape Town, where I helped establish a psychotherapeutic support project for severely traumatized children, their families, and caregivers. In April 2006, I received a WHO scholarship for "Safe Communities in South Africa".
2001-2002
From 2001 to 2002 I worked with the German Society for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) as an expert in the Trauma and Reconciliation project in Kosovo.
2001
I completed my studies in human medicine in 2001 and successfully defended my doctorate in 2004.
Knowledge transfer as
Lecturer
Sharing my expertise with interdisciplinary colleagues as well as laypeople is a matter close to my heart, particularly in the areas of prevention, care, child protection, and peacebuilding. I especially enjoy the authentic exchange and collaborative learning.
Since 2023, I have been working as a lecturer at my own institute, KST-Traumahilfe , and also in cooperation with other institutes and institutions. Alongside my clinical work as a child and adolescent psychiatrist and psychotherapist, I have also worked as a lecturer since 2003. A particular focus of this work was my long-term position at the Children's Trauma Institute, which I headed from 2016 to 2023.
Furthermore, I teach and instruct in Germany at, among other places, the universities of Hamburg, Münster, Saarland and in various child and adolescent psychiatric institutions as well as at training institutes LaKiJu Lüneburg, LiWa Ahlen, AfkV Gelsenkirchen and Traumastudio.
In addition, I am regularly asked by medical associations, the World Childhood Foundation, foundations, associations, authorities from the judiciary, police and family and social services, the White Ring, as well as media such as the North German Broadcasting Corporation and the newspaper Die Zeit for lectures, workshops, moderations and keynotes.
In addition to my teaching activities in Germany, I also teach internationally , including at Stellenbosch University, the University of the Western Cape, the Barnahus Network, in the USA, Armenia and Greece, as well as at the International Criminal Court.
My teaching style is practical, evidence-based, methodologically sound, and interdisciplinary – with the aim of conveying even complex content in an understandable, lively way and with a tangible connection to clinical reality and its societal impact.
Attachment theory tells us that children need security to explore the world – and this applies equally to adults. Therefore, creating a safe and supportive environment is a central focus of my teaching, one in which learning, development, and professional reflection are possible, and where humor and good coffee always play an important role.
Individual or group
Supervision
Since 2007, I have worked as a supervisor for child and adolescent psychotherapists and psychiatrists in outpatient and inpatient settings, specializing in psychotrauma therapy, EMDR for children and adolescents (2012), interdisciplinary child protection, and refugee support. I offer supervision in individual and group settings in German and English, both in person and online.
Member of the following
associations
"German Society for Child Protection in Medicine" (DGKIM, since 2024)
"International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect" (ISPCAN, since 2021)
Network “Trauma.help” (since 2021)
“Global Child EMDR Alliance” (since 2019)
"EMDR Europe" (since 2008)
Member of the Standards Committee (since 2026)
Member of the Scientific Committee of the EMDR Annual Conference (since 2024)
Group: Child EMDR Trainer (since 2017)
“EMDRIA” (since 2013)
Board member of “EMDRIA” (2015-2022)
"German League for the Child" (2017-2025)
"German Society for Psychotraumatology" (DeGPt, since 2008)
active member of the working group: Children and Young People (since 2008)"Working Group for Intergenerational Consequences of the Holocaust" (PAKH eV, since 2008)
"German Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy” (DGKJP, since 2003)“International and European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies” (ESTSS, since 1999)
"International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War" (IPPNW, since 1999)
“Amnesty International Section of Health Professional” (1997 - 2011)
“EIRENE”, International Peace Service, German and International Board (1993-2002)
