My approach
Psychotherapy is
for me peace work.
I am impressed by the survival strength and creativity of children and young people, with which they endure aversive childhood experiences and continue to develop despite them. Not always functional, but liveable for the time being. This interest - how people survive difficult situations - has run through my life since my youth.
The idea of peace as
Initial situation
As a teenager, I was involved in youth work and after graduating from high school, I did a peace service at Alaska Children's Services in Anchorage. I then studied special education alongside my studies in human medicine at the University of Cologne and worked at the same time in a facility for refugee children and on the ward for people suffering from the then new HIV virus.
As a student in the 1990s, I trained in the USA in facilities for traumatized people and was able to learn from people like Sandra Bloom and Bessel van der Kolk. My work for the PAKH working group underpinned my interest in the political and structural effects of trauma - based on German history and through mentoring by Prof. Vamik Volkan, my knowledge of group psychological processes and the influence on inner and outer peace grew.
In addition to these activities, I am co-developer of the online course www.medicalpeacework.com.
CV
Professional background
I am a doctor of child and adolescent psychiatry, psychosomatics and psychotherapy, and I am certified in special psychotrauma therapy (EMDR, Kid-NET) for children and adolescents (DeGpt), addiction and mental health in complex emergencies (LSHTM, London).
I completed my depth psychological and psychotherapeutic training at the Tavistock Institute in London, as well as at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa and at the University Medical Clinic in Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE).
After graduating, I worked in various countries affected by emotional trauma, including South Africa and Kosovo.
Since 2023 - Today
Starting in April 2023, I am leading a subproject at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Charité Berlin as part of the EU research project PROMISE Elpis. For nine months, I managed the overall project on an interim basis. The goal of PROMISE Elpis is to develop quality standards for psychosocial and medical care for children and adolescent affected by online sexual exploitation at Childhood Centers in Germany and Barnahus internationally. This work allows me to combine my experience of the past few years with my interest in improving interdisciplinary care for child survivors of violence.
2017-2023
From October 2017 to March 2023, I worked as a senior physician at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Lüneburg, implementing stressor-based treatment approaches, primarily on the acute and pediatric wards of the clinic.
2014-2017
From November 2014 to October 2017, I worked as a senior physician in the area of youth addiction at the UKE with a focus on trauma and addiction and worked in the outpatient clinic for mentally ill children as well as in a Hamburg pediatrician's practice.
2013-2014
From April 2013 to November 2014, I worked as a senior physician at the specialist clinic for child and adolescent psychiatry, psychosomatics and psychotherapy at 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 UKE in Hamburg. There, I headed the outpatient clinic for refugee children and their families, among other things, and established the interdisciplinary consultation hour for violence and trauma (child protection) in close cooperation with the Institute of Forensic Medicine, then headed by Prof. Püschel.
Since 2002 - Today
In addition to my clinical work, I work nationally and internationally as a lecturer (2008), supervisor (2012) and EMDRC&A trainer (2017).
2010
In March 2010 I received an invitation to the Fetzer Institute for several weeks on the topic of gang violence and peace studies. I then worked as 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 care project for severely traumatized children, their families, and support staff. In April 2006, I received a WHO scholarship for "Safe Communities in South Africa."
2001-2002
2001-2002 arbeitete ich mit der Deutschen Gesellschaft für technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) als Expertin im Projekt Trauma und Reconciliation im Kosovo.
2001
I completed my medical studies in 2001 and successfully defended my doctorate in 2004.
Individual or group
Supervision
Since 2012, I have been working as a supervisor for child and adolescent psychotherapists in outpatient and clinical settings, particularly in the areas of EMDR (EMDR Europe), child protection, refugees and psychotraumatology. I offer supervision in individual and group settings in German and English, both face-to-face and online.
Transfer of knowledge as
Lecturer
I have been working as a lecturer alongside my clinical work since 2008. I carry out these activities primarily in cooperation with the Kindertraumainstitut, which I headed from 2016 to 2023, at the universities of Hamburg and Münster, various KJPs and the training institutes: Riedesser Institute Hamburg, ZAP Lübeck, the DGVT Berlin, the LaKiJu Lüneburg and LiWa Ahlen. In addition, I am repeatedly asked by medical associations, foundations, associations and authorities (justice and police as well as family and social affairs), Weißer Ring, NDR etc. for lectures, workshops, moderations and keynotes.
Sharing my expertise with interdisciplinary colleagues and laypeople is a topic close to my heart in the context of prevention, care and peace work. I particularly enjoy the authentic exchange.
In addition to my work as a lecturer in Germany, I also teach abroad, e.g. at the University of Stellenbosch and Western Cape, South Africa, the USA, Greece and the International Criminal Court.
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)
Trauma.help network (since 2021)
Global Child EMDR Alliance (since 2019)
Child EMDR Trainer, EMDR Europe (since 2017)
“German League for the Child” (since 2017)
"EMDR Europe" (since 2008)
“EMDRIA” (since 2013)
Board member of “EMDRIA” (2015-2022)
“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)
