|
|
|
„Whatever form the need for change takes in your life – whether it comes in the shape of crises, dreams waiting to be fulfilled, new challenges, physical suffering, recurring conflicts or the wish for something MORE and DIFFERENT – you can always use it for your own growth and benefit, and to take your life in a direction that you want. The only things you need for that are a bit of courage and good tools.“ Silja Viermann |
|
Welcome, nice to „meet“ you here!
Over the course of the last 18 years my work has continuously grown into what it is today:
an individual and sustainable approach to learning about ourselves and our bodies, which facilitates changes that people want in their lives.
As well as being influenced by various methods and approaches to bodywork, coaching, mindfulness and therapy, my work is greatly shaped by two things: a huge passion for working with people in times of change, and a lot of experience in both one-on-one and group formats that I’ve gathered working with clients from all over the world.
Over the course of the last 18 years my work has continuously grown into what it is today:
an individual and sustainable approach to learning about ourselves and our bodies, which facilitates changes that people want in their lives.
As well as being influenced by various methods and approaches to bodywork, coaching, mindfulness and therapy, my work is greatly shaped by two things: a huge passion for working with people in times of change, and a lot of experience in both one-on-one and group formats that I’ve gathered working with clients from all over the world.
About me – In a nutshell
- Born 1978 in Herford, a small town in the Northwest of Germany
- From 1999: university studies in Sociology and Drama Studies in Bielefeld and Berlin, Germany
- From 2000: Professional Training in the Grinberg Method/ Somatic Therapy/ Somatic Coaching
- 2000: Opening my practice for Transformational Bodywork and Somatic Learning
- 2002 – 2003: Working at Volksbühne Theatre, Berlin with Frank Castorf and Christoph Schlingensief
- 2003: A decision of the heart to exclusively work as a coach, teacher and therapist with clients in one-on-one and group formats in Berlin and other German, European and North-American cities
- 2004 – 2017: Further professional training in the fields of: trauma, recovery from physical conditions, bodywork, mindfulness
- 2017: Qualification as „Heilpraktikerin für Psychotherapie“ (German qualification for alternative or complementary practitioners of psychotherapy)
About me – Longer Version
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been interested in people, their ways of life, their decisions and relationships.
After graduating from school in a small town in northwest Germany, I started studying Sociology in Bielefeld in 1999. Initially I was intrigued by the sociological and theoretical approach. I was interested in understanding why societies with such great potential recurrently end up in limiting or destructive structures, and how that can be changed.
The longer I studied, the more it became clear to me that each process of social change has to happen on an individual level as well. I also noticed that as much as I loved scientific work, I missed hands-on experiences and having a tangible impact on the world around me.
By that time I was already aware of the Grinberg Method – a body-based learning approach that was used for therapy and coaching purposes. I admired its simple intelligence of gripping personal problems by the roots and its effective way of teaching people how to change those problems through body awareness and bodywork.
In 2000 I started the professional training and began to work with clients in my private practice.
Parallel to that I continued studying at university – extending to include the field of drama studies – and now had the perfect combination: a rewarding tool that allowed me to teach people about processes of change in their daily lives, and the larger scientific view that inspired me as well.
After moving to Berlin in 2001, I got a fascinating glimpse into theatre work at the brilliant Berliner Volksbühne, but felt that I couldn’t follow two professional passions at the same time anymore. This was the turning point of deciding to work exclusively with transformational bodywork and somatic learning – a decision I have never regretted.
Since then, I work with clients in one-on-one and group formats, mostly in Berlin and sometimes in other national and international cities. In addition to the Grinberg Method, I have studied and experienced other approaches in the fields of coaching, mindfulness and bodywork. Today I have developed my own unique style of somatic coaching/therapy that is characterized by a high level of attention which allows me to relate very precisely to my clients‘ individual situations and learning needs.
As Heilpraktikerin für Psychotherapie (German qualification for alternative and complementary practitioner for psychotherapy), I also accompany clients in processesing past or acute trauma, going through times of grief or dealing with anxiety and panic. And in collaboration with medical doctors, I teach patients new ways of dealing with stress and suffering related to medical conditions (which greatly reduces the impact of the condition itself).
Please also read the disclaimer in this regard.
Obviously I go through times of change in my own life as well …
I have always been extremely enthusiastic about my profession. After opening my own practice I quickly had a „full house“ and a growing client base. I loved my job and felt honored that so many people in different places wanted to work with me. But I also felt that the passion for my work made it harder to say no, to rest and to not forget about various other needs and interests in my life.
In the end, a broken leg forced me to take a break in 2014. Surprisingly, I experienced the process of recovery as a time full of pleasure and enjoyment: I was gifted with a lot of free time, a wonderful network of friends and support around me, and the headspace to look at myself and the world anew.
And there were more big changes and challenges waiting in store for me in the following years: another injury with surgical treatment, more physical symptoms, separations, cases of illness in my family…
I was made aware again that the times that confront us with the biggest challenges also bring us closest to ourselves and to what matters most to us in life…
In this time I needed all the skills that I had been learning and teaching for a long time. And it had a strong impact on me and on my profession. Since then, working with clients has become even more intense, deep, personal and effective. I am more myself today. And I am aware that time is limited and dreams and projects we wish for should not be ignored or postponed.
I am thankful for countless touching, teaching and enriching moments with my clients in the last 18 years. I greatly appreciate their courage and trust. Witnessing people grow, celebrate victories, overcome difficulties and find new ways is one of the most rewarding and fulfilling things I can ever imagine doing. And - it is a whole lot of fun, too.
I would be happy to start such journey with you as well!