Hi, I'm Svenja
Born in New Jersey to a German father and Belgian mother, I was raised in a multicultural and multilingual household, speaking English, German, and French fluently. Our family later moved to France, where I attended a French-German high school.
At 18, I relocated to Germany and studied psychology at the University of Mannheim. I graduated with a Diplom in Psychology, then completed my training in cognitive behavioral therapy at the private institute IFKV Bad Dürkheim, successfully passing the national licensing exam to become a licensed psychotherapist.
After moving to Seattle in 2021, I observed how many professionals struggled with stress, burnout, imposter syndrome, and unsustainable work patterns. Drawing on my 15+ years of experience with CBT principles and my cross-cultural background, I now help people identify the thoughts and behaviors limiting their progress and develop more sustainable approaches to professional success.
Services
I provide authentic, empathetic guidance delivered with a touch of humor and genuine curiosity. I don't just offer solutions for you to follow. Instead, we explore possibilities together and create space for you to discover your own path to sustainable success.
Stress Management: Learn evidence-based techniques to handle pressure without burning out. Whether you're overwhelmed by competing deadlines, feeling constantly on edge at work, or finding it hard to unwind after intense days, we'll develop personalized strategies that actually work for your lifestyle.
Sustainable Productivity: Move beyond hustle culture to create work patterns that energize rather than drain you. Perfect when you're caught in cycles of overwork, feeling guilty about rest, or wondering how to maintain high performance without sacrificing your well-being.
Mental Performance: Optimize your mindset for peak performance in high-pressure situations. Whether you're an athlete preparing for competition, a professional facing major presentations, or anyone wanting to perform their best when it matters most.
Emotional Regulation: Develop skills to navigate difficult emotions with greater ease. Helpful when feedback triggers intense reactions, you're struggling with anger or worry, or you want to respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively in challenging situations.
Self-Compassion: Transform your inner critic into a supportive ally. Essential when perfectionism creates paralysis, you're harder on yourself than you'd ever be on others, or self-criticism is undermining your confidence and progress.
Communication & Boundaries: Build skills for clearer, more confident interactions. Whether you're avoiding difficult conversations, struggling to set limits with colleagues or family, or finding it hard to advocate for your needs without feeling guilty.