FAQ

No. You pay for my sessions yourself. The Krankenkasse covers therapy only with practitioners who hold a state licence and a Kassenzulassung — and that is exactly where the waiting list runs into months. Private insurers sometimes reimburse part of the cost; it is worth checking with your insurer in advance.

No. You write to me directly — no Hausarzt (family doctor), no Überweisung (referral), no folder full of paperwork.

Usually within one to three days. For comparison: waiting for a place with a psychotherapist who works with the Krankenkasse takes between three and six months in North Rhine-Westphalia, and sometimes longer.

In Germany there are four distinct statuses: a medical doctor working as a psychotherapist, a psychotherapist with a state licence (Approbation), a Heilpraktiker für Psychotherapie, and a psychological counsellor. They differ in what they are allowed to do, who pays for the work, and whether a diagnosis goes into your medical record. I have set out a detailed table on the Prices page.

No. A diagnosis with an F code comes into being when a practitioner invoices the Krankenkasse. When you pay yourself, no invoice goes to the insurer — so there is no entry in your data either.

No. I pass no information to state authorities, to your employer or to the people close to you. I am bound by professional confidentiality — Schweigepflicht. The law provides for one exception only: an immediate threat to life, yours or someone else’s.

It will not. Seeking psychological help is a private matter; it is not grounds for reviewing your residence permit and it appears in no immigration documents.

Ukrainian, Russian, Polish, German or English — you choose. The language you think in and cry in should also be the language of the therapy: hunting for words in a foreign language means spending the session on translation instead of on the work.

Yes. Online I work with the whole of Germany, and also with people in Ukraine, Poland and other countries. All you need is a quiet place, headphones and a stable internet connection.

We agree on the payment method individually before the session — write to me and I will send you the option that works best for you.

A single session is 50 minutes, and 80 minutes for a couple or a family. How many you will need is impossible to say honestly in advance: with a specific situation — losing a job, moving, a conflict — five to eight sessions are often enough, while work with an old trauma takes longer. We discuss this openly and review it as we go.

I publish my prices openly — on the Prices page. The first introductory conversation is free.

Then we will say so out loud. Fitting well with your practitioner is half the result, and if the fit is not there, I will be the first to say it and I will help you find a colleague. After the free conversation you are under no obligation at all.

Write to me briefly about the situation and I will tell you honestly whether I can help in your case. If not, I will point you to a suitable service.

Do not wait for my reply — call. 112 if there is a threat to life. 0800 111 0 111 — Telefonseelsorge, 24/7. 030 440 308 454 — the Russian-language line, 24/7. 0800 777 22 44 — the Ukrainian BDP line, daily 16:00–20:00. It is free and anonymous.