Psychological Therapy
Rooted in the hypnosystemic approach – focused on inner clarity and meaningful change.
Sometimes we find ourselves in inner states that feel painful, overwhelming, or paralyzing. Things become especially challenging when involuntary processes – like a racing heart, inner restlessness, persistent overthinking, or deep exhaustion – continue over time or arise suddenly, without control. It may seem as though your thoughts and emotions are running the show.
The hypnosystemic approach was developed by Gunther Schmidt. It combines two powerful traditions: the competence-activating hypnotherapy of Milton H. Erickson and systemic therapy as shaped by the Heidelberg school around Helm Stierlin. I had the opportunity to deepen this approach at the sysTelios Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy in Siedelsbrunn, where Gunther Schmidt brings these concepts to life.
In hypnosystemic therapy, we don’t see symptoms as deficits – but as expressions of inner dynamics with their own logic. Often, they are tied to unmet needs that haven’t yet found a voice. Symptoms may represent earlier strategies that were once helpful but have become limiting in the present.
To work hypnosystemically means to support you in reshaping your inner relationship with distressing feelings, memories, or experiences. It means honoring perception, reconnecting with inner resources, and developing new, more resonant ways of acting and being.
Therapy can be helpful in many situations – this might include:
- Exhaustion, chronic stress, or the feeling of “not being able to go on”
- Anxiety, panic attacks, or depressive moods
- Psychosomatic complaints such as chronic pain, sleep difficulties, or physical stress reactions (e.g. headaches, skin issues, digestive problems)
- Uncertainty around self-worth or your relationship with yourself
- Difficult life experiences or emotional wounds that continue to have an impact
- Support during times of transition, medical diagnoses, or experiences of loss
- Orientation and support in the context of autism, AD(H)D, or other neurodivergent ways of experiencing the world
- Questions around identity, belonging, sexual orientation or gender (e.g. coming out, trans* or non-binary identity)
- Topics relevant for adolescents: school avoidance, phases of social withdrawal, pressure within the school or family system, transitions into new life stages
I take a diversity-aware approach to therapy. Topics such as neurodivergence, queer identity, or other experiences outside of societal “norms” are just as welcome here as everyday life questions.
How I work
Hypnosystemic therapy is not just about symptom relief – it’s about developing a more conscious, compassionate relationship with your inner experience.
The methods I use are always tailored to your individual concern, your inner world, and your own pace.
Depending on your topic or needs, we might:
... develop skills and tools for self-regulation - to navigate moments of intense inner tension with more stability
... work with inner parts – to better understand stressful patterns, strengthen your inner adult, and develop new ways of relating to yourself
... use hypnotherapeutic methods such as guided imagery and trance – to gently connect with unconscious processes expressed through inner images or the body
... work with constellations or symbolic objects – to gain new perspectives on relationships or inner conflicts
... use mindfulness-based and body-oriented methods – to regulate tension and strengthen self-awareness
... use language, metaphors, and creative methods – to open up space for inner change
Sessions & Fees
The initial session lasts 50 minutes and takes place either online or in my practice.
We’ll take time to explore your concerns, gather first impressions, and see whether working together feels like a good fit. This session is billed at the standard rate of €110.
I offer flexibility in the structure of ongoing therapy sessions: depending on the topic, a session usually lasts between 45 and 60 minutes – for example, when we are working in trance or in a deepened process.
Insurance & Reimbursement
As of January 1, 2024, partial reimbursement for clinical-psychological therapy is possible through public health insurance in Austria. Depending on your provider, approximately €33 to €48 per session may be reimbursed with a medical referral. In addition, many private supplementary insurance plans cover part or even most of the remaining costs. If you’re self-employed in Austria, you may also be eligible for the SVS “health bonus” (Gesundheitshunderter).
If you're not insured in Austria, please check with your home country’s health insurance or travel insurance provider regarding potential reimbursement.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions – I’m happy to help.