States of stress, which are generated by the strains of everyday life (job, employer, family responsibilities...) or by circumstances an individual is unable to accept, often bring about psychological effects like depression, anxiety, panic attacks, mental fatigue, burnout... It appears that beside these psychological consequences, also our body may be affected. Psychophysiological reactions such as cardiovascular problems, perturbations of the endocrine and the immune systems, medically unexplained pain complaints and psychosomatic symptoms are considered as some of the most frequent outcomes.

In this context, my main interest as a researcher in psychobiology / psychophysiology and as a psychologist has always lain in the captivating interplay between our mind and our body. I am passionate about the way our emotions and thoughts may influence our bodily functioning and vice versa. The impact may be beneficial as well as detrimental. Optimistic thoughts or positive expectancies, for instance, have relieving effects, whereas states of worry or anxiety are able to infect our daily life. The results of my research on the effects of psychological aspects on human pain sensitivity provide further evidence of this interdependence (see ‘my publications’).

My work as a psychologist builds on my understanding of the interaction between our mind and our body and its influence on our health and inner balance, as well as on my interest for the human being in general. Medically unexplained pain symptoms, psychosomatic complaints, depressive and anxiety states, mental fatigue, and burnout are only some aspects of the sprectrum of my professional offer.

My psychological counselling is based on my empathy and my professional experience, as well as - first and foremost - on my 12-year Education, my scientific research and resulting knowledge of the recent scientific developments, and on my skills in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Hypnotherapy, and in the Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique.