Questions and answers

Questions concerning psychotherapy

How long is a therapy and at what intervals do the sessions take place?

The duration of a therapy varies and depends on how comprehensive the re-orientation is, what needs to be accomplished. My experience is that quite often we can accomplish satisfying changes within 25 sessions, but then again it could be quite more. In the end it lays with the client to decide when a therapy is finished.

For the beginning of the process I recommend weekly sessions and later it is quite useful to stretch the intervals.

What is the difference between Therapy and coaching?

Coaching is concerned with clearly defined issues of a mostly vocational nature. Often the topic is personal growth and there is no suffering and confusion if coaching doesn’t happen.

In therapy usually we strive to alleviate suffering and to find conclusive solutions for inscrutable and difficult life situations. In general we assign these states of suffering a medical diagnosis.

I am taking medication/antidepressives. Do I have to go off medication in order to go into therapy?

No, to the contrary. Medication is to be viewed as a supplement to psychotherapy. In the long run, of course therapy aims at making medication unnecessary.

I am emphasising that my clients take their medication regularly and stay in contact with their doctor/psychiatrist in order to discuss necessary changes in that area.

Should I as a parent participate in my child’s therapy sessions?

That depends on the problem and on the age of the child. At the initial session I need the parents to get a comprehensive understanding of the child’s and the family’s situation but later it might be of purpose to work with the child alone. In many cases though, it is also very useful and more efficient to have parents and maybe siblings participating in a family therapy setting.

I believe that a therapy would be helpful for my child but he/she doesn’t agree to come. What can I do?

My suggestion is to sort that out in an initial interview and find out how to proceed best. Usually such a refusal expresses insecurity in the system, which can be clarified in our communication. But even if the minor continues to refuse to join the efforts it is practical to work systemically in order to achieve satisfying results.

I suggested to my partner to go into couples’ therapy but he/she refuses to do so. What can I do?

Also in such a case can one or more interviews with systemic background lead to more clarity, and afterwards we will be able to work out a path on how to proceed. When, in a system, one element changes behaviour then the other elements are forced to react to that change. When one partner engages into transformation then some dynamic enters the system and stagnation can turn into something more constructive.

Questions concerning constellation work

How many persons are usually participating in a constellation seminar?

In a constellation seminar we usually work on 3 or 4 concerns in one day because I like to have enough time for each client. Together with the representatives we are 8 to 12 persons who fit comfortably into my rooms.

I have a concern but I don’t want to expose it to the other participants. Can I nevertheless bring it to the seminar?

That’s very well possible because we can carry out our work masked. That means we have an initial interview in advance and then we work on the structure of your concern in the group. It is also possible that we conduct our work double blind – then even I don’t know the particular nature of your concern.

What is my task as a representative in the constellation process?

There is no need to know anything about the process beforehand. Everything you need to know we will discuss on the morning of the seminar and the rest is the actual experience of the „representative perception“. You may be surprised at how easy it is to gain insight and clarity in the process.

Organisational questions

How do I pay for the therapy?

You can pay cash and get a receipt. Easiest is to use bank transfer in advance, say 5 or 10 sessions and I deduct from there. Unused money will be of course refunded at the end of our therapy.

Do I get the cost for therapy refunded?

At the beginning of the therapy I will make a diagnosis and with this and an application filled out by me you can get some refunds according to your insurer.

Are there physical barriers to your practice?

At the entrance down below there is a low step in front of the lift. If you need help just let me know and I shall come and support you.

Are there parking spots near the practice?

There is paid parking all along the Praterstraße but since it is near the city centre the parking spots can be sparse.