Anxiety and panic
When panic, social anxiety or a phobia limits your everyday life.
To CBT for anxiety and panic
Private practice in Berlin-Pankow Group therapy for communication skills
Saying no, setting boundaries, speaking up for what you need, resolving conflict: in a closed group you practise what you find hard in conversation. The approach is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). We meet at my practice in Berlin-Pankow.
- Length
- 100 minutes per session
- Fee
- €135 per session
- Format
- closed group with fixed dates
- Where
- at the practice in Berlin-Pankow only
- Enquiries
- by email or via the form
Who the group is for
The group is for adults who would like to feel more confident with other people, at work and in their private lives. Perhaps some of this sounds familiar:
- You say yes when you mean no, and are annoyed with yourself afterwards.
- You keep your own wishes to yourself to avoid an argument.
- Criticism hits you hard, or you do not dare to raise things yourself.
- You steer clear of conflict until too much has built up.
- Among colleagues or when more people are present, you tend to hold back.
- After bullying or a long spell under pressure, you find it hard to stand up for yourself again.
Patterns like these often made sense at one time. In the group you try out new ways of responding, alongside people who are working on similar questions.
This format is psychotherapy. It is suitable if these patterns weigh on you and come with psychological symptoms, such as anxiety around other people, low mood or exhaustion after bullying. We clarify before the start whether this applies to you. If what you have in mind is a question about work or your personal life, without such symptoms, coaching may suit you better.
Sometimes another treatment should come first, such as individual therapy or medical care. We clarify this beforehand as well. If you are thinking about ending your life or need help straight away, please contact the services listed under In an acute crisis.
What you practise in the group
The focus is on three skills:
- Setting boundaries: saying no without lengthy justifications.
- Expressing your needs: telling others what you would like, including the people closest to you.
- Handling conflict more confidently: standing your ground on a fair request, giving and taking criticism, getting through difficult conversations.
Communication training in CBT typically uses role play based on situations from participants' own lives. The others then usually give you feedback. Between sessions, you generally put what you have rehearsed into practice in everyday life.
How group therapy works
I lead the sessions myself as a licensed psychological psychotherapist (cognitive behavioural therapy, CBT).
Enquiry
Let me know via the form or by email that you are interested in the group. Please leave out anything about your health.
Is the group right for you?
We clarify this together before the first session, and also discuss whether individual therapy alongside it would make sense. When you enquire, I will tell you how this works and what it costs, if anything.
Starting together
The group is closed: everyone starts at the same time, and nobody new joins later on. Sessions are held on fixed dates at my practice.
The same people each time
From session to session you get to know the others better, and trust can grow. That often makes it easier to try something new.
What can a group offer?
In the group, you find that you are not alone with what you are going through. That can be a relief. You hear how others handle similar situations, and you may discover that your own perspective helps them too.
Here you practise conversations not just with me but with several people. That way, you find out how you come across from more than one point of view.
Research shows that groups with strong cohesion achieve better results on average. That is one reason why membership is closed.
Length and fees
A session lasts 100 minutes and costs €135.
Mine is a private practice for privately insured patients, people entitled to Beihilfe (the medical allowance for civil servants) and self-paying patients. I do not bill your health insurer directly; you receive an invoice from me.
How much of it your private insurer or Beihilfe reimburses depends on your policy and the rules that apply to you. It is best to check with your insurer or Beihilfe office in advance.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to talk about everything in front of the others?
No. You decide how much you share about yourself. That may change as you get to know the others over time.
Will what I say in the group stay confidential?
All participants agree at the start that whatever is said or happens in the sessions stays within the group. However, only I am bound by professional confidentiality under German law, not the other members.
Is group therapy as effective as individual therapy?
It depends on the condition. On average across many studies, the two formats work about equally well when the content and amount of therapy are comparable. According to the German S3 guideline on anxiety disorders (2021), however, this is not sufficiently proven for those conditions. For social phobia, it recommends individual CBT, which can be combined with a group.
Can a group also be stressful?
Yes, it can. Practising in front of others often takes some courage at first, and there can be friction between members. Please tell me if something becomes too much. We will then look for a way forward together.
Can group therapy help with depression?
The German National Disease Management Guideline on Unipolar Depression (Nationale VersorgungsLeitlinie, 2022) lists group therapy as one possible form of psychotherapy. It makes no specific recommendation for or against it. My group focuses on communication rather than on treating depression, which I offer in individual therapy. We can discuss beforehand whether taking part as well would help you.
How is this different from a self-help group?
Self-help groups are organised by the people affected themselves, usually without professional leadership. My group is psychotherapy: I lead it as a licensed psychological psychotherapist, with a clear framework, fixed dates and targeted exercises.
Is the group available online?
No. The group meets only at my practice in Berlin-Pankow. All my other services are also available online, via a secure video connection. For the ADHD assessment, at least one appointment takes place at the practice.
When does the next group start, and in which language?
I will tell you the dates, the number of sessions and the language of the next group when you enquire. Just send me a short message via the form or by email.
In person only
My practice is in Berlin-Pankow, between Prenzlauer Berg and Weißensee. The group meets here for every session.
Prenzlauer Promenade 190
13189 Berlin-Pankow
Good to knowCancellations · Your visit · Getting here
Cancellations
The practice works by appointment only: your appointment is reserved for you. If you cannot make it, please cancel at least 12 hours in advance. If you cancel later than this or miss an appointment, I charge a cancellation fee.
Your visit
The practice is on the third floor, and unfortunately there is no lift. Please come at the agreed time so that you do not have to wait and sessions in progress are not disturbed. If you are early, there are cafés nearby.
Getting here
From the Prenzlauer Allee/Ostseestraße stop it is a 2- to 3-minute walk. Trams M2, M13 and 12 and bus 156 stop there. The M2 takes you to Alexanderplatz in about 15 minutes. The nearest S-Bahn station is Prenzlauer Allee (S41, S42, S8, S85), about 12 minutes on foot or 2 stops on the M2.
Ask about a place in the group
Send me a short message saying you are interested in group therapy. I will then let you know when the next one starts.
Other services
Couples therapy
Looking at your relationship together, at the practice or online.
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