philosophy

My background is in Educational Sciences with a concentration in Special Education. This was later complemented by training as Systemic Family and Marriage Therapist at the University of Vienna, and the Institute of Marriage and Family Therapy of the Archdiocese of Vienna. 

What attracted me to Systemic Therapy is its solution-oriented and pragmatic workflow. While other schools of psychotherapy may emphasize a long path to self-realization, Systemic Therapy is very goal-oriented and can help clients reach their potential more directly. 

I was licensed to practice as Pyschotherapist in Austria (2009) and The Netherlands (2014), giving me insights to practice in different cultures. If you think Austria and Holland are not too different, think again. I was excited to see how different the practice of Psychotherapy is organized and carried out in two countries not even 1000 km apart. Now in the United States, I have broadened my therapeutic inventory by taking courses in Trauma and Resilience Techniques organized by Bessel van der Kolk. 

My experience as an Educational Scientist, as Psychotherapist, and as Expat parent have given me a unique insight and appreciation for the intercultural competencies and resilience needed to pack up and move across countries, and even continents. 

My client base are parents of children who are experiencing challenging times, couples in need of strategic guidance, and expats moving between countries and cultures. I welcome you to my coaching practice and invite you to contact me to find out whether my approach may be helpful in your specific situation. 

Sincerely,

Petra Lirk-Heinrich