My path to becoming a practitioner for psychotherapy wasn’t straightforward. That’s exactly what has shaped my approach and the way I work.
I am Gabi
When I was five, I wanted to become a nurse.
The only thing I knew was that I wanted to be there for humans and animals that needed help. My very first patients were stuffed animals.
But life took me into the tech world first. Computers and technology have always fascinated me, and they still do. They’re just part of me. They stand for my analytic side, my curiosity, and the joy of finding solutions.
Despite that, I always had the feeling that something was missing. It didn’t feel complete. My job was a great match with my abilities – but not necessarily a match with my heart.
Next to my work in tech, I volunteered as a paramedic and performed on stage as an actress. Whenever I did those things, they felt right. I felt deeply connected – to myself and to the world.
At some point, I stopped constantly adapting. And I began walking the path that felt right to me. That’s when I started my training as a practitioner for psychotherapy.
When I sat with my first practice client, I knew: I was finally home.
I chose my therapeutic methods based on what I would have wanted for myself.
I know that feeling so well – of having understood a lot, and still not knowing how to actually use that knowledge in day to day life. That’s why it’s so important to me that therapy doesn’t stop at realizations. I want to support people in finding their very own path.
Practice what you preach – that’s genuinely true for me. Every method I work with, I’m not just teaching it. I’m living it.
I have learnt that thoughts aren’t facts. To give space for my emotions. And to make decisions with the heart, not just with the brain. I know that this doesn’t make life easier. But I have learnt how much can change once you stop fighting yourself.
My work has been shaped by my own experiences. I always wanted someone next to me who sees me without judgement. That’s the kind of presence I want to offer.
My work combines elements of person-centred therapy (Carl Rogers), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy, and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT).
I’m just a human being. I’m still figuring it all out. I have a curious brain that needs food. And I understood that there is no endpoint. It’s a never-ending path. I’m walking it – as a human being and as a practitioner.