‘Reaching out means taking your health seriously.’

Was there a moment when you knew that this was your field, or did psychiatry find you instead?

What appeals to me most about psychiatry is that we get to know the person as a whole: their history, their daily life and what moves them. Medical knowledge is important here, but listening and genuine interest are just as essential. For me, this connection defines the discipline.

Many arrive with one question, yet their concern is actually something else. How do you notice what is truly at stake during an initial consultation?

That often only emerges when someone is given the peace to speak freely. For instance, a person might attend because of sleep difficulties, and during our conversation it becomes clear how much pressure, worry or exhaustion lies behind it. I ask gentle questions and try to understand together with the person what is weighing on them most right now. In doing so, not everything needs to be laid out in the initial consultation.

When psychiatry and psychotherapy are under the same roof, what happens in treatment that does not happen in separate practices?

The great advantage is the ease of direct communication: with the patient's consent, our psychiatrists and psychological psychotherapists can liaise directly. This allows medical perspectives and insights from psychotherapy to come together harmoniously. Good collaboration is also possible between separate practices, yet being under one roof often makes day-to-day coordination simpler.

For many, medication represents a hurdle. How do you speak with someone who fears changing or becoming dependent?

I take these concerns seriously and wish first to understand what specifically is causing worry. We then discuss calmly what medication can achieve, what side effects might arise and whether there is any risk of dependency with the specific treatment. The aim is to alleviate symptoms and regain more room for manoeuvre in everyday life. We make the decision together, without pressure, and with regular reviews of how the person is feeling.

At Medikon, many psychotherapists in training are part of the team. What would you like to pass on to them that cannot be found in any training curriculum?

You do not need to have an immediate answer to everything. It is far more important to listen attentively, to ask questions, and at times to say: ‘I do not know yet; let us look at this together.’ People sense when we meet them with genuine interest. Seeking support within the team is, to my mind, a sign of responsibility and strength.

What would you say to someone who has been wondering for months whether to get in touch?

You do not have to wait until you can manage no longer. If something has been weighing on you for some time, you are welcome to seek support, even if you cannot yet name precisely what is wrong. In an initial consultation, we explore together what is concerning you and what support might be helpful. You do not need to prepare anything or search for the ‘right’ words.

If you could dispel one myth about psychiatry for good, which would it be?

That one must reach complete breaking point before being allowed to seek psychiatric help. Even those who are still functioning in everyday life can be suffering deeply within and may need support. Reaching out means taking your own health seriously. That is precisely why we are here.