About Bella
Great to meet you!
I come from a long lineage of mental and physical health practitioners, and I have been exposed to the ideas and ethos of this field from a very early age, as well as philosophy and Eastern and Western spirituality. As a dual citizen of Germany and the U.S., I spent part of my childhood in Europe and have an extended family around the globe. I have a love for travel and immersion in different cultures, and I find it incredibly useful to explore the cultural contexts that shape the individuals I work with in my practice.
I resonate with the belief that health cannot be measured by one's level of adjustment to a sick society. In this sense, I aim to explore socio-cultural factors that may be manifesting as symptoms causing distress in my clients' lives. I have found that one's reactions to traumas can be stored and expressed in various ways and that symptoms are often signs of unresolved wounds. In many cases, I see depression and anxiety as grievances that a need is not being acknowledged or met and an indicator that some aspect of one's life demands change.
My role as a clinician is to collaborate with my clients in the process of listening, discovery, embodiment, and real-time problem-solving to bring these disparities and needs to conscious awareness and to help guide us through the process of understanding, re-integrating, and ultimately healing.
Whether you are seeking support for distressing symptoms, navigating overwhelming life transitions, concerned about dysfunctional habits or relationship patterns, or addressing feelings of demoralization or burnout, my passion and goal is to create a space where you feel heard, supported, and empowered to move forward.
I look forward to walking alongside you as we explore what growth and healing can look like for you.
My approach to therapy
Your body already knows what you need. We just get very good at not listening.
My style is collaborative and flexible, and my therapeutic approach is rooted in psychodynamic theory, with a strong consideration of attachment patterns, cultural influences, existential and spiritual ideology, and emotional literacy, embodiment, and expression. I draw on evidence-based methods from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), while integrating concepts from Internal Family Systems (IFS) and mindfulness-based practices.
In sessions, I weave somatic and mindfulness-based techniques into our work together, integrating self-compassion and self-forgiveness practices alongside evidence-based clinical care. This is whole-person care, interested in all parts of you, not just one symptom.
Evidence-based approaches
Well-established methods, tailored to you
I use research-supported approaches, thoughtfully selected and adapted to your specific concerns and goals, applied flexibly based on how your concerns show up in your day-to-day life, rather than running you through a protocol.
Education, training & certifications