About Me

My passion for working with children began early on. As an educator, I experienced the wonderful world of child development—and in the process, I also discovered my own calling. I felt that I wanted to do more, understand more deeply, and help more effectively. This curiosity and desire to understand led me down a path of learning that never really ended.

What drives me? A deep conviction that every child and every family deserves to be understood and supported. As a mother of three wonderful children, I know firsthand the challenges of everyday family life. This personal experience gives me a perspective that goes beyond theory—it’s something I’ve lived through, felt, and overcome.

As a school social worker at the Fridtjof Nansen School, I learned that the classroom is often just a small part of a child’s story. I saw how family structures, social circumstances, and personal crises can influence a child’s life and learning.

Then came 2014—a time that left a deep impression on me. When the refugee crisis reached Germany, I was thrown in at the deep end. At the German Red Cross Social Services in Hanover, I set up refugee shelters and coordinated aid for countless families who had lost everything. I saw despair and hope, trauma and incredible resilience—often in the same pair of eyes.

The work was intense, demanding, and at times overwhelming—yet infinitely fulfilling. With every family we were able to help, with every child who slowly began to smile again in their new surroundings, my conviction grew: It is often in the greatest hardship that the greatest power for change lies.

My passion and dedication led to me being entrusted with more and more responsibility. As a division manager at the German Red Cross (DRK) and later as a team leader for the City of Hanover in the youth welfare department, I had the opportunity to lead a team of professionals who worked tirelessly every day to support families in crisis.

These years taught me that real help takes time, requires patience, and sometimes also means making difficult decisions. I learned that systems and structures are important—but that, ultimately, it is human connections that make the difference.

In every family I worked with, I saw not only problems but also potential; not only crises but also opportunities for growth. This perspective continues to shape my work and my philosophy to this day.

Alongside my professional development, I have never stopped learning. With a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in social work from HAWK University of Applied Sciences, I laid the academic foundation for my practice. But I felt that I wanted to go even deeper and provide even more targeted help.

So in 2021, I began my training as a child and adolescent psychotherapist at the DGVT in Hanover—a step that has deepened my professional expertise and opened up new perspectives on families, development, and crises. I am not licensed. That is why, at “Rückenwind” (Parents), I deliberately do not present myself as a therapist, but instead offer coaching, courses, and AI-supported guidance for parents.

This training helps me gain an even deeper understanding of the emotional and psychological dimensions of family work—and to integrate them with my many years of practical experience in social work, youth services, and family support.

The experiences and insights I’ve gained throughout my professional career are also reflected in my publications. In *When a Child Dies* (2014), I explored one of the most difficult issues a family can face. "The Multicultural Society" (2013) reflects my experiences with people from various cultural backgrounds.

My current project, "Ways Out of Parental Burnout" (2025), is a labor of love—it combines my professional expertise with my personal experiences as a mother. In it, I share insights and practical strategies for parents who feel burned out and are looking for a way back to a greater sense of joy in life.

As a bereavement and end-of-life counselor with the Hannover Hospice Service and through my volunteer work with Intiwawa, I have learned that the brightest light can sometimes be found in the darkest hours—a lesson I share in all my work.