Private Practice for Psychoanalytic Couples and Family Therapy
Relationships are shaped not only by what we consciously share, but also by hidden feelings, expectations and inner conflicts—often rooted in early attachment experiences. In therapy, we explore how these unconscious patterns repeat themselves within the couple or family and how they shape the way people relate to one another.
The aim is not simply to restore harmony, but to gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics at play. As partners begin to recognize and put words to these mechanisms, space opens up for freer, more authentic ways of connecting.
I see every emotion and behavior as a meaningful expression that deserves to be understood. In the safe and confidential setting of therapy, we can explore the deeper significance of the issues you are dealing with—even those feelings that are usually kept at bay. This process can offer valuable insights and new possibilities for change.
Couples and family therapy in Berlin (and online)
I offer therapy for couples and families, as well as individual sessions—when helpful—alongside the joint work. Sessions take place in my practice in Berlin, and can also be arranged online if preferred.
Session length & fees
Couple and family sessions usually last 90 minutes, while individual sessions are 60 minutes.Please inquire about the current fees directly.
How long does therapy take?
The duration of a therapeutic process varies from couple to couple, or family to family. For some, just a few sessions can bring noticeable changes. For others, a longer-term accompaniment over months or even years can provide valuable support. What matters most is creating a safe and reliable framework in which change and growth become possible.Private practice
My services are offered on a self-pay basis. Please note that I do not work under the public health insurance system. Therapy in my practice is best understood as a process of self-exploration and development. It does not replace psychotherapy covered by health insurance with a licensed psychological psychotherapist, which specifically addresses psychological and psychiatric disorders in a different context and framework. I practise psychotherapy on the basis of the non-medical Practitioners Act.
What defines psychoanalytic couples and family therapy?
The essence of psychoanalytic couples and family therapy lies in its understanding of human relationships as networks shaped by unconscious dynamics—and in its focus on working with these dynamics.
Some key aspects include:
Unconscious dynamics: Both partners bring unconscious wishes, fears, fantasies and unresolved childhood conflicts into their relationship. These are often enacted—without awareness—through the partner.
Transference and countertransference: Feelings and patterns originally rooted in early relationships (e.g. with parental figures) are transferred onto the partner. Such transferences also emerge in the therapeutic relationship itself, where they can be observed and worked through.
The shared unconscious: A couple’s relationship can be seen as a “shared psychic field” in which both partners’ unconscious expectations and anxieties converge.
Understanding rather than merely resolving conflict: The goal is not simply the restoration of “harmony,” but a deeper understanding of both the destructive and constructive forces within the relationship. By learning to recognize their own contributions, both partners open the way to new, freer modes of relating.
Language and reflection instead of action: The therapeutic process seeks to move unconscious patterns from the realm of unreflective action (such as quarrels, withdrawal, or power struggles) into the realm of language and reflection.
About Me
I am a clinical psychologist (B.Sc. Psychology, M.A. Clinical Psychology) and a licensed psychoanalytic couple and family therapist. Additionally, I am in training as a licensed psychological psychotherapist as well as a child and adolescent psychotherapist.
My professional experience spans more than ten years in both outpatient and inpatient psychotherapy and psychiatry.
Working with children and adolescents early in my career naturally led me into the field of family and couple therapy. Time and again, I have found that engaging the entire family often proves to be the most effective approach—even when the symptoms of just one individual initially appear to be at the center of concern.
My professional outlook, training and therapeutic approach are grounded in psychoanalytic thinking.
In addition to my therapeutic work, I teach and direct the advanced training program in Psychodynamic Couples, Family, and Social Therapy at the International Psychoanalytic University Berlin. I am also a certified supervisor recognized by the German Association for Psychoanalytic Couples and Family Therapy (BvPPF).
Contact
If you are interested in working with me, I warmly invite you to get in touch.
I offer a complimentary initial phone consultation. This short conversation provides an opportunity to discuss how we might work together and to address any questions you may have.
Private Practice for Psychoanalytic Couples and Family Therapy
Petra Elisabeth Sailer
Torstraße 117
10119 Berlin
psychotherapy.berlin@posteo.de
+49 (0) 155 60168218