Come as you are. Together, we’ll create a space where you feel safe to explore, reflect, and grow. Whether you're seeking clarity, connection, or new ways to navigate life’s challenges, I’m here to support you in discovering what’s possible.
You already carry within you a unique set of strengths, resources, and abilities. My role is to help you reconnect with them, nurture them, and put them to work. Together, we will explore new ways to navigate difficult emotions, strengthen your problem-solving skills, and deepen your relationship with yourself and those around you. Let’s create space for growth, resilience, and meaningful change.
My Journey.
I was born in Münster, Germany, to a German mother and an Italian-Chinese father, which gave me a unique lens through which I viewed the world from an early age. At 20 years old, right after high school, I took a leap and moved across the world to Los Angeles, where I worked as an Au-Pair while pursuing my dream of studying at a Los Angeles dance school.
What was meant to be a temporary adventure turned into the next 20 years of my life. In Los Angeles, I immersed myself in the performing arts before shifting my focus to marketing and sales in the online media industry. However, it was my growing interest in human connection and communication that led me to pursue a career in therapy. Following in the spirit of my parents’ work, I studied clinical psychology and became a psychotherapist, continuing their commitment to helping others. I trained in Community Mental Health and eventually became a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, shifting my focus from mass communication to the personal and transformative work of interpersonal communication.
Having lived in both Germany and the U.S., I’ve experienced the complexities and rewards of cross-cultural living. When I moved back to Germany after two decades abroad, I faced the emotional challenges of being a repat—the reverse culture shock, the sense of being in between worlds, and the process of re-establishing my identity in a place that was once home yet felt unfamiliar. These experiences deepened my understanding of the unique struggles that expats and internationals face, not only when they leave their home country but also when they return.
However, returning to Germany also came with unexpected professional challenges. Despite my extensive education, training, and experience as a therapist in the U.S., I faced dismissive treatment when attempting to have my degree, profession, and work experience recognized in Germany. I was informed that my American training was not considered equivalent to German standards, yet I was given no guidance on how to bridge the gap. After repeatedly encountering closed doors and spending significant time navigating Germany’s complex bureaucratic processes, I had to come to terms with the fact that I could not be recognized as a psychotherapist within the German health system. While this experience was frustrating and disheartening, it deepened my commitment to supporting others who, like me, navigate identity, belonging, and professional barriers in a foreign system.
It was through this journey that I started my private practice, specializing in working with expats, internationals, and repats who are navigating the complexities of cross-cultural transitions, identity, and emotional well-being. In my work with clients in Los Angeles, I helped children, teens, adults, couples, families, and groups from diverse backgrounds navigate a range of issues, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, ADHD, substance abuse, and relationship struggles. Now, in Germany, I continue this work, offering both online and in-person therapy to support those adjusting to life in a foreign country—or rediscovering themselves in their home country.
What I bring to therapy is not only my professional training but also my personal understanding of what it means to navigate life across cultures and identities. I value diversity, empower individuals, and believe in inspiring others to create a healthy, emotionally balanced life. In our sessions, you’ll experience the combination of my professional expertise and personal insights, aimed at fostering growth, healing, and connection.
Heilpraktikerin (Psychotherapie)
Klinische Psychologin
CA Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
License No. 111208
MA Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy
Pepperdine University, Los Angeles, CA 2014
BA Communication Studies
University of California, Los Angeles, CA 2008
Memberships
AAMFT - American Association of Marriage & Family Therapy
DGSF- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Systemische Therapie, Beratung und Familientherapie e.V.
My Approach.
My approach is rooted in systemic therapy, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of individuals and their social environment. I help clients explore their symptoms and behaviors within the broader context of their relationships, family dynamics, and cultural influences. By fostering awareness and strengthening interpersonal connections, I support clients in creating meaningful change and developing healthier, more fulfilling relationships.
Testimonial.
“Mara helped me create healthy relationships with others and moreover, a healthy and compassionate relationship with myself.”
