Gestalt Therapy with music
© photos: Bernd Blome
„Find the tune that sounds through your life!“ (after Martin Walser)
You are suffering from pressure to perform and wish for more in your everyday life. Lightness and vibrant joyDo difficult things repeat themselves? Conflict situations And are you looking for a way out of this hamster wheel? Have you suffered a loss and wish for a companion to take you Grief to process sustainably? You suffer from physical tension, Stress oder Schmerzen, die mit psychischen Belastungen zusammenhängen? Oder möchten Sie sich selbst besser kennenlernen und herausfinden, wer Sie in Ihrem Leben sind und sein möchten?
As Gestalt therapist with the focus Music I will accompany you on Veränderungsprozessen in your life. The key to this lies within yourself.
The music can support you on your individual path, Creativity and joy for life as resources neu zu entdecken. Unabhängig von musical background helps us with the essential in Contact to come.
I’m sure you can think of moments when you’ve experienced the astonishing effect of music: it brings back memories, allows us to feel human connection, can inspire us to dance, move us to tears and give us goosebumps. In my practice, we experiment with easy-to-play instruments or with the voice, so that we can harness these enchanting qualities of music for your current situation.
In Gestalt therapy with music, we focus on experiencing the here and now and trust that the solutions can already be found within you.
Please book an appointment for a free initial consultation at my practice in Berlin-Tempelhof or Potsdam (or via video call if you prefer). This will give us a chance to get to know each other and find out whether we can work well together as a team.
How Gestalt Therapy Can Support You with Music
In my psychotherapy practice, I combine gestalt therapy with musical elements. The profound and complex effect of music on human health has been scientifically proven many times over in recent decades. Numerous documentaries, books and podcasts report on the astonishing and moving findings.
You will receive support on an equal footing, free from judgements such as ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ and ‘healthy’ or ‘unhealthy’.
You will develop a better understanding of the issues you face and gain new perspectives for your personal growth.
Music and sound – used for centuries as a healing remedy in many cultures – enable you to experience and express emotions for which you have not yet found the words. You will learn to consciously recognise your inner abilities, to strengthen them and to apply them in everyday life.
You are learning your inner abilities to perceive consciously, to strengthen and use in everyday life.
These methods await you
For anyone who wants sustainable change
I offer my psychotherapeutic support for the following needs and challenges.
I am the right person for you if you …
- would like to get to know and understand yourself better, or are looking for guidance
- have physical ailments linked to mental strain are looking for a new way of dealing with unpleasant feelings
- finding a new way of dealing with unpleasant feelings
- would like to make your relationships more vibrant
- are suffering from stress and would like to improve your self-acceptance and self-regulation
- would like support during times of transition and saying goodbye
Find the right offer for you
Individual Gestalt therapy session with music for self-paying clients (Heilpraktiker für Psychotherapie)
Suitable for Adults,
- the more Responsibility take responsibility for their lives
- who would like to take more responsibility for their lives to admit new
- who have time for weekly sessions (this is important, at least to begin with)
- who are willing and able to cover the costs themselves
Costs
During the initial consultation, we will clarify the financial framework. The aim is to find an agreement that is acceptable to both parties.
As a rule, the following applies:
50 minutes individual therapy90€
Please note that music gestalt therapy is not a service of statutory health insurance funds . Reimbursement may be possible with private supplementary insurance.
Finish
- IIndividual appointments by arrangement
- As a rule, the meetings take place on a weekly or fortnightly basis
- Depending on the issue, I will support you over a few weeks (consultation) or long-term (for more protracted, therapeutic processes).
- Cancellations made less than 48 hours beforehand will be charged.
Venue / Directions
For individual music therapy sessions, I use the following rooms:
ResonanzRaum Potsdam, Zimmerstrasse 12 b (Potsdam West)
Praxis Eva WemmeBurgherrenstraße 11, Berlin-Tempelhof (near U Platz der Luftbrücke)
Additionally, sessions are available online via Video conference Possible.
Together with Gestalt therapist Eva Wemme, I offer a practical insight into music Gestalt therapy in the podcast “Gestaltmurmeln”. What is a session like? And what role does music play? How did music Gestalt therapy come about, and what view of human nature underlies it? In each episode, we speak to a guest with many years’ experience in music Gestalt therapy, who shares insights into their practical work with clients. We are interested in each individual’s personal journey to Gestalt therapy and their relationship with music as a medium.
Alongside the conversation, we actively experiment with what is happening right now: How do we sound at this very moment? How do we shape our relationship through sound, rhythm and melody? In the discussion that follows, we provide each other with feedback on what we have experienced. ‘Aha’ moments and insights into how we perceive ourselves and others, into unconscious behavioural patterns and unacknowledged feelings are potential outcomes of the dialogue. Listen to the first episode to get a vivid impression of me and music therapy.
Get in touch
Arrange an initial consultation. This will allow us to clarify all your questions and best determine if my support is suitable for you.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about gestalt music therapy
What is Gestalt Therapy?
Gestalt therapy is a profound and dynamic approach to psychotherapy, developed in the 1940s by Fritz Perls, his wife Laura Perls and the philosopher Paul Goodman. The name Gestalt is multifaceted and can be interpreted as ‘form’, ‘wholeness’ or ‘structure’. At its heart lies the idea that the person must be viewed as a whole – with their thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and behaviour.
Gestalt therapy is not purely a form of talk therapy, but rather anexperience-oriented method. It helps you to become more aware of yourself, to release blocked emotions and to find new ways of relating to yourself and others. The starting point is always the here and now – in other words, what you are experiencing, thinking and feeling at this very moment.
Nowadays, Gestalt is used not only by psychotherapists in many contexts and with different target groups, for example in counselling, coaching and supervision for children, young people and adults, in couples therapy, and in psychiatry, psychology and psychosomatics. It is encouraging to see that the various psychotherapeutic disciplines, such as behavioural therapy, psychoanalysis, etc., are drawing inspiration from one another, as in the case of Integrative Gestalt Therapy. In Germany, training for Gestalt therapists takes place at one of the eleven training institutes that are members of the Deutschen Vereinigung für Gestalttherapie (DVG).
The training programme is open to people who are currently working, or intend to work in the future, in counselling, education, coaching, healthcare, hospitals, youth welfare or pastoral care. As a rule, a degree in psychology, medicine or other human sciences is required. Exceptions to this requirement are made only in exceptional cases. According to DVG guidelines, the training programme lasts four years. I completed my training at the Institut für Gestalttherapie und Gestaltpädagogik Berlin from 2020 to 2025.
Please do get in touch with me if you have any questions. I’d be happy to arrange a no-obligation initial consultation with you at my practice for music therapy and Gestalt therapy in Berlin or Potsdam.
What are the fundamental principles of Gestalt therapy?
The Gestalt therapy is a profound, humanistic approach, which is based on the following fundamental principles, in order to promote self-awareness, responsibility, and personal growth.
- The Here and Now: In Gestalt therapy, we focus primarily on what is happening within you right now. In everyday life, we are often preoccupied with the past or the future – with memories, worries or plans. Gestalt therapy invites you to be consciously present in the here and now. For it is only in the ‘now’ that you can truly sense what you need and act accordingly.
- Awareness and responsibility: The focus is on the aim of heightening your awareness of yourself: What do I perceive? What do I feel? What do I do? By understanding yourself better, you can also take responsibility for your life rather than seeing yourself as a victim of circumstances.
- The unfinished business: Sometimes experiences, feelings or needs remain unexpressed or unresolved. This can lead to inner restlessness, recurring patterns or blockages. In therapy, we explore this ‘unfinished business’ and help you bring it to a conclusion.
- The relationship as a form of therapy: The relationship between therapist and client is particularly important in Gestalt therapy. Through genuine dialogue, you can explore things you might not dare to try in everyday life. The therapist supports you in expressing your feelings and thoughts – sometimes through creative methods such as role-play, painting, bodywork or – as in my case – music.
- The field theory of Gestalt therapy: What you experience – thoughts, feelings and actions – arises within what is known as a ‘field’. This field encompasses not only yourself, but also your surroundings and your relationships. You are therefore never in isolation, but always in interaction with your world.
Your current field is composed of your inner experiences such as needs or fears, your external environment such as people, objects and situations, as well as your relationships. Gestalt therapy assumes that you perceive the world perceive holisticallyYou perceive not just an object or a person in isolation, but always in connection with your entire experience.
The key factor is how you engage with this field. Unmet needs or inner blockages, arising, for example, from fear or insecurity, can disrupt this exchange. Gestalt therapy helps you to consciously recognise these patterns, set clear boundaries and improve your connection with the field. Your mental wellbeing therefore depends largely on how you interact with your environment, not just on you alone.
Please do get in touch with me if you have any questions. I’d be happy to arrange a no-obligation initial consultation with you at my practice for music therapy and Gestalt therapy in Berlin or Potsdam.
What distinguishes Gestalt therapy from other forms of therapy?
Every form of therapy has its own focus and methods.
Every form of therapy has its own focus. Here is a simple comparison illustrating the distinctive features of Gestalt therapy in relation to psychodynamic approaches and behavioural therapy. It is intended to serve as a guide and does not do justice to the diverse range of psychotherapeutic approaches, which are, of course, also offered in all manner of combinations.
Gestalt therapy focuses on your current thoughts, feelings and physical sensations. It views the person as a whole (body, mind and soul) and works with whatever is present in the moment. Creative and body-oriented methods are often used here – such as role-play, painting, movement or breathing exercises. It is about directly experiencing and expressing feelings and experiences. The aim is to improve self-awareness, to accept oneself as one is, and to develop a greater sense of personal responsibility. It helps you to live in the here and now and to let go of old patterns.
Psychodynamics: Psychodynamics focuses primarily on the past – on unconscious conflicts, childhood experiences and repressed memories. Psychodynamics works mainly through the spoken word, free association and the interpretation of dreams. The aim is to raise awareness of unconscious conflicts and to resolve childhood influences in order to achieve long-term change.
Behavioural therapy: Behavioural therapy focuses on specific behaviours and thought patterns in the present. Behavioural therapy uses specific techniques such as exposure exercises (e.g. for anxiety), cognitive restructuring (changing thoughts) and behavioural exercises to establish new patterns. The aim is to reduce symptoms and learn new, healthier behaviours in order to improve one’s life in practical terms.
In psychotherapy there is not the one „right“ way, but rather many tried-and-tested approaches—similar to different tools in a toolbox. Each person is unique, and so the therapy should also be tailored to your personal needs, goals and circumstances.
Please do get in touch if you have any further questions. I’d be happy to arrange a no-obligation initial consultation with you at my practice for music therapy and Gestalt therapy in Berlin or Potsdam.
Who is Gestalt therapy suitable for?
Gestalt therapy can support people in a wide variety of life situations. It is helpful if you:
- would like to understand themselves better and gain greater clarity about their needs.
- experience recurring conflicts in relationships, at work or with themselves.
- want to address mental health symptoms such as anxiety, depression or stress.
- are looking for greater creativity and a zest for life.
- have physical symptoms linked to psychological stress (see psychosomatics).
- are seeking help with grief, loss or a crisis.
The Gestalt therapy is particularly valuable for people who don't just talk about problems but rather Experience and change would like. Arrange an appointment for a Free initial consultation in my practice for Psychotherapy in Berlin or Potsdam, to take the first step.
In addition to my music therapy and Gestalt therapy services, you will find here my music education services focusing on improvisation.
What is Gestalt therapy with music?
Music Gestalt therapy is a creative development of classical Gestalt therapy that combines music with Gestalt therapeutic methods. It harnesses the power of sounds, rhythms, instruments and one’s own voice to stimulate inner processes, express emotions and facilitate new experiences in the here and now.
Gestalt therapy with music was developed in Berlin at Institute for Gestalt Therapy and Gestalt Pedagogy, in a team around the Psychotherapist Ruth Reinboth. In 2025, the tenth cohort of trainees began. It is a versatile process that can be used in work with individuals, groups, and families or parents, with children, adolescents, and adults, as well as in couples therapy. It finds application in educational, special educational, psychotherapeutic, and psychiatric contexts.
The basis of this method is the Gestalt therapy, which offers both the theoretical and methodological foundation for the use of musical instruments. In contrast to purely technique-oriented approaches, Gestalt therapy with music allows for a Process-oriented and relationship-focused working. My attitude as a Gestalt therapist is Dialogic and experimental embossed.
In the therapeutic encounter I become the „instrument“ as a therapist and let the verbal and non-verbal, physical and musical expressions of the clients affect me and respond to them. Each Intervention – be it silence, speaking, or making music – is theoretically driven and spontaneous simultaneously.
The Gestalt therapy with music is both a active (self-playing) as well as receptive (auditory and perceptual) understanding of the music therapy method. Playing together, listening, and allowing the sounds to have an effect create a complex sound field in which the instruments function as carriers of contact. Sounds, rhythms, and melodies become spontaneous, improvised expressions of the contact process – whether in dialogue or in a group setting.
If you’d like to find out more about the background to this form of therapy, have a listen to our podcast ‘Gestaltmurmeln’. Sign up to my newsletter so you don’t miss any new episodes. You’ll find more exciting content if you follow me on Instagram, Facebook or YouTube. Simply click on the relevant logo.
If you’re looking for playful ways to make music, do have a look at the ‘Circle Singing’ section on my website. I complement my music therapy work with sessions in Berlin and Potsdam focusing on improvisation, the voice and community.
What happens during a Gestalt therapy session?
Every session is unique and is guided by your current topics. A session often consists of the following content:
- Mindfulness exercisesYou are learning to consciously perceive your thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations.
- TrySometimes we try out new behaviours or perspectives, for example through role-playing or imaginative exercises.
- Physical work The body stores memories and emotions. Through focused attention, you can release blockages.
- Creative methodsPainting, writing or exercise help to make inner processes visible.
For me, as a therapist working with Gestalt, it is important to help you accompany, without judging or offering solutions. Instead, I will support you in your search, your own answers to be found. The integrative element in every session is particularly important to me as a psychotherapist. The goal is to integrate the new experiences into your Everyday life to transfer.
Please do get in touch if you have any further questions. I’d be happy to arrange a no-obligation initial consultation with you at my practice for music therapy and Gestalt therapy in Berlin or Potsdam.
Can I also start Gestalt therapy with you without music?
Yes, that is of course also possible.
I use music as a creative medium depending on the situation; in other words, we work together to develop an experiment based on our interaction, with the aim of deepening the experience. To this end, we use language as the most important and concrete form of communication. In general, therefore, the therapeutic conversation takes up the greater proportion of the session in terms of time. If you do not have access to music, you are just as welcome at my practice. If necessary, we can use other creative methods such as movement or drawing.
Please do get in touch with me if you have any questions. I’d be happy to arrange a no-obligation initial consultation with you at my practice for music therapy and Gestalt therapy in Berlin or Potsdam.
How does Gestalt therapy work with music?
Music gestalt therapy is not about making „beautiful“ music or proving musical skills. Instead, it focuses on spontaneous, intuitive making music In the foreground – similar to open play. As a therapist, I will guide you through your inner images, feelings, and unspoken themes using music and sound. visible and audible to do.
Typical elements of music psychotherapy:
- Improvisation: You play or sing freely, without sheet music or instructions. This can be done on instruments such as drums, piano, guitar, or also with the voice – with me or on your own.
- Active listening Sometimes it's about consciously perceiving music and feeling what it triggers within you. This could be a song that is meaningful to you, or music that I create for you.
- Body and Movement Music has a direct effect on the body. Movement, dance, or feeling vibrations can be part of the therapy.
- Dialogue with the help of music: As a therapist, I invite you to connect through music – with yourself, for example with unconscious parts of your personality, or with me.
If you’d like to find out more about the background to this form of therapy, have a listen to our podcast ‘Gestaltmurmeln’. Sign up to my newsletter so you don’t miss any new episodes. You’ll find more exciting content if you follow me on Instagram, Facebook or YouTube. Simply click on the relevant logo.
What distinguishes Gestalt therapy with music from classical music therapy?
Music therapy is a very vast field. They exist for different target audiences how children or elderly people and in combination with medical areas of expertise. Sometimes the social aspect in the foreground, sometimes the therapy of a bodily or mental suffering. If it is a psychotherapeutic approach, the underlying procedure, along with the respective concept of humanity and worldview, is a distinguishing feature. Thus, there are, for example, a systemic, an anthroposophical and a psychodynamic music therapy.
The Gestalt therapy with music differs from other music therapy approaches primarily through its fundamental approach and methodological orientation. In music therapy, music is often used intentionally to achieve specific objectives to be achieved, such as relaxation or motor skill development. In music-centred psychotherapy, however, the individual process is the focus.
Whilst music therapy often relies on specific techniques and exercises – such as playing instruments in a targeted manner, singing or listening to music – to achieve therapeutic goals, music-Gestalt therapy focuses on the relational process. The emphasis here is less on applying pre-established methods and more on spontaneous, process-oriented work in the here and now.
Another key difference lies in the posture of the music therapist. In Gestalt therapy with music, they themselves are part of the therapeutic field – they allow the musical and non-verbal expressions of the patient to affect them and respond to them in a dialogical process. The interventions, whether silence, speaking or making music, arise in the moment and are always tied to the current dynamics of contact oriented.
Music-focused gestalt therapy also connects diagnosis and therapy in a special and integrative way: sounds, rhythms, and melodies are understood as expressions of interaction and simultaneously serve as a tool to deepen this interaction. In classical music therapy, however, diagnosis and therapy are often viewed more separately.
If you want to learn more about music therapy, I recommend the service of German Music Therapy Association (DmtG). On the very homepage of the DmtG, you will find extensive information about the broad field of music therapy: from the latest study on the psychological effectiveness of music therapy for various mental disorders to foundational publications on music therapy research, fields of work for music therapists (such as trauma therapy, music therapy for children and their parents, couples therapy), current press reports, and training opportunities to become a music therapist. Furthermore, the DmtG publishes the specialist journal „Musiktherapeutische Umschau“ four times a year.
If you are looking for music therapy support, please do get in touch with me. I would be happy to arrange a no-obligation initial consultation with you at my practice for music therapy and Gestalt therapy in Berlin or Potsdam.
Mit einer Anmeldung zu meinem Newsletter verpassen Sie keinen interessanten Inhalt mehr.
Is therapy also possible online?
Generally speaking, I prefer to work face-to-face in person. However, this is not always possible – for example, if you live a long way away or have limited mobility. That is why I also offer sessions via video call or telephone. Naturally, I use a service that takes data protection seriously.
Please get in touch so that we can find the right setting.
Who is Gestalt therapy with music suitable for?
Music therapy can be particularly helpful when:
- You find it difficult to put your feelings into words.
- You are suffering from stress, anxiety or depression.
- You are looking for new ways to cope with grief, loss or crises.
- You would like to rediscover your creativity and zest for life.
- You are experiencing physical tension or pain linked to psychological stress.
You don’t need any prior musical training whatsoever! Music-based Gestalt therapy is open to everyone – regardless of musical experience. So you don’t need to be able to read music, sing or play an instrument. Why not arrange a no-obligation initial consultation at my practice for Gestalt therapy and music therapy in Berlin and Potsdam to get to know me and my approach better?
If you’d like to find out more about the background to this form of therapy, have a listen to our podcast ‘Gestaltmurmeln’.
If you’re looking for playful ways to make music, do have a look at my Circle Singing page. I complement my work in music therapy with sessions in Berlin and Potsdam focusing on improvisation, the voice and community.
How much did a session cost?
During the initial consultation, we will clarify the financial framework. The aim is to find an agreement that is acceptable to both parties.
As a rule, the following applies:
50 minutes individual therapy costs 90 Euros.
If you have any further questions, please get in touch with me by phone or by email.
Is Gestalt therapy covered by health insurance?
Gestalt therapy is a recognised form of psychotherapy that has evolved from psychoanalysis and is based on a humanistic world view. In Germany, it is not automatically covered by statutory health insurance (GKV), as it is not one of the approved treatment methods (depth psychology-based psychotherapy, behavioural therapy, analytical psychotherapy). Those undergoing the treatment often find it very valuable, and ‘Gestalt’ research also highlights its positive psychological effects in numerous publications.
The following options are available for covering the costs:
- Private health insurance (PKV): Some private insurers cover the costs of Gestalt therapy – please check this with your private insurer on a case-by-case basis.
- Supplementary insurance: in some cases, it may be worth taking out supplementary insurance for treatment using alternative therapies, as this may reimburse part of the costs.
- Self-payment: Most Gestalt therapists work in private practice and offer self-pay rates for their services. The costs are usually between 60 euros and 120 euros per session.
I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have about Gestalt therapy with music as an alternative form of psychotherapy in Berlin and Potsdam.
What does the job title „Heilpraktiker*in for Psychotherapy“ (HP Psych) mean?
In Germany, practising psychotherapy without a licence to practise (state authorisation as a psychological psychotherapist) is only possible with a licence under the Heilpraktikergesetz (HPG). This licence is issued by the relevant public health authority and is subject to strict conditions.
In addition to personal and professional requirements, a comprehensive assessment of suitability is mandatory for registration as a non-medical practitioner. The written and oral examinations cover in-depth knowledge of psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, etc., as well as various therapeutic approaches and specialist areas, including psychosomatics, psychology and psychiatry, psychodynamics, behavioural therapy and trauma therapy. This also includes knowledge of different target groups, such as children, adolescents and adults, and providing support for patients experiencing a crisis. As a non-medical practitioner specialising in psychotherapy (HP Psych.), I am registered with the public health authorities in Berlin and Potsdam.
In addition, the Professional Code of Conduct for Alternative Practitioners (BOH) sets out important obligations for alternative practitioners, such as the handling of sensitive data and the duty of confidentiality.
If you would like further information, please contact me by telephone or email. Arrange a no-obligation initial consultation with me. I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have about my Gestalt therapy with music services in Berlin and Potsdam.
I also offer therapy for English speakers. Please use the language switch to read all the information in English.
How long does therapy usually take?
The duration of Gestalt therapy varies greatly from person to person. It can be short-term therapy (10 to 25 sessions) can help with acute issues such as stress or conflicts, but also medium-term (25 to 50 sessions) or long-term (over 50 sessions) when it comes to deeper patterns or personal development.
Your goals, the nature of your concerns, and the dynamic between you as the client and me as the therapist are crucial. Sessions usually take place weekly rather, when needed later. at greater intervals. We will reflect on the development together and flexibly adjust the duration – always at the centre your personal process.
If you have any further questions, please get in touch with me by phone or by email.