Help with Depression and Depressive Moods

Depression eats away your life. Reclaim it, bit by bit.

So, where does depression even come from?

Am I just like my parents with this? Like my mom or my dad?
Or did it start after an accident or when I got sick?
Could being totally worn out have pushed me into depression?
Could feelings of being useless and worthless make me feel depressed?

Depression is an inner state turned away from life.
Mentally, emotionally, and physically.
The path to healing involves turning inward, towards yourself.
The fundamental first step is making the conscious choice to face where you are,
right now.

Dear Client,

It's often tough to reach out for help. Gathering the strength to believe that life can improve and become easier again can feel like a real challenge. We all yearn for a space where we can simply be ourselves and find someone who listens with genuine care and understanding. I want to offer you just such a sanctuary.

Together, we'll also explore how to make your overall life situation more life-affirming, recognizing that a weary body can indeed contribute to or even cause depression. Personally, after a severe disc herniation in 2012, I gradually developed a metabolic imbalance and progressively lost my vitality. The transition from deep exhaustion to depression can sometimes be a short one.

Please know that there are many paths leading to depression and exhaustion, and equally as many to find your way back.

Warmly,
Kathryn Hardtke

Articles on Topics

The Dragon | Depression | Anxiety
Understanding Hatred |

To the topic …

The Dragon

Standing Up for Myself, Setting Boundaries The dragon in my logo represents the part within us that defends our true self, our love, and our zest for life; it stands up for us, supports us, and can discern truth from falsehood. The dragon is a heartfelt quality of our soul that acts with fiery and…

To the topic …

Understanding Hatred

Where there’s Hatred, there’s Love “A person who does not have a heart cannot hate, cannot be angry, cannot be hurt, cannot be jealous. Without love there is no such thing as jealousy, hurt, fear, hatred, or anger. All of these things are reactions to the absence of love, to the blockage of it, to…

To the topic …

Anxiety, Fear, Panic

Anxiety as a Two-Component Adhesive Anxiety as a Physical Reaction | When we enter a situation that our brain perceives as an acute danger, physical processes occur that are meant to ensure our biological survival: we become very alert, our heart rate increases, muscle tension rises, and our perception magnifies every little detail in that…

Articles on Topics

The Dragon | Depression | Anxiety
Understanding Hatred |

The qualities that keep us resilient and that tend to miss in our hectic daily lives are joy, enthusiasm, curiosity, empathy, kindness, generosity, relaxation, and confidence.
Depression cuts us of from all theses qualities by shutting down our heart.

The Person behind the Website

About me

I’m 56 years old and I have been engaged with psychological topics for over three decades. My driving force is the desire to authentically live a life filled with love and joy and the wish to grow and expand who I am. For the past 25 years, my primary learning has come through the Diamond Approach®, a teaching introduced by A.H. Almaas in the 1980s that essentially guides us “back home” to our spiritual essence.

My practice as a non-medical psychotherapist (Heilpraktikerin für Psychotherapie) is grounded in the principles of “Client-Centered Psychotherapy” as developed by Carl Rogers*, combined with the “Focusing” method pioneered by E.T. Gendlin*. In my work both of these approaches are deeply informed by the Diamond Approach®’s understanding of human nature.**

I work in close collaboration with the Miss Peppa practice located in Cologne Lövenich. There, we can meet for in-person sessions, or we can connect online for a private session. Each session with me is 50 minutes in duration and costs 80€.

Beyond my work in psychotherapy, I am also a web designer. I enjoy painting, cooking for myself and others and maintain a moderately active lifestyle. I find pleasure and contentment in a simple, creative, and very connceted way of life.

*** About the Methods

Person-Centered Talk Therapy according to Carl Rogers

Rooted in Carl Rogers’ work, Person-Centered Talk Therapy assumes that every individual holds the potential for self-realization and self-healing. The therapeutic process relies on the therapist embodying three key attitudes: empathy, congruence (authenticity), and unconditional positive regard. This creates a supportive environment that enables clients to explore their experiences anew and achieve meaningful, lasting changes. The long-term benefits include greater self-acceptance and enhanced psychological well-being, facilitated by increased mental clarity and internal consistency in how one sees themselves. This approach finds application in psychotherapy, counseling, and education.

Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapy according to Eugene T. Gendlin

Grounded in the work of Eugene T. Gendlin, Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapy highlights the importance of our entire (mental, emotional, and physical) experience within the therapeutic process. The central element is the “felt sense”—a refined awareness of distinct aspects of our experience that allows for deeper insights to emerge. By deliberately noticing and exploring the “felt sense,” internal dynamics become accessible, promoting positive change. This method fosters improved self-awareness, activates the body’s innate healing abilities, and creates a stronger connection between mind and body. Its adaptable nature supports clients in working through emotional blockages. Ultimately, through skillful guidance of these internal processes, “Focusing” promotes greater self-acceptance, clarity of understanding, and enduring emotional resilience.

Aligning perfectly with my own perspective, the Diamond Approach®’s understanding of human nature is inherently positive. It asserts that every person is fundamentally driven by a desire for love and happiness, and possesses an inborn capacity for self-healing and personal development. This natural inclination thrives when we experience loving acceptance and appreciation in how we are seen and engaged with. However, it can also deteriorate or manifest as mistrustful defense mechanisms (such as anger and rage) in the absence of positive treatment.

Before the First Session

Prior to our initial meeting, all you need to do is get in touch with me to schedule an appointment. During our very first encounter, either of us may decide to conclude the conversation after a maximum of 30 minutes and opt not to proceed with therapy. This allows both of us the opportunity to get to know each other without any contractual obligations. This initial 30-minute period is free of charge for you. However, should we work together for a full 50-minute session, the standard fee of €80 will apply, regardless of whether or not a subsequent session is scheduled. I will let you know after 30 minutes so you can decide freely.

Before the Second Session

During the first session, I will provide you with a Treatment Agreement outlining and confirming the legal framework for our work together. You can also preview and download the Treatment Agreement in the section below.

Additionally, I will give you an Intake Form, which asks for detailed information about your personal situation. To best support you, it is important for me to have some background information. Furthermore, the Intake Form can help you reflect on your situation in a unique way and focus on your goals for our collaborative work. Gaining clarity about your aspirations for your personal future – what you wish to let go of and what you would like to invite into your life – is a positive starting point and a very important part of the process.

Therefore, please bring the signed Treatment Agreement and the completed Intake Form to our second session.

A Few Sessions Later

A few sessions into our work, I will ask you to complete a Reflection Form. This form serves as a kind of progress assessment for yourself. Becoming aware of the advancements and changes in your physical and emotional well-being, as well as in your life circumstances, can significantly accelerate the process of change. Often, we may believe that everything remains the same, that we NEVER change, and that everything will FOREVER remain difficult. This thought (or rather, thought loop) is a form of internal resistance to change and acts as a blockage, a burden. However, when we can see and name what is changing and what has changed, it connects us with an internal dynamic that is extremely motivating and relieving. Our capacity for anticipation and our sense of self-efficacy are reawakened, drawing us in a positive direction.

Here you can download and view the Treatment Agreement and the Intake Form.

I will bring both documents in printed form to our first session. And if you decide to work with me, you can take them with you to read through, complete, and sign at your leisure at home, and then bring them back to me.

(Downloadable files coming soon)

Costs

A session with me costs 80 euros for 50 minutes. For in-person appointments in Cologne Lövenich, cash payment is welcome. Upon request, you will receive a receipt or an invoice. For online appointments, you will receive an invoice with all the payment details with my confirmation email.

Reimbursement of Psychotherapy Costs

As a general rule, the costs of sessions with non-medical psychotherapists (“Heilpraktiker/innen für Psychotherapie”) are not covered by statutory health insurance funds. This also applies to health insurance companies that cover certain services provided by “Heilpraktiker/innen” in the medical field. However, you are welcome to inquire with your health insurance provider (public or private) or your private supplementary insurance to find out under what circumstances a full or partial reimbursement of costs might be possible.

If you are considering this, you should do so before the start of treatment. Typically, costs for sessions that have already taken place are no longer reimbursed.

My Favorite Quote from My Favorite Book:

“The world is like a magic show – you manifest whatever is inside you. […] .It might be the least likely thing in the world, but if you wholeheartedly want ist, it manifests as if by magic.” – A.H. Almaas, Diamond Heart IV, S.34/35

P.S. It’s important to understand that “wholeheartedly” here means acting free from both conscious and unconscious opposition. The fact is, our wishes frequently don’t materialize because of much unconscious resistance. Therefore, for a wish to genuinely and effectively become “wholehearted,” it often demands considerable internal exploration and a deep understanding of your long-held worldview, self-perception, thoughts, and emotions.

Get in Touch

To make an appointment, you can use the form on the left or send me an email to mail@die-kraft-zum-leben.de or call me at 0178-988 70 30.