Dr. Mark Kroll-Fratoni

I offer psychodynamic psychotherapy, officially recognized as an empirically supported, evidence-based form of treatment in the German health care system under the name “tiefenpsychologisch fundierte Psychotherapie." By helping to understand the underlying causes and context for distress, psychodynamic psychotherapy helps to foster long-term, sustainable change that goes beyond short-term symptom relief, such as increased self-acceptance, openness to others and the world, increased capacity for giving and receiving love, healthier and more productive relationship to work, and increased sense of creativity, agency, and responsibility. In addition to the psychodynamic tradition, my general approach is grounded in an existential and humanistic orientation that includes respect for the dignity and worth of every person, which has several concrete implications for my work. First, I believe that every treatment needs to be tailored to the needs, personality, and circumstances of the individual patient. Second, while acknowledging the reality of human limits, I focus on that which is uniquely good in each individual, with an eye toward activating inner strengths and resources that increase resilience in negotiating current challenges. Furthermore, I integrate elements of CBT and solution-focused strategies when appropriate to provide short-term symptom relief alongside deeper exploration. Moreover, my academic and clinical training in cultural diversity, personal experience living in a foreign culture, and extensive professional experience with patients representing a vast array of diverse backgrounds (encompassing different nationalities, ethnic backgrounds, native languages, religious beliefs and traditions, and physical and intellectual abilities) has contributed to my multicultural approach to therapy informed by a deep sensitivity to individual and cultural difference.

2014 – present: Private practice in Cologne, Germany 2018 – 2020: Psycho-oncology, Cologne University Hospital, Germany 2016 – 2018: Employed psychotherapist in a public outpatient psychotherapy practice, Cologne, Germany 2014 – 2016: Psycho-oncology, Cologne University Hospital, Germany 2012 – 2013: APA-accredited internship, Cornerstone Behavioral Health / Mountain Regional Services, Inc. (developmental disabilities + severe mental illness, substance abuse, outpatient psychotherapy), Evanston, WY, USA 2010: Supervisor of undergraduate research, Duquesne University Psychology Department, Pittsburgh, USA 2009 – 2010: Clinic coordinator, Duquesne University Psychology Clinic, Pittsburgh, PA, USA 2009 – 2010: Clinical practicum, Chatham University Counseling Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA 2008 – 2009: Instructor for undergraduate psychology courses, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA 2006 – 2010: Therapist-in-training, Duquesne University Psychology Clinic, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

2015: Eintrag ins Arztregister für tiefenpsychologisch fundierte Psychotherapie (ability to bill German health insurance for psychodynamic psychotherapy) (Kassenärztliche Vereinigung Nordrhein) 2015: Certification for psycho-oncology (Institute for Psychosocial Oncology, Bonn, certified by the German Cancer Society) 2014 - present: Licensed Psychotherapist in Germany (“Psychologischer Psychotherapeut”) 2014 – 2015: Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Wyoming, USA 2013: Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA 2007: M.A. in Psychology, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA 2006: B.S. in Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA 2006: B.A. in Religious Studies, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA