It's Complicated

Aranja Berkmüller

(She/they)

Counsellor

Available for new clients
I counsel people who understand their problems intellectually, but don't feel like anything has really been changing. I also counsel people who feel like they don't quite fit in with everyone else.

I specialise in:

At a glance
Berlin, GermanyAvailable in-person and online
Note from AranjaI'm available Wed & Fri online, Thu in person. I only take bookings via Calendly (not on It's Complicated) at www.calendly.com/aranjab
Illustration of a smiling sun peeking over a cloud, symbolizing warmth and positivity for connecting with the therapist.
Usually responds within 24 hours

About me

** Booking link: www.calendly.com/aranjab Please book your Core Session intro call using the link above. I don't take bookings on It's Complicated :) I believe we change when we experience, rather than just cognitively understand, something new. Talking and intellectualising is helpful to a point, but it has its limits. Maybe this has been your experience. My practice is focused on showing, not telling, our inner system and body that it is safe to try a new way of being. When we have a felt experience and embodied understanding of making a positive change, then we can actually shift our behaviour in ways that actually last. I support my clients in building new experiences using creative, imaginative, visual, unusual and, above all, body-based tools. Instead of knowing cognitively what you "should" be doing, you get to live it. ----------------------- I work with people who feel different or eccentric in some way, because talk-based approaches don't always work for them. Even if they live a seemingly normal life, many have a sense of being somehow out of alignment, reactive, and driven by old patterns. Many of my clients are creatives, thinkers, travellers. They are curious, have a strong moral compass, and feel deeply for the world. My clients are also people who have been othered by the dominant culture they live in. This could be because of their cultural background, neurodivergence, sexual orientation, gender, or lifestyle (e.g. poly, kinky). Many of them have been told, directly or indirectly, that they should fit into a certain norm and that doing things their way is indicative of a mental health issue or maladaptive behaviour. No wonder so many choose to mask and do their best to fit in. I’m here to help you with your baggage without pathologising what makes you unique. ----------------------- My most important qualifications are not the trainings I’ve done. The true value of my work comes from my life’s encounters, my ability to see core issues quickly, and my irreverent sense of humour. In my sessions I meet you as a human first and foremost. I also draw from my experience growing up in some of the world's most disadvantaged regions, my career in international development, my creative business centred around kink and body-positivity, stints in social work, being a full-time caregiver, my work as a death doula and grief counsellor, volunteering in psychedelic crisis support and sitting in parks inviting strangers to talk to me about their challenges. As a person of mixed heritage who moved frequently as a child, often switches careers and hobbies, and doesn’t live life on the straight and narrow, I understand what it’s like to not quite fit in. Being queer, poly, a person of color and a little neurodivergent taught me firsthand what marginalisation feels like. Throw in an interest in taboo topics such as death, grief, kink and psychedelics and the chaos is complete. I encourage you to get to know me a little better by taking a stroll around my website. I share a lot about my views and values, and rant about things that annoy me :) If what you see on my website resonates, you can book a Core Issues Session intro call where I a) give you my honest opinion on what I think is going on for you at the core, and b) give you my professional take on how to get out of the mess. You'll find more information about me on www.amplified-humanity.com If you think we could be a fit, you can book the Core Issue Session intro call at www.calendly.com/aranjab Bring a cup of tea and let's talk! Website: www.amplified-humanity.com Telegram: @AmplifiedHumanity Whatsapp: +4917687885929 Email: hello[at]amplified-humanity.com

I speak:

EnglishGermanThai

Connect with me:

Location:

Kinzigstraße, 10247 Berlin, Germany

Media Gallery

Approach

Treatment Approaches
Psychedelic integration therapyRecommended for those who have had psychedelic experiences and want help understanding and integrating the insights into their everyday life for personal growth and self-discovery.
Somatic coachingRecommended for those who want to use body awareness and movement to release emotional tension and promote personal growth.
Systemic ApproachRecommended for those who want to look at how different systems—like family, work, or society—affect their behavior and relationships.
I believe healing is a natural process that takes place when we feel safe enough to do so. I support you to reach that space and navigate the mess – with humour, heartfelt care, and a gentle no-bullshit attitude. I show up as a person first and foremost and as a practitioner second. I’m not interested in only being your mirror and asking “how do you feel about that?” and scribbling mysteriously into my notepad... I think it's important to share my impressions because it can feel very unsafe to have a practitioner ask you questions based on hidden thoughts and hypotheses that they never share with you. I step back, but I also offer my observations where appropriate and you are always welcome to disagree with and correct me. My sessions are an invitation to examine an issue and experiment with it. We can try out creative, visual, somatic or thought-based exercises and see how your system responds. My body-based counselling tends to have the strongest results, but there is nothing wrong with talk-based sessions if somatics are not your cup of tea. My process is open and non-linear and is effective because we remove the pressure of achieving a certain result, something I think we already have too much of under capitalism. Instead, we work with an intention, but stay away from "treatment goals" because it divides results into "success" and "failure". We're not here to judge, but to gently test things out at the end of our comfort zone. It's about getting to know your habitual responses and offering your system new experiences in order to set you on a new path. I don't believe that mental health is an individual issue, especially if you are dealing with structural injustice and find yourself in situations of limited choice. Together we find a balance between what is your responsibility and what is not. You can talk to me about sensitive topics such as kink, poly relationships, sex work, death and dying, psychedelics etc. We can also address things that you may feel shame around such as sex, disordered eating, money, compulsive habits, or regrets. I'm here for it. HOW TO BOOK SESSIONS: I work online Wednesdays and Fridays, and in person on Thursdays. Please note that I don't use It's Complicated for bookings as I already have a booking platform. You can see the complete list of my available slots and book all my offers at https://calendly.com/aranjab Offers include: Individual sessions Relationship sessions (Couple/polycule/family/friendship) Deep Conversation: when you don't want to be counselled, but just want to have a meaningful conversation, receive some guidance, or get a second opinion 30min Quick Personal Guidance: when you want my insight on a small matter Kink Coaching: when you want support with a kink-related topic Psychedelic Preparation/Integration Looking forward to meeting you! Booking link: https://calendly.com/aranjab

Experience

2023 - current: systemic and psychological counsellor and coach at amplified-humanity.com 2019 - 2023: counsellor for queer and trans* people of colour at Casa Kuà 2019 - current: volunteer in psychedelic crisis support at eclipse e.V. 2016 - current: kink coach, lingerie designer and founder at Pique Lingerie 2016: full-time caregiver to terminally ill family member 2015: sabbatical to establish new direction personally and professionally 2006 - 2014: international development and aid work specialising in human rights, gender, and poverty reduction

Education

2022 - 2023: Recognising and Healing Developmental Trauma and Early Injuries - Relationship and Safety with Clients, Dami Charf 2022 - 2023: Psychological and Systemic Coach and Counsellor, Verbund freier Trainer und Coaches 2020: Death Doula training (Sterbebegleitung), Hospizdienst Horizont 2010: Postgraduate program in International Development, Humboldt University Berlin 2006 - 2007: Master of Science in International Development Studies, University Utrecht 2003 - 2006: Bachelor of Arts in Social Science, University College Utrecht

Services

Individual Session

€95 1 hr Online & In-person
Please note that my sessions last a full 60 minutes i.e. 20% longer than the standard 50-minute therapy “hour”. I work on a subscription basis of 2 or 3 sessions per month. Each session is €95. For in person sessions there is an add-on fee of €20/hr to cover the space rental. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out!

60min Couple/Family/Friendship session

€140 1 hr Online & In-person
2-person sessions last 60 minutes. I work on a subscription basis of 2 sessions per month. Each session is €140. If you'd like to add a third person (e.g. polycule partner), we can talk about that. For in person sessions there is an add-on fee of €20/hr to cover the space rental. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out!

Insurances

Private Pay
At a glance
Berlin, GermanyAvailable in-person and online
Note from AranjaI'm available Wed & Fri online, Thu in person. I only take bookings via Calendly (not on It's Complicated) at www.calendly.com/aranjab
Illustration of a smiling sun peeking over a cloud, symbolizing warmth and positivity for connecting with the therapist.
Usually responds within 24 hours

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My publications

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