Mona Katawi da Rocha
Systemic Coach
A safer space for those in complex transitions, living between cultures, or beyond conventional norms. Together, we pause to quiet the noise, offering a place to arrive at home with yourself, exactly as you are.
I specialise in:
About me
Welcome! I’m Mona, and I’m glad you’re here.
My practice is dedicated to those navigating life’s transitions, thresholds, and complex turning points. Rooted in my own multicultural lineage spanning Portugal, Palestine, and Germany, I know what it means to live between worlds and question where you belong.
I spent much of my life feeling like an outsider, sitting in the hallway while doors opened for everyone else, waiting for one that was built for my shape and size. Over time, I came to understand that we are not meant to distort ourselves to fit systems never designed for us. My place was always going to be the hallway, and I learned to turn that threshold into a home.
As a certified systemic coach, I combine deep listening with gentle, structured inquiry. I offer a calm, non-judgmental harbor where you don't have to force yourself into any box. Together, we untangle the noise, honor where you are, and thoughtfully map out what comes next.
I speak:
Location:
Approach
Presence Over Performance
What I offer is closer to accompaniment than traditional coaching. My practice sits between two philosophical foundations:
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Carl Rogers: Transformation through unconditional acceptance, free from agendas for self-improvement.
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Martin Buber (I and Thou): The quiet, healing power of a genuine human meeting where you are seen, not "fixed."
Honoring the "In-Between"
I support individuals in fluid, transitional spaces between cultures, languages, life chapters, and evolving identities. Instead of rushing toward the next certainty, we treat this open state as fertile, creative ground where you can re-imagine who you are. Code-switching across languages and cultures is welcome here; you do not need to translate or justify the nuances you carry.
Systemic Reality & Political Grief
Your internal experience does not exist in a vacuum. I hold space for the weight of political grief, climate distress, and systemic exhaustion without expecting you to stay 'positive' or minimize your reality.
A Space of Radical Belonging
Inspired by the unconditional acceptance of Ballroom houses and chosen families, I offer a non-judgmental harbor. Whether you feel "too much," "too sensitive," or simply out of place, you are welcome here exactly as you are.
I have made my own home in these threshold spaces, and I am here to accompany you as you navigate yours. When you feel ready to connect, we can take it one quiet step at a time (or start with a simple hello).
Experience
1. Relational Practice & Systemic Coaching
Founder & Relational Practitioner | Studio Rocha (2025 – Present)
- Provide one-on-one relational accompaniment for individuals navigating complex life transitions, career pivots, identity shifts, high sensitivity, and experiences of relocation, displacement, or navigating life across borders.
- Facilitate non-judgmental, person-centered spaces focused on presence, depth, and unconditional acceptance.
2. Cultural Mediation, Editorial & Project Direction
Intercultural Project Coordinator & Cultural Mediator | Various Social & Cultural Organizations (Diakonisches Werk, Landesmusikrat Berlin, JaKuS gGmbH) (2018 – Present)
- Multi-year experience coordinating complex, multi-stakeholder projects across international, editorial, and community-building contexts.
- Specialized in first-language counseling, diversity strategy, cross-cultural communication, and supporting individuals navigating new systems, languages, and identities.
3. Text, Translation & Creative Direction
Editorial Consultant, Translator & Language Practitioner | Freelance (2013 – Present)
- Multilingual text development, translation, and cultural mediation for international artistic, educational, and social initiatives.
Education
- Certified Systemic Coach | Certification (2025)
- M.A. (Magister) in Arab Studies & American Studies | University of Leipzig & University of Heidelberg
- DAAD Scholar | Lebanese American University (Focused on Literature, Psychology & Philosophy)
- Therapeutic Art Life Coach | Certification (2021)
- Certified Teacher of German as a Second Language (DaZ) | Certification (2018)
Services
Intro Call
Individual Session
Individual Session
Insurances
