Denis Neumüller
Psychologist
As a german and english speaking psychologist and coach/supervisor, I have been supporting people for over ten years. #ONLINE #IN YOUR ORGANISATION #IN NATURE: HikeWithAPsych Portugal
I specialise in:
About me
Hi, I’m Denis. The first thing I should probably mention is that I have a bit of an aversion to self-marketing… but I’ll give it a try anyway! ;-)
I am a 39-year-old psychologist with over 10 years of experience in the mental health field, working with children, adolescents, and adults in a wide range of contexts. I grew up and completed most of my professional training in Germany. However, drawn by my passion for surfing and the ocean, I have lived, studied, and worked in various parts of the world—including New Zealand and Portugal. Today, I split my time between Germany and Portugal. For the past six years, I have also navigated the joys and challenges of being a parent.
My work has always been shaped by my life as an advocate for social change. I believe psychology is not just about "fixing" the individual, but about understanding the society we live in and shape every day. My goal isn’t just to help you "adjust" to your circumstances, strive for constant self-optimization, or simply "cope" (though I recognize that is sometimes a necessary part of the process).
In our work together, I strive to be: • Collaborative: My priority is to create a space grounded in genuine solidarity and an eagerness to truly understand your point of view. • Non-normative: I look at the social and professional pressures—past and present—such as gender norms, lifestyle expectations, or rigid workplace cultures that constrain how we live, think, and feel. • Non-pathologizing: I prioritize your lived experience and perspective without imposing clinical labels or "expert" authority. • Self-reflective: I recognize how social positioning and discrimination shape our interactions, and I am committed to remaining sensitive to the power dynamics involved in the therapeutic process.
To provide a wider lens on personal development, I often incorporate insights from sociology and philosophy into our sessions.
I work with a wide range of individuals, with a particular focus on: • Work-Related Issues: Navigating job transitions, difficult workplace relationships, and burnout. • Life Transitions: Supporting adolescents and adults through the complexities of modern life. • Professional Supervision & Coaching: Providing guidance for those in the helping professions, higher education, culture, and business.
I speak:
Location:
Approach
Procedure and Process
First Contact: Send me a message, and we can arrange a free 15-minute introductory session to see if we are a good fit.
Transparency & Process Orientation: It is important to me that we are always on the same page. In addition to regular "check-ins" at the start and "check-outs" at the end of each session, we will do a more in-depth reflection every five sessions. This allows us to discuss how the process feels, decide whether to continue, and adjust our direction if needed.
The Session Format: I generally do not follow rigid manuals or "ready-made" procedures. Instead, our sessions will feel like a natural conversation. I will invite you to share the stories of your life, and together we will structure your thoughts, gain new perspectives, and find ways to move forward. This often involves exploring the unconscious dynamics in your relationship with yourself, others (parents, partners, colleagues), and the structures that shape your daily life.
Theoretical & Practical Foundations For those interested in the deeper framework of my work: My practice is rooted in Reflexive Supervision and Social Science-Based Counselling. I draw on Critical Psychology to examine how theoretical and applied psychology function within our society.
My work is guided by: • The Psychodynamic Approach: With a specific emphasis on transference and relational dynamics. • Critical Thought: Incorporating materialist and queer-feminist perspectives, as well as abolitionist and post-colonial theory. • Practice Theory: This framework helps us understand that our psyche, subjectivity, and mental health are not just things "inside our heads." Instead, they are both the product and the prerequisite of our daily practices—ranging from how we practice love and relationships to our professional habits and even "banal" routines like cleaning the kitchen. • Structural Competency: Moving beyond individual symptoms to address systemic realities. • The PTMF: Using the Power Threat Meaning Framework as a non-pathologizing alternative to traditional diagnosis.
Methodological Tools: I draw from a diverse toolkit to support our dialogue, including: • Humanistic Psychology (Person-Centered Therapy) • Narrative Therapy • Systemic Counselling • Nature Therapy
"Hike with a Psych"
Beyond online sessions, I offer “Hike with a Psych”—a counselling format combining reflective conversations with movement in nature. These sessions take place about 1.5 hours south of Lisbon, on the Rota Vicentina and hidden trails I’ve discovered as a surfer and outdoor enthusiast—secluded beaches, breathtaking viewpoints, and peaceful forest paths. Inspired by nature therapy, this setting provides a unique space to reflect, gain clarity, and reconnect. Contact me for a customised offer.
Experience
- Self-employed as a supervisor and counsellor for the past five years
- Several years of experience in counselling teachers, school social workers, parents, and students at a school psychology counselling centre
- Experience in designing and facilitating seminars, workshops, and conferences
- Teaching, lectures, and academic publications on Critical Psychology, the ecological crisis, and commoning
Education
2006-2013 "Diplom Psychologe" (equivalent to M.Sc. in psychology) (University of Freiburg, University of Auckland), minor in sociology
2021-2024 DGSv-certified postgraduate Master's programme in Supervision and Counselling, University of Bielefeld
Services
Intro Call
Individual Session
Individual Session
Hike With A Psych Portugal
Insurances
