Dr. Janina Botsford
Psychotherapist
Available for new clients
I am a licensed psychotherapist with over 12 years of experience supporting individuals, couples, and families of all ages and backgrounds.
I specialize in:
At a glance
Last active
Experienced on It's ComplicatedAbout 6 years on It's Complicated
Offers free 20 minute introductory callThis provider offers a free introductory call
Your story is important.Feel free to contact me here if you feel that we could be a good fit.
Usually responds within 24 hours
About me
I am a clinical psychologist and licensed psychotherapist with Croatian and American roots. After more than a decade of living and working in Berlin, I now call Freiburg im Breisgau my home. My international background and life in different cultures have shaped how I connect with the people I work with. Since opening my own practice in 2019, most of my clients have been expats.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of accompanying people through many different stages of life. What inspires me most is seeing clients grow — whether that means gaining confidence, finding healthier ways of relating, or discovering new strengths they didn’t know they had. For me, it is deeply rewarding to witness these moments of change and to be a steady support along the way.
My own path has always been guided by curiosity about human connection. Already during my university studies, I began supporting therapeutic processes with young adults as a co-therapist. That was when I realized how meaningful this work is for me. Later, my PhD research at Freie Universität Berlin focused on interpersonal trust in patients with mental health issues. At the same time, I opened my first practice, where I continued to explore how trust, safety, and meaningful relationships can foster growth — even in times of difficulty. I initially worked mainly with women between 20 and 50, focusing on emotion regulation, loneliness, and self-worth. Over time, my client base expanded to individuals of all ages and genders, as well as couples and families.
I speak:
EnglishGerman
Location:
Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
Approach
Treatment Approaches
CBT: Cognitive behavioral therapyRecommended for those looking for practical support and accountability to change unhelpful thinking and behaviors.
Ego-state therapyRecommended for those who want to explore and heal different parts of themselves, especially if they feel like different "states" or versions of themselves emerge in certain situations.
Integrative therapy Recommended for those who prefer a flexible approach that combines different therapies to meet their unique needs.
What I try to create in my sessions is a style of psychotherapy that I would describe both as deep and meaningful and sometimes even poetic (I am often struck by words my clients find in moments of clarity), while also being clear, pragmatic, and hands-on. I want you to always know what we are doing in therapy and why. My goal is that, by the end of our work together, you feel confident in understanding yourself and equipped with practical tools to handle future challenges — becoming the professional of your own life.
My foundation is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), the most modern and research-based form of therapy. CBT provides both insight and structure through:
• Psychoeducation – understanding what led to your difficulties
• Practical tools – exercises, coping strategies, and worksheets to build new skills
• Protocols – helping us track where you are and measure progress
I also integrate other approaches to meet you more fully:
• Psychodynamic techniques – exploring what you’ve learned about yourself, others, and the world from early experiences an understanding present interpersonal dynamics
• Parts work – working with different “parts” of yourself (such as the critic, the protector, the vulnerable side) so they can cooperate rather than conflict; this approach can bring deep healing across many struggles
• Mindfulness-based methods – cultivating presence, calm, and self-awareness while reducing unhelpful spirals of thought
At the heart of it all is the therapeutic relationship. Feeling safe, respected, and understood is the foundation that makes real change possible.
Experience
12 years in practiceAbout 6 years at It's Complicated
Since 2025 Working with individuals of all ages and genders in own practice both online and in person in Freiburg im Breisgau
2022-2025 Working with children, adolescents and families at ZGFU Berlin
2021 - 2022 Working with children, adolescents and families at "Medigreif Inselklinik Usedom"
2019-2025 Clinical psychologist and psychotherapist (HeilprG) with own practice in Berlin
2018 Heilpraktiker für Psychotherapie
2017 - 2019 Clinical Interviews with patients with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at Hochschulambulanz Freie Universität Berlin
Since 2016 Postgradual training for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for children and adolescents at ZGFU Berlin
2015 - 2020 PhD program in clinical psychology at Freie Universität Berlin (Research topic: Interpersonal trust in Borderline Personality Disorder)
2013 - 2015 Working as a co-therapist at the psychotherapy center at Philipps Universität Marburg
Education
2016- 2025 Postgradual training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for children, adolescents and families at ZGFU Berlin
2018 Heilpraktikerin für Psychotherapie
2017-2020 PhD in Clinical Psychology at Freie Universität Berlin (Dissertation topic: Interpersonal trust in patients with Borderline Personality Disorder)
2014 Diplom Psychologie, Philipps Universität Marburg, Germany
Cost
Free 20 minute introductory callSliding scale starting at €100
Individual Session
€120 (50 minutes)
Couples Session
€130 (50 minutes)
Couples
€180 (90 minutes)
Family Session
€130 (50 minutes)
Family
€180 (90 minutes)
Insurances
Private PayPrivate Insurance
At a glance
Last active
Experienced on It's ComplicatedAbout 6 years on It's Complicated
Offers free 20 minute introductory callThis provider offers a free introductory call
Your story is important.Feel free to contact me here if you feel that we could be a good fit.
Usually responds within 24 hours
Explore more
My publications
Autobiographical memories of interpersonal trust in borderline personality disorderBorderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Regulation
Interpersonal Trust: Development and Validation of a Self-Report Inventory and Clinical Application in Patients With Borderline Personality DisorderJournal of Personality Disorders
„Der Wolf im Schafspelz“: Ambulante entwicklungsangepasste kognitive Verhaltenstherapie nach Traumatisierung durch ZwangsprostitutionDie Psychotherapie
Usually responds within 24 hours