Bijan Ghaffari-Tabrizi
Gestalt Therapist & Non-medical Practitioner for Psychotherapy
I support people through crises and periods of change. I work from an accepting, humanistic perspective. My focus is on making change not only understandable, but directly experienceable.
I specialise in:
About me
I am fascinated by the complexity of the human psyche. How can we live happy lives and develop healthy relationships with ourselves and others? I am continually amazed by how much there is to discover on the path of self-exploration. It is important to me to remain open to a wide range of human concerns, and I am grateful for the trust placed in me in therapeutic work.
I was born and raised in Hamburg, but I have also been shaped by Persian-Iranian culture alongside the German one. I value the diversity of different cultures as well as the uniqueness of each individual.
Along my life path, I have repeatedly engaged with alternative approaches to ecological sustainability and commons-oriented economic models. I have been part of various community projects and environmental movements, and at university I conducted research on the psychological effects of experiences in nature.
I speak:
Location:
Media Gallery
Approach
I work from a Gestalt therapy perspective: process-oriented, grounded in the present moment, and based on an authentic dialogue at eye level.
The focus is on what is experienced in the moment—thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, impulses, and relational patterns. This often leads to clarity more quickly than purely intellectual analysis. Gestalt therapy supports developing a conscious and honest awareness of oneself. Accepting oneself as one is often becomes a necessary foundation for meaningful and lasting change.
What I value in Gestalt therapy is the less distanced therapeutic role: authentic contact between client and therapist is seen as a central part of the process.
My therapeutic background combines Gestalt therapy, body awareness, and nature-based process work (Vision Quest). This approach can be particularly supportive during significant life transitions—such as career changes, separation, retirement, or broader reorientation—or when searching for one’s place in the world.
Further influences on my work include Nonviolent Communication, mindfulness, and meditation.
I support clients in recognizing inner conflicts and patterns without explaining them away: Where do I lose contact with myself? Where do I override my own boundaries? What do I avoid—and what is seeking expression?
Depending on the situation, the work can be short-term and focused (e.g., decision-making, orientation, conflict resolution) or develop into a longer-term process. Transparency is central: goals, intensity, and changes are regularly reviewed together.
Experience
2024-26 Project Management, Educational and Cultural Center Phönixberg e.G. 2020-21 Book Translation: The Journey of Soul Initiation by Bill Plotkin (Arun Verlag) 2018-20 Research Project: Study on the effectiveness of a therapeutic forest environment for the rehabilitation of patients with chronic back pain 2018-today Chairman of the Board, Institut für Naturorientierung und Lebensstil e.V. 2015-18 Research Associate, Department of Sports Medicine, University of Hamburg 2014-17 Scientific Reviewer, Osteopathy School Germany (OSD)
Education
2025 Licensed Practitioner for Psychotherapy (Heilpraktiker für Psychotherapie) 2025 Vision Quest Guide (School of Lost Borders, Sylvia Koch-Weser) 2024 Gestalt Counseling (in training in Gestalt Therapy), IGF Hamburg 2023 Wilderness Education (Jon Young method, Wildnisschule Seenland) 2018 Nonviolent Communication (Dagmar Bellen) 2019 Deep Ecology / Work That Reconnects (Holon Institute) 2014 Master of Arts in Movement Science (University of Hamburg) 2012 Grief Counseling (Hamburger Gesundheitshilfe)
Services
Intro Call
Individual Session
Individual Session
Insurances
