Marlayna Richardson

I am originally from the US and proud to come from a mixed Black and Indigenous American background. So far, I have worked and studied in the US, UK, Australia, Sweden, and now Germany! I know what it is like to be on the move and all the stress, loneliness, and fear that can come with that, so anyone who has experienced a similar way of life (whether by choice or by conflict) is especially welcome! How I Work: Working on your well being should be a journey that happens through empathy and understanding. This is a personal process, so I always work in a person-centered way (this means that art-making is not required in our sessions). Why Art? Finding the right words of expression is not always easy; creative engagement with the arts provides the opportunity to express, grow, and explore yourself on a deeper subconscious level, where words alone are not always adequate. In fact, by engaging in art-making within a safe therapeutic relationship, you can create neural pathways that will help you to connect with yourself and others, it can even help you achieve healthier behaviors! Therapy or Counseling? While working in Germany, it is important to clarify that here, my services are called 'Psychologische Beratung' which means psychological counseling. This is because, in Germany, the word for 'Therapy' is classified as a medical treatment for healing clinical diagnoses. And since I work in a non-pathologizing way, the German's clinical practice of therapy is not a service I provide.