Marijana Batan

Hello! I hope this introduction will help you decide if you like to connect with me.
Before studying psychology, I spent several years in helping, medical professions — searching for my true calling — including caring for the elderly and sick, as well as working as a medical assistant in a surgical trauma unit.

Through contact with countless patients, something became clear to me that would shape the rest of my career: the root cause of health and happiness doesn't lie in the body alone. So in 1998, I began studying psychology at the University of Saarbrücken, graduating with a diploma in 2005.

Born myself into an unhappy family, in which the whole program of domestic violence, addiction, helplessness, and lovelessness played out, I searched everywhere for the answer to one question: What is actually going on here? Why are some people happy and others aren't?

In 1994, I had the good fortune to encounter Buddhist teachings — in a tradition that doesn't brush off any question and does not ask you to simply believe, but instead hands you real answers and methods for experiencing the world in a meaningful way. For 2,600 years, the core of the Buddhist teachings has been working with one's own mind in a way that leads to happiness and freedom from suffering. After 32 years of meditation practice, I can confirm:

1. The body can support the mind but mind is boss.
2. The most effective and powerful lever for eliminating suffering is therefore working on the level of the mind.

in 2012 I obtained my license to practice psychotherapy (Heilpraktikerin für Psychotherapie) and opened my own private practice in Berlin, working with individuals and couples. During this time, drawing on years of engagement with the theme of "powerful femininity," I developed my own approach: working with the female psyche with the psychological powers that are rooted in the menstrual cycle. Read more about this on my website: www.marijanabatan.com

I speak German, English, and Croatian fluently, workable Czech and French, and I've recently started learning Greek. I also understand the language of astrology and use it, in the tradition of Stephen Arroyo, to grasp psychological, inner dynamics rather than for prediction. "Serious psychologists don't do astrology," was the common wisdom for a long time, and I kept this ability of mine very much under wraps. But it can't be helped — I simply do understand "astrologian"; it already showed itself at the age of six. Today, I let my clients choose whether they want to use this tool. With a glance at someone's data, I can grasp a great deal about a person in a very short time and ask the right questions earlier. Time, after all, is also money. We might not understand fully how it works, but there are many things between here and the end of the universe that we don't understand. Yet.

When I'm not in session, I write articles on psychological topics, currently I work on a book on the woman's psyche within montly cycle, and spend time with friends and family in Bohemia, Croatia, and Greece.

Fun fact: since 2020, I live completely free of any psychoactive substances (one daily coffee is my one indulgence). This choice grew out of a deep wish to be fully the "mistress of my own house" on a psychological level. Learning to steer your own body's chemistry is a genuinely fascinating undertaking. So I have many years of experience carrying — and enjoying — a sober life. It's not always easy, but it's absolutely possible ;)

A word on background and culture: Understanding the culture of a person deeply is a big plus in psychotherapy and counseling. I am well acquainted with many European traditions and its history and have been in almost all European countries. That is why I prefer to work with people with a European background. Although I am a Buddhist practitioner I was raised Christian and I understand the different expressions of Christianity that are prevalent in Europe. Also when it comes to language, be it Slavic, German, Roman or Greek - I am connected to all of these language families. As language is an expression of how the mind works, if you are from Europe I will very likely understand your way of thinking and feeling easily as well as everything that is connected to our shared history, the cultural norms in Europe and unwritten expectations.
Disclaimer for Hungarians: Hungarian I don't understand languagewise, but having deep roots in Zagreb my family name most likely derives from one of your noble families, the Batthyány. This good old connection can be revived anytime ;)