Philosophy

The pun “mind gap” as a practice name represents our philosophy and approach as psychotherapists.

We will all inevitably experience crises, disruptions, transitions, stress, and illness in our lives. These often represent a break from our previous perspective on things—things we may have perceived as “fixed” until then. Sometimes we feel abandoned, disappointed, overwhelmed, alienated, or distant from ourselves, our families, our friends, and society.

Even if we have successfully overcome crises in the past using our own strengths, resources, friends, and family, the nature or intensity of this particular challenge may have led to a sense of being overwhelmed, exhausted, and/or disoriented.

While crises, transitions, and illness represent a burden, they also offer many new opportunities and possibilities for long-term positive change and personal growth.

As with the famous announcement on the London Underground, it often helps in life to:

“Mind the gap between the train and the platform”

It is worthwhile for each of us to take our next steps mindfully.

Often, how and what we think, feel, and do seems to happen automatically, so we frequently perceive it as “fixed” and “unchangeable.” Sometimes we cannot influence what happens to us or around us. But we can decide how we want to deal with the things that life brings our way.

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

Viktor E. Frankl (1905–1997), Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist

Psychotherapy, meditation, and concentration and memory training promote and maintain the processes in our brain. Today, brain research confirms what many, including Frankl, have described before. Even into old age, our brain is capable of adjusting and adapting to changes, as well as “relearning.”

In our collaboration, we want to create exactly this space with you.

Growth and well-being emerge in a space of appreciative encounter, empathetic support, and respectful cooperation on equal footing. This is how we interact within the Mind Gap team. And this is exactly how we want to support you with your concerns and your next steps.

We look forward to meeting you.

Yours, Britta Oberste-Dommes and team