Psychological Counseling Bremen
Psychological Counseling & Coaching in Bremen
Low-threshold support for employees and managers facing stress, burden and professional change — by an experienced occupational physician with coaching qualifications.
- Coaching, counseling and crisis intervention in a workplace context
- Confidential, under medical confidentiality, without stigma
- Individual sessions or accompanying programs — directly through your employer or as self-pay
Our approach
Low-threshold support where strain emerges
The Situation
Stress, overload, conflict and processes of change are part of professional life. What differs is how well people have strategies to cope with these strains. When those strategies no longer suffice, a conversation is often the most effective first step.
Our Approach
We provide no substitute for psychotherapy, but psychological counseling and coaching at the pre-clinical level. The space where many employees can no longer move forward without support, yet are not in acute crisis.
The Advantage
Unlike external coaches or therapists, we bring the occupational medicine perspective. We understand workplace context, organizational dynamics and the interfaces with BEM (workplace reintegration management) — and we work under medical confidentiality.
Legal distinction
Psychological counseling, coaching, psychotherapy — what's the difference?
These three terms are often confused in everyday language — but legally and professionally they are clearly separate. Understanding the difference helps you assess whether our offering fits your need.
Psychological Counseling
Support during normal life situations, stresses and decision-making moments. Experience-, solution- and resource-oriented.
Not a medical treatment — it works with a healthy person on specific topics. Legally not a regulated medical profession.
Coaching
Structured support for individuals or teams during professional change, development or strain phases. Method-based (e.g., systemic, person-centered, wingwave®).
Not a medical treatment, but a learning process. The term "coach" is not legally protected in Germany — we work with recognized certified training qualifications.
Psychotherapy
Treatment of mental illnesses with clinical significance — depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, addiction, etc.
A protected medical profession, in Germany available exclusively through licensed psychotherapists or physicians with corresponding additional certification. We deliberately do not offer this — when appropriate, we refer to colleagues with the required medical licensure.
We operate clearly within counseling and coaching. If an initial consultation reveals a need for psychotherapy, we name this openly and help with the referral — no one is left to navigate this situation alone.
Focus areas
Our focus areas
Stress, Burden & Burnout Prevention
When tension, sleep problems, lack of energy or the feeling of "not quite being present anymore" creep in — often the most inconvenient moment to talk about it, and at the same time the most important. We help recognize patterns of strain and work concretely on adjustable factors.
- Structured stress management
- Identification of stress sources (work, personal, both)
- Development of individual resilience strategies
- Prevention in advance of clinical conditions
BEM Support & Workplace Reintegration
When employees return after extended sick leave — physical or psychological — psychological support is often at least as important as medical. We support reintegration in parallel with the BEM (workplace reintegration management) process.
- Psychological support alongside the BEM conversation
- Coaching during gradual return-to-work
- Conflict resolution with the direct work environment
- Coordination with general practitioners and any treating therapists
Coaching in Professional Crises & Change
Promotion, restructuring, conflict with supervisors, difficult personnel decisions — phases in which clear reflection and external perspective make the difference. Also for managers as individual or multi-session coaching.
- Leadership and role coaching
- Workplace conflict mediation
- Support during change processes
- Crisis intervention after burdensome events (e.g., accident, loss of a colleague)
Methods
The methods we use
We combine several methodological approaches — depending on the topic, the person, and the phase. Here are the main approaches we draw on.
Person-Centered Coaching
An approach developed by Carl Rogers, built on acceptance, authenticity and empathy. Particularly effective where people want to understand themselves and their situation more clearly.
Systemic Coaching
Looks beyond the individual to relationships, roles, organization. Highly effective for conflicts, leadership situations, transitions.
wingwave®-Coaching
A method developed by the Besser-Siegmund-Institut for short-term work on stresses, anxieties and blockages. Uses bilateral hemisphere stimulation — well-researched scientifically, with high acceptance among rational people who want to "get something cleared quickly".
Classic Psychological Counseling
Conversation without a fixed methodological framework — clarification, sorting, decision support. Often the most accessible entry point when the topic is still unclear.
Occasions
When is psychological counseling useful?
There is no wrong moment to reach out. Below are typical situations in which employees and managers come to us.
For employees
- Ongoing stress or exhaustion
- Sleep problems, difficulty concentrating
- Conflict in the team or with supervisors
- Difficulties after a health-related break
- Difficult life situation that reaches into work
- Uncertainty after a burdensome event at work
For managers & companies
- Employees showing concerning patterns of strain
- Teams in conflict or upheaval phases
- Preparation for difficult personnel conversations
- BEM processes that require psychological accompaniment
- Acute crisis intervention after traumatic events
- Coaching for managers in a new role
Process
How a counseling engagement works
- 01 confidential, low-threshold
Phase 1 — Getting in touch
By phone or contact form — either by the employer on behalf of an employee, or directly by the affected person. We briefly discuss what it's about and whether our offering fits.
- 02 60 minutes
Phase 2 — Initial consultation
Sorting, clarifying, joint assessment. The outcome is either a concrete follow-up plan or a recommendation to a different point of contact (e.g., a licensed psychotherapist or counseling center).
- 03 depending on the topic
Phase 3 — Accompanying sessions
Typically 3–8 sessions at intervals of 1–4 weeks. Method and frequency follow the topic and pace — no predefined program.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is the foundation
We understand this is a sensitive topic. Here is how we handle information — clearly and transparently.
Medical Confidentiality
All conversations are protected by medical confidentiality under § 203 of the German Criminal Code (StGB). Content is never shared with third parties — not even with the employer.
What Your Employer Receives
For employer-financed engagements, the employer receives only the information that sessions took place (for billing purposes) — never what they were about. On request, even this can be avoided through flat-rate billing.
Data Protection
We document minimally and in accordance with GDPR. You have the right to access and request deletion of your data at any time.
No Stigma at the Workplace
Appointments are scheduled so they are organizationally unobtrusive. They do not appear as psychological counseling in calendars or HR systems, but as normal occupational health appointments.
Your contact
Your contact for psychological counseling in Bremen
Dr. med. Jörg Janssen is a specialist in occupational medicine and general medicine, certified person-centered and systemic coach, and psychological counselor. This combination is rare in the German occupational medicine landscape — and enables a form of support that combines medical, organizational and personal perspectives.
Method- and counseling-relevant qualifications
- Specialist in Occupational Medicine — Ärztekammer Hamburg, 2004
- Specialist in General Medicine — Ärztekammer Niedersachsen, 2002
- Person-Centered / Systemic Coach — W.E.G. e.V., Bremen, 2013
- Psychological Counselor — W.E.G. e.V., Bremen, 2010
- Certified Disability Management Professional (CDMP) — IDMSC, 2005
- Expert Assessment in Occupational Disease Causation — DGAUM, 2006
Languages
GermanEnglishSpanishDutchFAQ
Frequently asked questions about psychological counseling
Is this psychotherapy?
Will my employer know what we talk about?
What does a counseling session cost?
How many sessions do I need?
Can we meet online?
How quickly can I get an appointment?
A confidential initial consultation is the easiest first step
60 minutes of time, an open ear, an initial assessment. Confidential, with no obligation to follow-up sessions, with no disclosure to third parties.
We support employees and companies in Bremen, Bremerhaven, Oldenburg, Delmenhorst and surroundings.