The Bridger

The Bridger is a matter of the heart.

The Bridger is more than just Brückenmensch in English.
It is the name for the services I provide specifically for members of the expat community in the area. Ever since I started learning the English language at the age of 10, I fell in love with it and everyone and everything international and intercultural. I am German by nationality but I am international at heart. It is a deep felt connection, a deep-rooted part of my identity and one of my great life passions.

Living and making a living abroad is a great experience. It does come with certain challenges, though. Finding your way around, figuring out the culture and what is going on around you, mixed with, unfortunately, still being confronted with certain stereotypes. It’s a lot and it can be overwhelming sometimes.

Even worse, if you are struggling mentally or emotionally, there is very little in terms of a support system (outside your circle of family and friends) that would be able to understand and empathise with you truly. And, of course, there is the issue of the language barrier. The number of therapists, counsellors and coaches able to provide their services professionally to an English-speaking audience is still rather low. I have seen too many desperately trying to find help and failing. When it comes to expressing yourself and speaking about personal issues, having to worry about or being restricted by language is a help-seeking killer. You need to be able to feel comfortable, safe and understood – on a language and a cultural level. This is where expats and their decendants have it even harder than native Germans, in an eco-system which is already characterised by high demand and comparatively little supply.

That’s where I can help!

What qualifies me to work specifically with you?

• I completed both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in English and studied with people from all around the world.
• I spent a semester abroad at the University of Westminster in London, one of the greatest international and intercultural hubs in the world, not only giving me first hand experience of being an expat but also mixing with different cultures and lifestyles.
• I worked at an international university for many years, being responsible, amongst other things, for international admissions and student counselling. During that time, I worked with and consulted students from more than 70 different countries over the years.
• Due to this vast and varied set of experiences, I feel I can empathise with a large variety of cultural backgrounds and understand the difficulties and challenges of living in Germany as an expat. I have seen a lot and…
• …continue to do so at my current position, where I am again responsible for counselling and consulting international students; many of which also have a refugee status in Germany.
• Finally, I have a network of international friends, many of them expats here in Germany, and my partner is an expat herself.

Therefore, I do not only have a lot of experience in interacting with an international audience but I have been socialised in international and intercutural contexts, making them second nature to me.