About Me

I am Leopold, or you may call me ‘Leo’.

Before becoming a therapist, I have been a designer and entrepreneur for a decade, building sustainable and social housing and helping people with changing the outer environment they live in. In a way, I still am that person, just that it is not so much the outer life, but the inner, less visible world that I am focused on.

I have come to Finland out of love for a person and nature, and have worked briefly as a pre-school teacher and in foundations that support public mental health in Finland. I took up academic studies at Aalto University to deepen my grasp on how to research and find creative solutions in high uncertainty environments, which led me to a combined study of Psychology, Art/Design and Media. I like to paint and write, and to be outdoors.

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Like many therapists, I come with my own story of having worked through suffering. I went through periods of loss and inner experiences that required fundamental change of me. Finally, and not without resistance on my part, I found my way to stepping into therapeutic work.

I believe that it is the combination of deep personal experience, safe authenticity, warm compassion, and real understanding, combined with good professional training that can help others in uncovering their own way forward.

I believe that we need to be witnessed before we can take the next step. To feel ourselves as safely contained, so we can be courageous enough to dissolve what no longer works, safely re-arrange how we relate to ourself and the world. Finding the purposeful inner Self constellates a new center from which we bring ourselves into our relationships, society and outer life’s responsibilities.

I hold a stable and contained space for my clients, in which I value a respectful curiosity, honesty and unconditional support. I try to be equally involved until lasting change emerges.

When we become able to hold and observe both the conflicts, painful problems and ourselves without needing to change them, we may find a third way, a new direction that can become new life. My purpose is to help my clients find the stillness and stability to find such an observation to be possible, and to recognize their very own, still unknown, new way between the paradoxes of their inner conflicts. Much easier said than done! It is my honor to work and journey together with my clients.

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Experience

Harvard Medical School & McLean Hospital – Posttraumatic Stress and related disorders, Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) Seminar
2026

Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) in training in Helsinki
2026-2028

Somatic Trauma Therapy, Trans-disciplinary Research Work
2025

Jungian Therapy & Analytic practice
Lectures & seminars from the International School of Analytical Psychology (ISAP) and the C .G. Jung Institute Zurich (CGJIZ)
2024 – ongoing

Advising for Lapinlahti-säätiö sr (foundation),
Promoting crisis-home mental health services, inclusive arts and cultural heritage efforts
2025

Art Therapy (multimodal) and Inner-Parts Work
2023-2025

(BA/MA) Aalto University – Art/Design & Psychology
2021-2025

Independent Artist
latest solo exhibition: ‘Tender Madness’ Dec. 2024

Moved from Germany to Finland in 2019

2015

I led a architectural design firm specializing in alternative, sustainable housing solutions and services, and consulted municipalities, organizations and individuals.

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Continuing Education & Ethics

My aim is to acquire and upkeep well rounded knowledge and experience of myself and of new developments concerning human wellbeing. I continuously aim to advance and refresh my training.

To avoid biases as best as possible, and to provide good care, I continue to receive regular supervision in which confidentiality remains intact.

It is important to me to maintain a high level of professional ethical competence. This includes that I may refer clients that do not experience adequate progress with me to other professionals.

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