For a Life in Alignment with Who You Are.

I’m Benedikt Schmidt, a psychologist and coach. My approach combines modern techniques from systemic therapy, hypnosystemics, and embodiment to help you gain clarity, motivation, and inner strength. Whether you feel stuck or are seeking a deeper connection with yourself – I’m here to support you.

Benedikt Schmidt

@followtheriver.de

Grounded in Science: Innovative Techniques for Your Personal Growth

As a psychologist and coach, I understand that traditional talk therapy and coaching can often be helpful but may not always deliver the desired results. Many blocks and sources of pain lie in the subconscious, and methods that overlook this area or the body’s intuitive “compass function” may fall short.

That’s why I use an innovative psychological coaching approach that combines hypnosystemic techniques, embodiment practices, and dialogue. This approach helps you gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your goals.

I understand that some people may feel sceptical about hypnosis and embodiment, often due to questionable experiences in the past or societal reservations about body-oriented methods. I’m happy to explain the scientific basis and mechanisms of my approach during an initial consultation.

My coaching draws on the expertise of renowned professionals such as Dr Milton Erickson, Dr Gunther Schmidt, and Dr Vera Popper. Following in this tradition, my sessions centre on a cooperative and competence-oriented dialogue. Unlike formal hypnosis techniques or hypnotic monologues, this approach empowers you to access your inner resources, develop new perspectives, and make tangible, positive changes in your life.

Career Background

Professional Experience

  • Psychologist – Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Heidelberg University Hospital (since 2024)
  • Psychologist in Private Practice – Follow The River (since 2020)
  • Research in Positive Psychology – Prof. Ilona Boniwell, Positran, Épône and Paris (2018-2019)

Research Projects and Contributions

  • Contribution to the Research Project “Unraveling the Aesthetic Mind in Anhedonia” – Investigation of the neural foundations of anhedonia using ketamine and aesthetic stimuli (Dr Julia Crone and Prof. Rupert Lanzenberger, Medical University of Vienna and University of Vienna)

Education

  • Master of Science in Clinical Psychology and Health Psychology (with Distinction) – University of Vienna
  • Master of Science in Applied Social Psychology – Free University of Amsterdam
  • Bachelor of Science in Psychology – University of Vienna and University of La Sapienza, Rome

Certifications and Further Training

  • Training in Psychological Psychotherapy (ongoing) – Heidelberg Institute for Psychotherapy, Heidelberg University Hospital
  • Training in Psychological Coaching – Dr Vera Popper and Mag. Christine Hoffmann, Vienna
  • FSL Course on Brain Imaging Analysis – Prof. Janine Bijsterbosch and Prof. Ludovica Griffanti, University of Oxford
  • Further Training in Positive Psychology – Creativity management, strengths and time management, motivation, engagement, job crafting, nudging, and positive leadership (Prof. Ilona Boniwell, Paris)
  • Training as Seminar Leader in Stress Management – Silke Ludwig, Hanover

What clients say

Benedikt coaches in a very special way: heart-opening, loving, authentic and with a lot of calm. He creates a space in which one feels valued and accepted.

Violeta M.

Benedikt enables you to go deep inside yourself to find the answers there. For this, he relies mainly on the sensation of the body. I had two inner directions on a topic and was able to understand what each side wanted for me.

Baptiste Barennes

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