Counselling · with Tanja Gotthardt
Compassionate, professional counselling for grief, loss, trauma, relationships and the quieter struggles of modern life. A warm, confidential space where you are met as a person, not a problem.
"Being truly heard is where healing begins."
Where You Are
Sometimes we arrive not with a clear story, but with a feeling, a restlessness, or a quiet sense that something has shifted. You may recognise yourself here.
Whatever has brought you here, it matters. And you do not have to navigate it on your own.
Your Counsellor
Counsellor · Trauma & Grief Specialist
To leave one world and build another is both an act of courage and an experience of loss. I know this not only professionally, but personally, as someone who has lived the expatriate experience.
My practice is grounded in a simple belief: that healing and growth happen in connection, in the presence of someone willing to listen, stay curious, and meet you where you are. I offer a space that is professional, warm and deeply respectful, where you can bring the fullness of your experience, without judgement.
Qualifications: Diploma in Clinical & Pastoral Counselling (Institute of Counselling), CBT certified.
What I Believe
I believe most emotional suffering happens in disconnection, from ourselves, from others, from meaning. In modern life we wear many hats at once, parent, partner, professional, while navigating the gap between our online and lived realities, and it becomes easy to lose touch with who we are beneath them.
Counselling offers a dedicated, safe and non-judgemental space where you can simply be yourself, beyond roles and expectations. Especially in times of crisis, transition or overwhelm, I am here to help you find grounding, build resilience, and gently reconnect with who you truly are.
How I Work
Beginning counselling is about choosing a different kind of conversation, one with space, attention, and the possibility to be truly met.
15 minutes · Complimentary
A brief, meaningful first exchange. We explore what has brought you here and sense whether we could work well together, it is as much about you feeling at ease as anything else.
60 minutes
We slow things down and begin to map your story, not just the facts, but the emotional landscape beneath. Together we explore what you are hoping for, and sense the direction of our work.
50–90 minutes
A dedicated, confidential space for reflection and connection, at a pace that feels right for you. We return, again and again, to what is present: your patterns, your questions, the ways you relate.
My Approach
I am here to be with you, not to judge, analyse from a distance, or "fix" you. You are a whole person, not a problem to be solved.
We listen closely, to what is said and what stays unspoken, making room for contradiction, vulnerability and the parts that feel hidden.
We become curious about your patterns, emotions and relationships, and how they may be shaping your experience of the present.
From this space, new awareness can emerge, and with it the possibility of choice, connection, and a different way of being with yourself and the world.
Counselling Services
Available in person in Dubai, online, or by phone, on whatever schedule supports you best.
Couples & Relationships
Relationships hold our deepest longing for connection, and our fears of distance or not being fully seen. Many couples come not because they do not care, but because they care deeply and have lost their way to each other. Together we slow down and listen differently, to what is expressed and what lies beneath, so new possibilities for closeness can emerge.
Areas we may explore
Individual Work
The relationship you have with yourself is the blueprint for every other relationship in your life. Often the challenges we meet are not only about the other person, but about patterns we carry, ways of relating that were once protective but no longer serve us. Together we become curious about these patterns, not to judge them, but to understand them, and to open space for new ways of connecting.
Areas we may explore
Grief & Loss
Loss reorganises our inner world, changing not only what we feel, but how we see ourselves and the future we imagined. Grief follows many kinds of loss, the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, a move across countries, a shift in identity. For those living abroad, distance adds another layer. Together we make space for all of it, gently, finding ways for you to stay connected to what matters, even in unfamiliar terrain.
I support you through
Connection & Belonging
Never before have we been so connected, and yet so many feel profoundly alone. Modern loneliness is the quiet experience of disconnection, from others, from ourselves, from a deeper sense of belonging. For those living between places, it can become more pronounced. We do not rush to "solve" loneliness; we become curious about it, and explore the patterns that shape how you connect.
We create space to
Pricing
Every journey begins with a free, no-obligation discovery call.
All sessions are available in person in Dubai, online, or by phone. Packages offer a reduced per-session rate.
FAQ
Kind Words
The experiences of the people we've had the privilege to work with.
Get Started
Your first consultation with Tanja is free and completely confidential. There's no obligation, just a conversation about what's brought you here and how she can help.
Book a Free Consultation
