Renate was born in Zimbabwe and also spent time growing up in Kenya and Canada. She moved to Austria to attend university and has now lived in Vienna since 1997. She is married with one son. Her own background and upbringing have provided her with a great understanding of both the challenges and benefits of having an international childhood and also a great sensitivity for different cultures.
Education, Experience and Certification
Renate completed her Master’s Degree, with a specialisation in Psychological Assessment and Applied Psychometrics, at the University of Vienna. She later went on to complete her postgraduate training to become a licensed Clinical and Health Psychologist (Austrian Ministry of Health).
She worked with both adults and children for several years in both clinical and non-clinical settings before deciding to open her own practice in 2011 to dedicate her services to the English-speaking community living abroad. She has been in private practice since 2011.
Previous experience:
• Lecturer for Psychological Assessment at the University of Vienna, Department of Applied Psychology: Health, Development, Enhancement and Intervention.
• Otto Wagner Social Medicine Hospital (adults), Psychiatric Department, Vienna, Austria.
• Test and Consulting Centre (children & adolescents), Division of Psychological Assessment and Applied Psychometrics, University of Vienna.
• Aga Khan Hospital, Counselling Services, Nairobi, Kenya.
• Befrienders (part of Samaritans International), Vienna, Austria.
Continuing professional development:
Primarily in the U.K. with training specific to resource-based therapies (e.g. Solution Focused, Motivational Interviewing & Positive Psychology), 3rd wave CBT therapies (e.g. Compassion Focused, Mindfulness & DBT) & mentalization-based treatment (Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families).
Certification & Membership
Austrian Ministry of Health
Licensed Clinical Psychologist No. 8180 and Health Psychologist No. 8153.
Member of the Austrian Professional Association of Psychologists
Berufsverband Österreichischer PsychologInnen.
Languages
Native English
Fluent German