Psychologist Frederiksberg - English speaking Psychologist. US degree.

Psychologist Frederiksberg in Copenhagen

Danish and US

Psychology Degrees

28 years of experience

Pernille Ianev, Cand. Psych. og MA Psychology

Psychotherapist
Licensed Psychologist
Counselor
Hypnotherapist
Marriage Counselor

Pernille was a great help and support to me when I was suffering from a difficult period of stress, anxiety and panic. I felt very comfortable speaking to her. The fact that Pernille is an excellent English speaker was also an enormous benefit, as English is my first language. I’d be happy to recommend Pernille to anyone going through a difficult time.

– Tom, Engineer

Pernille is a patient, warm and sensitive psychotherapist. She listens willingly to what I tell her. She is flexible and a rare psychotherapist who always has given me good advice. She is competent at her job and you can trust her to help you work on yourself. She has helped me like no other therapist has.

– Thomas, Psychologist

My areas of expertise:

Expat challenges
Low self-esteem issues
Life crisis and trauma
Eating disorders and overeating
Adult children of alcoholics
Dysfunctional families
Incest and assault
Anxiety, fears and phobias
Social anxiety and OCD
Relationship issues
Stress, burnout and sleep problems
Grief and loss
Drug and alcohol addiction
Career counseling
Couples of mixed cultural/racial background

In my work I integrate many different methods and techniques, so the psychotherapy is tailored your specific needs.

In psychotherapy we include your your whole experience: your thoughts, feelings, emotions and your body.

This is so that all parts of your brain and psyche have a chance to heal and balance.

You will experience how changes happen quickly and more effectively that in regular ‘talk therapy’.

Ethics

As a licensed psychologist and qualified psychotherapist in Denmark I adhere to the principles of ‘Nordiske psykologer’ (Nordic psychologists) and Dansk Psykoterapeutforening (Danish Psychotherapist Association).

First Session

The First Session

During the first session of psychotherapy we meet to discuss the issues you wish to address and what is difficult for you at the moment. You tell me about your background and personal history. Feeling a bit nervous at the first session with a new therapist is normal. This session will determine if we are a good match and that you feel comfortable working with me in therapy. In order for therapy to be effective the client needs to have some degree of trust in the therapist and the methods used during therapy. During the first session we will decide which issues to work on and I will make a treatment plan with you.

Practical information and guidelines

Practical information

My office is located in Frederiksberg which is a part of Copenhagen. It’s in a central location near Forum Metro station. The address is Sankt Knuds Vej 36, Second floor at Klinik Mitra in Frederiksberg. The office and clinic is owned and run by myself and another colleague. We have 13 psychologists and psychotherapists working with us. Frederiksberg is a peaceful area and our clinic is located on a quiet side street.

New clients are always welcome!

Fee and payment structure:

Individual counseling, hypnotherapy and psychotherapy: 1100 kr. for 60 minutes

Couple counseling and therapy: 1200 kr. for 60 minutes

If you have private health insurance (Danica, Skandia, Topdanmark, Mølholm) they cover some of all of the fee.

At this time I am not able to accept government health insurance (den offentlige sygesikring).

General Guidelines and Intake information

I practice in accordance with the ethical principles of Nordic Psychologists.

The content of our sessions is confidential unless I have your written consent to disclose to a third party the details of your therapy. My supervisors and accountant are also bound by confidentiality.

If you are suicidal or pose a threat to another person I might have to break my confidentiality to inform the authorities. You would be notified if this might happen.

As a licensed psychologist, I am bound by law to keep records of your therapy sessions for at least 5 years.

Your personal data is handled safely by me and are kept in a locked safe at the office. Your data is not used for any commercial purpose. I collect only what I need in order to identify you and are collected for the practice of psychotherapy by me.

Text messages and e-mails are erased as soon as possible and only kept for specific purposes for instance for guidelines from insurance companies.

As a psychologist I refrain from non-professional contact with clients. Sexual or intimate relationships are not allowed.

If you have a complaint against me, please contact: Psykolognævnet. Holmens Kanal 22. 1060 København K. Telefon: 33411200

Cancellations

Please give at least 48 hours notice if you need to cancel your appointment or I will have to charge for the hour.

Cancellations or changes of appointments must be made by phone or text message (not e-mail or letter). It is your responsibility to know when your appointment is.

To ensure continuity in your therapy process, please attempt to keep your appointments when possible.

Reminder text message

I send out reminder text messages about your appointment the day before. I does not mention the kind of appointment. If you do not wish to receive this please let me know.

Delays

If you are delayed, please call or text me to let me know when you expect to arrive.

The course of therapy

I recommend 1-3 appointments a month depending on your issues. Booking 2 appointments ahead ensures that you get the appointments you need.

In the therapy session you can expect my full attention and acceptance and if you have any concerns or doubts, please let me know. Its a good idea to know beforehand what you want to talk about or work on during the session. Usually 1-2 issues per session.

At times therapy can worsen your symptoms as old feelings and hidden issues might surface. Please talk with me about this should this happen to you.

Any reaction to your therapy or to me can be worked on during the course of therapy and it is always a good idea to bring this up.

Contact between appointments

I do not recommend contact between appointments to discuss anything related to your therapy. However contact about scheduling or other administrative concerns are ok. If you have a need to be in contact between appointments please discuss this with me.

Termination

You can terminate or take a break from therapy whenever you wish. It is a good idea to mention this during the therapy hour, so the therapy process can be wrapped up.

Since resistance can also emerge as a desire to terminate therapy, I recommend that you do not terminate therapy by e-mail, phone or text message. Please let me know of your wish to discontinue therapy, so I can give your space to a new client.

When I feel that you are ready to terminate therapy, I will discuss this with you.

Addiction and substance abuse

If you use/abuse large amounts of alcohol, marijuana, pills, drugs, sex, porn, food or substances while in therapy, you should know that this can reduce the effectiveness of therapy and therapy may not work. It is important that you inform me of any use/abuse, so this can be taken this into account during therapy.

What can you expect from psychotherapy?

When you contact me it is because you are having difficulties in your current life. Maybe you are feeling sad or depressed or you are having negative thoughts, worries or low self esteem. You might have challenges with your family or career or with social interactions. What ever the issue the course of therapy will uncover what you are feeling and what is happening for you. Together we will work on finding solutions and resolving past and present issues and feelings.

At the start of psychotherapy I will help you get an overview and better understand your issues. Together we will make a treatment plan. I will to let you know how many sessions you need in my estimation. Since most issues usually have been underway for a long time and can be quite complex, you should probably expect at least 7 sessions in order to work on your issues thoroughly.

When choosing a psychologist or psychotherapist chemistry is very important. A good connection will help you open up and feel safe. It can be difficult to know how our chemistry will be before we have met the first time. But you are very welcome to call me and have a chat before booking an appointment. From a phone conversation you might sense if you feel comfortable talking with me.

In the beginning of psychotherapy you may experience your feelings more intensely. After a few sessions you get used to the process and you will start to feel better. You will feel lighter and your issues will fade somewhat. At the end of therapy you should feel that the issues we have addressed are lessened or not there anymore.

Treatment packages

Treatment Packages

• Individual psychotherapy program (intensive short term therapy 6-10 times weekly meetings).

• Individual psychotherapy program (in depth longer term therapy every other week for 10 sessions).

• Individual psychotherapy on going (maintenance or follow up once per month for several months or years)

• Career counseling (3 sessions including a career test and creation of job profile)

• Supervision for psychologists and psychotherapists

• All sessions are available via telephone or Online via PsyChon if you do not live near Copenhagen or Frederiksberg

Holistic Psychotherapy

Holistic Psychotherapy builds on and integrates many different theories, methods and therapy directions in therapy. We work with all parts of the human being and psyche: thoughts, beliefs, feelings, inner experiences, body and spirituality. When working with the whole human experience and integrating many elements change happen faster and be more durable. In holistic psychotherapy the client is center stage and holds the key to change. The psychologist or psychotherapist is not an expert, but someone who can help the client find the answer within. Holistic Psychotherapy not only treats your problems and symptoms, but provides lasting solutions, and you discover your own inner resources and strengths. Therapy aims to create deep inner change, so you can get to know yourself better, be more conscious while achieving relief of symptoms and problems in your life. In therapy, you can expect that emotion comes up. This is normal. If you have tended to keep your feelings inside or not talked frankly to someone about your problems before, it is a normal reaction to cry during therapy. Being able to talk with another person about what you will be a relief. The processing of feelings and the deeper themes the represent help you to resolve past experiences. Unresolved emotions are stored in the body as tension and negative thoughts, and when you feel them, you will experience a relief. As a psychologist, it is my role to help you express your inner feelings. During a therapy session we work with your negative thoughts and limiting beliefs, as these are often part of the problem / symptoms. It can be negative thoughts about yourself or life that you learned early on through painful experiences. It is not easy to modify or eliminate negative thoughts, but when we get to let go of the deeper painful experiences and feelings inside the thoughts will change by themselves. In holistic therapy we include the body as an anchor and tool that supports the narrative and the talking that happens. Mindfulness is another tool that we use to create awareness and focus in the here and now.

Ex-pat challenges

On being an ex-pat

In our increasingly globalized world people move countries like never before. This means we enter cultures we are unfamiliar with and we live in countries where we have little or no network. Expatriates usually refers to highly skilled migrants who live in a foreign country temporarily. Some work for large international corporations, others are diplomats. The children of ex-pats go to international schools.

Typically ex-pats adjust well to the new country, but occasionally the adjustment can turn out to be more challenging. Ex-pats may feel alone and isolated which puts more strain on the family or if the ex-pat is single isolation could turn into depression.

Questions of identity are common as ex-pats have to fit in and adjust to new customs and ways of behaving. It may be difficult to understand the local people at first and understand the cultural norms. Some ex-pats engage and meet new friends while other ex-pats isolate themselves or stick to people from their home country. Either way there there is often a cultural gap and a sense of not belonging. Ex-pats may have a sense of separation from the local society and people. This can mean work becomes the primary focus of the ex-pat which leads to even more separation. Work or other addictions can provide a sense of belonging or soothing, but is a vicious cycle. The imbalance between work life and life outside can trigger symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Another common issue for ex-pats is the issue of the ‘next step’ and the sense of being torn inside between countries. There might be a longing for ‘home’ or family in the country of origin and a constant ruminating about ‘should I move back home?’. The ex-pat might have a constant sense of missing, homesickness or longing that is felt like a sadness or depression. Or it might be a feeling of emptiness inside and of not being in the right place.

If the ex-pat has moved many times there is often a sense of not belonging anywhere. This can be confusing. All options are open and this can be both worrying and exciting. Living in the present moment in the here and now is difficult as the mind always wonders to other destinations and possibilities.

Eventually the rootlessness can lead to unhappiness and emptiness.

Typical issues for ex-pats are:

Problems adjusting
Work stress
Work addiction
Anxiety
Marital problems
Sense of culture shock
Isolation and loneliness
Feeling torn between the home country and the new country
Identity questions
Homesickness

Living and working abroad in another culture can be a great learning experience and a challenge worth exploring. It can give you new skills and you discover new aspects of yourself and life. You grow and mature as a result. You learn to understand people from diverse backgrounds and you see that life can be lived in many ways.

If you are struggling with your ex-pat experience psychotherapy and counseling can help you deal with the challenges. You can learn about yourself and how to overcome these challenges.

I have a special interest in working with ex-pats who have emigrated to Denmark. I have been an ex-pat myself and lived in the US, Ireland and India for 16 years. By origin I am half Danish half Bulgarian. There can be many difficulties and challenges to face in a foreign culture or as an ex-pat.

Language is important. I speak fluent English. I hold a Psychology Degree from Lesley University (Boston, US) in multicultural counseling as well as a Danish degree in Psychology.

Over the years I have worked with people from many cultures, including Americans, Canadians, British, Irish, Hispanic, Persians, Bulgarians, Russians, Bosnians, Polish, South Americans, Australians, Indians, Pakistanis, Arabs, Turks.

If you are a native English speaker, psychotherapy and counseling in your own language can make the experience easier and more natural for you.

Being a foreigner and ex-pat living in Denmark, your issues may include general stress, depression, feeling like an outsider, missing your home country, confusion, loneliness and isolation. Relationship problems may include misunderstandings, miscommunications and cultural disagreements.

My Work Experience:

Private practice as a psychotherapist since 1992 in the US and Denmark
Teaching psychotherapy in Norway at my own School.
Supervision of Psychologists
Copenhagen University lecturer
Red Cross Refugee Department
Counseling torture victims at RCT
Counseling of inmates at Boulder Correctional Facility in Colorado

Psychotherapy techniques I use:

Counseling and talking therapy
Somatic Experiencing trauma therapy
Hypnotherapy and hypnosis
Psychodynamic psychotherapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy CBT
Body centered psychotherapy
Couples and marriage Counseling

Psychotherapy and Counseling

Give you tools to deal with difficult challenges in your life. As you become conscious of issues and about yourself new possibilities open up helping you to let go of old patterns.
In therapy we deal with your present day issues and how they relate to and stem from past experience. Very often the past influences and impacts how you feel and behave today. The issues you experience currently may have deep roots. So it can be necessary to work on feelings, experiences and traumas from the past.
I conduct therapy in a gentle and accepting manner where nothing is made to feel ‘wrong’. I strive to listen to and be sensitive to your specific needs.

Somatic Experiencing and Trauma Therapy

The trauma methods I use are developed by Dr. Peter Levine. They are designed to deal with traumas by accessing and working with the nervous system, the brain and the body. Animal studies have shown studied that animals and humans react to traumatic situations by going into flight, fight or freeze. By working with these 3 reactions we can resolve traumas. This method is very effective in working with the effects of any life trauma or life-threatening situation. Often this shows up as symptoms of anxiety, phobias, physical pain, sleeping problems, depression or PTSD.

Hypnotherapy and Hypnosis

Are used when you have previous experience with therapy and feel ready to dive deeper into specific issues. This method is experiential rather than intellectual, and can bring about transformation of deeply held issues. During a hypnotherapy session relaxation and visualization techniques are used. Often it involves working with parts of yourself and experiences that are usually hidden. This can be working with the inner child and childhood traumas. This method can be highly effective and give quick results.H

Couples Therapy and Marriage Counseling

Modern day couples are facing many daily problems. Such as conflicts, difficulty in communication, jealousy, infidelity, arguing, sexual issues or lack of romance. I combine many methods into my work with couples and I am inspired by Imago Therapy, David Deida, Systemic Psychotherapy and John Grey. One focus is on improving communication and understanding between you and another is working on the underlying issues and patterns that each of you bring into the relationship.

When couples have trouble talking about issues and being open with each other, walls build up. It can feel like the love is not there anymore and thinking about divorce becomes an issue . However often feelings can begin to come back during the course of couple counseling when both partners start to express how they feel and become honest with each other. Starting to express what they feel angry, sad, disappointed and happy about will make them more prone to fall in love with each other again.

Some couples experience that one or both partners struggle with personal issues. Often from childhood experiences that make him/her shut down, create distance, run away, get angry or start arguments. These patterns need to be addressed in the couple therapy and resolved.

I was going through a bad divorce after a long marriage and Pernille was recommended to me by a colleague. I have been seeing Pernille for a couple of years now. Intensively at first, and it has helped me a great deal.

When I compare this to other experiences in therapy I can clearly sense that Pernille has extensive psychotherapy experience and is very professional. No matter how confused or dark I was when I met with her, I always left feeling more clear and believing in myself.

She guided me towards a greater understanding of how I came to be me. She has helped me become conscious of my emotional reactions. I now can behave in a more healthy manner and that is a great joy to myself and others. Without her support I am sure I would not be where I am today.

Apart from being very competent and professional, Pernille is also very present, empathetic and caring as a person. I always felt safe and comfortable with her. I really recommend her.

– Dorthe, IT-engineer

Pernille is a very calm and open psychotherapist. I felt very safe with her. I always felt that she could bring me safely through the sessions. My therapy was a combination of traditional talk-therapy and hypnosis. That was a really effective way to get to the core of my issues. If I ever need psychotherapy in the future I would definitely call her again. I trust her and know that her professional and human insight is really good.

– Anne-lise, Child care provider

Contact Pernille