Counsellor Dr. Anja Roeding

About me

With clarity, empathy, and experience by your side

Hi, I’m Anja, an English-speaking therapist in Leipzig. My path into counselling was not a straight one. It evolved over many years through research, management, and international leadership roles.

In those positions, I repeatedly experienced something important:
Behind conflicts, stress, or crises, there are people who primarily need one thing — to be heard and taken seriously. This realization led me back to college in England and into more than two years of professional counselling training.

Today, I work as a qualified counsellor in Leipzig, supporting you in a professional, empathetic, and structured way — with presence, calm, and genuine attention to what matters to you.

Counsellor, manager, human

Before training as a counsellor, I worked for over 15 years in scientific and academic environments — including in Germany, New Zealand, and England.

After completing my PhD in the life sciences, I worked in research, research funding, and later in senior research management roles, most recently as Co-Director of a large research centre at the University of Exeter (UK).

During this time, I built and led teams, supported students and doctoral researchers, guided staff members, developed industrial partnerships, and accompanied many people through demanding professional situations.

One insight became particularly clear to me:
Performance, motivation, and health are closely connected to emotional well-being.

Stress, conflict, personal crises, or overwhelm are not exceptions — they are part of life. Often, what is missing is simply time and a protected space to truly work through them.

Why Counselling?

In my leadership roles, I was often limited in how deeply I could support people.

I realized that I did not only want to organise or manage. I wanted to work directly with individuals, to understand the core of their challenges, and to develop sustainable solutions together.

In 2019, I made a deliberate decision to transition my professional career towards counselling. Over the following two years, alongside my management role at the University of Exeter, I completed Levels 1 to 3 at Exeter College through a series of intensive weekend courses and a 12-week programme.

Building on this foundation, I went on to undertake the accredited two-year Diploma in Counselling (2021–2023), graduating with an “Outstanding” grade for my final written work.

Qualification:
Advanced Professional Diploma in Counselling Theory and Therapeutic Practice
(Accredited by the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society, NCPS)

Areas of Focus

I also offer online and outdoor sessions (“Walk & Talk”), flexible and integrated into everyday life.

How I Work

In my counselling practice in Leipzig, I offer you a safe and confidential space where you can:

Without pressure.
Without judgment.
At your pace.

I do not see you as a “problem” to be fixed, but as a person with strengths, resources, and an inner direction of your own.

Today

Today, I live in Leipzig with my family and support people of all ages through challenging phases of life, whether facing stress, transitions, conflicts, or the desire for personal growth.

I look forward to meeting you and walking part of your journey together.