English-Speaking Psychotherapy in Innsbruck
Sonja Leskowschek, English-speaking psychotherapist in Innsbruck. Psychotherapy & hypnotherapy for individuals, couples and families, in person or online.
Life keeps bringing new challenges, and some of them are hard to manage alone. Mut is German for courage. Mutpraxis is a place where you can reconnect with your inner strength and regain quality of life. I look forward to supporting you on that path.
About me
I am a psychotherapist trained in Systemic Family Therapy with a focus on hypnosystemic concepts, and in clinical hypnosis following Milton Erickson. Since 1 July 2021 I have been listed in the official register of psychotherapists of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Health (registration no. 11999). Mutpraxis has existed since 2018 and is part of the shared practice entfaltungsRAUM³.
Before and alongside my practice I have worked with children, adolescents and families, with people with special needs, in child protection, and in a psychiatric practice. I also taught at MCI Innsbruck (Social Work) and WIFI Tirol.
Additional qualifications
- Clinical hypnosis (Ericksonian), advanced and therapy courses; gut‑directed hypnosis for irritable bowel syndrome; medical hypnosis for women´s health
- Diagnosis and treatment of menopause-related concerns in psychotherapy
- Couples therapy (Seminar in differentiation-based approach)
- Attachment-based body psychotherapy
- SAFE® mentor: attachment-based support for parents of babies and toddlers
- Resilience trainer (RASMUS) and TEK trainer (Training of Emotional Competencies)
Member of ÖAS (Austrian Association for Systemic Therapy), MEG Austria (Milton Erickson Society), ÖBVP (Austrian Federal Association for Psychotherapy) and TLP (Tyrolean Association for Psychotherapy).
How I work
I combine three approaches and adapt them to you and your goals.
Systemic therapy
The outer world and conscious level
- You are the expert on your own life
- We look at relationships and recurring patterns
- We activate your resources, strengths and skills
- Room for “both/and” thinking instead of either/or thinking
Hypnotherapy
The inner world and unconscious level
- Focused attention and trance work
- Influencing automatic, involuntary processes
- Working with metaphors and stories
- Moving from a “problem trance” into a “solution trance”
Body-oriented work
The body as a source of information
- Breath and awareness exercises
- Mindful self-observation
- Recognising body signals and relationship patterns
- A safe, attachment-based therapeutic space
What we can work on
I work with adults aged 18 and over: individuals, couples, families and siblings.
Focus: Women’s health
Hormonal transitions shape mood, energy, sleep and relationships. I accompany women through these phases with psychotherapy and medical hypnosis.
- Menopause and perimenopause: mood swings, anxiety, low mood, sleep problems, hot flushes, brain fog and the emotional side of this life transition
- Fertility journey: support while trying to conceive and during fertility treatment
- Unfulfilled wish for children: space for grief, decisions and new perspectives
- Cycle-related complaints: emotional and physical symptoms linked to the menstrual cycle
Further topics
Settings
In person
Universitätsstraße 24, Top 2, 1st floor, 6020 Innsbruck, in the city centre.
Online
Encrypted, secure video sessions, convenient if you live outside Innsbruck or travel often.
Fees
| Service | Session | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Psychotherapy (individual) Eligible for an insurance subsidy | 50 min | € 130 |
| Couples therapy Self-pay | 45 min | € 140 |
| Hypnotherapy | On request | |
| Coaching | 50 min | € 140 |
| Supervision (for professionals) | 45 min | € 140 |
Psychotherapists in Austria are exempt from VAT, so all prices are final. You receive an invoice by email at the end of each month and pay by bank transfer.
Insurance reimbursement
If you are insured with an Austrian statutory health insurance fund, you can apply for a subsidy for individual psychotherapy. Current amounts per session:
| Insurance fund | Subsidy per session |
|---|---|
| ÖGK (Austrian Health Insurance Fund) | € 33.70 |
| BVAEB (Insurance for public servants, railway and mining) | € 50.20 |
| SVS (Insurance for the self-employed and farmers) | € 50.00 |
What you need for the subsidy:
- A diagnosis according to ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision), which I provide on the invoice
- A medical check-up by a doctor (e.g. your GP) before your second session
- The paid invoice, submitted to your insurance fund
Private insurance or insurance from another country: many plans cover psychotherapy. Please check your policy; my invoices contain all the details insurers usually ask for. I am happy to walk you through the paperwork in our first session.
Getting started
- Get in touch. Email or call me. A few lines are enough: what brings you, whether you prefer in person or online, and which days and times suit you.
- First session. We get to know each other, clarify the practical framework and take time to explore your concerns.
- Your decision. If we decide to work together, we schedule regular sessions. Length and frequency follow your needs.
Cancellation policy: Please cancel by phone at least 24 hours before your appointment. Sessions cancelled later are charged in full. No health insurance subsidy is provided for these sessions.
Frequently asked questions
Are sessions really held in English?
Yes. Sessions take place in English or German, whichever feels more comfortable for you. Switching between the two is welcome too. Even though I’m not a native speaker, it really doesn’t get in the way. I refined my English while abroad and stay in practice through regular reading, listening, and speaking. I also really enjoy different accents and dialects, so every way of speaking is very welcome. In every language, each of us gives words a personal meaning of our own. That’s why, in English just as in German, I take a moment in our sessions to clarify what specific words mean to you. Speaking in a second language makes this even more natural: we both listen closely and ask with curiosity. This way we understand each other well and work together smoothly.
Do I need a referral?
You can contact me directly. For the insurance subsidy, a short medical check-up by a doctor before the second session is required.
Is everything confidential?
Yes. Psychotherapists in Austria are bound by strict legal confidentiality. Everything you share stays between us.
How do I know if psychotherapy is right for me?
Psychotherapy is a scientifically recognised treatment. It helps when anxiety, low mood, exhaustion, sleep problems or a difficult life change weigh on you, and also when you simply want to understand yourself and your relationships better. The first session is a good place to find out together.
Can my partner or family join?
Yes. Couples, family and sibling sessions are all possible, either as the main setting or now and then alongside individual therapy.
Contact & booking
- Name
- Sonja Leskowschek, Psychotherapist
- Phone
- +43 677 630 001 30
- hallo@mutpraxis.at
- Address
- Universitätsstraße 24, Top 2, 1st floor
6020 Innsbruck, Austria
In an acute crisis
Psychotherapy sessions are planned in advance. If you need help right now, please call the European emergency number 112 or the ambulance on 144. The Austrian crisis line Telefonseelsorge 142 is free and available around the clock.
