Dr. Alina Kastner, MSc
Systemic Family Psychotherapist (Registration Nr. 12389)
Systemic Sexual Therapist, Equine-Assisted Therapist, Work Psychologist, Coach
When I graduated from my doctorate, I came across the most intenerating quote I will never, ever forget:
“The narrative of actuality checkmates the narrative of reality.”
For me, therapy cannot be explained rawer than this. This is the essence of our lives. My clients give me permission to dive into their realities in order to gently explore what we find and together we are able to transcend their progress and their change into actuality. This is what makes therapy worth it for me, every time.
I am a systemic family therapist, but I believe that a mix of all best aspects of different therapeutic schools blended together with a teaspoon full of compassion, one of engagement and one of curiosity makes the best therapist cocktail: my clients will come across all sorts of little interventions with me that are not linked to systemic therapy such as mindfulness based emotional processing, emotional focused therapy, Gestalt therapy or trancework and meditative elements.
I do individuals, couples and family therapy and love to explore all of the above settings, but my heart beats for couple’s therapy & systemic sexual therapy. The vastness of possibility, the passion behind it and the obsession most human beings have with romantic relationships and sex is all encompassing and contagious to me, making it my absolute favorite mystery to devote my time to.
I am a systemic family therapist, but I believe that a mix of all best aspects of different therapeutic schools blended together with a teaspoon full of compassion, one of engagement and one of curiosity makes the best therapist cocktail: my clients will come across all sorts of little interventions with me that are not linked to systemic therapy such as mindfulness based emotional processing, emotional focused therapy, Gestalt therapy or trancework and meditative elements.
I do individuals, couples and family therapy and love to explore all of the above settings, but my heart beats for couple’s therapy & systemic sexual therapy. The vastness of possibility, the passion behind it and the obsession most human beings have with romantic relationships and sex is all encompassing and contagious to me, making it my absolute favorite mystery to devote my time to.
Couple’s therapy is most likely the hardest type of therapy. It’s hard as a therapist and it’s hard as a client, I know both sides. It is something most people turn to when it’s way past midnight and it is usually considered too late. The little string of hope that people hold on to turns into a massive reliance on the magic of a couple’s therapist. I remind my clients and friends on a daily basis: Couple’s therapy is ideally treated like a dental hygiene: Come twice a year before you can see any damage and keep it up in order to prevent future obstacles.
In my office I see sadness, despair, anger, frustration, violence and all sorts of psychological abuse between spouses and yet these couples need so little impulse in order to get their dynamics back in order. Through my scientific research on narcissistic abuse, as well as sexuality I try to provide a baseline of my knowledge, but the real learning happens in the office: from withdrawal -pursuer dynamics, affair and lies, deceit and defeats of not being seen by your lover, all the way to new beginnings, beautiful and tender moments of openness, honesty and flowing love.
For the couple and for me, there is always something to take in and always something to take home.
In my office I see sadness, despair, anger, frustration, violence and all sorts of psychological abuse between spouses and yet these couples need so little impulse in order to get their dynamics back in order. Through my scientific research on narcissistic abuse, as well as sexuality I try to provide a baseline of my knowledge, but the real learning happens in the office: from withdrawal -pursuer dynamics, affair and lies, deceit and defeats of not being seen by your lover, all the way to new beginnings, beautiful and tender moments of openness, honesty and flowing love.
For the couple and for me, there is always something to take in and always something to take home.
I want to take this moment to thank all the individuals and couples who come to see me and provide me with such an unfiltered, raw view of their inner worlds. And even if we think we know where life will take us after a session, life is like a Netflix show: the same day of therapy next week can turn out to be a whole other story that pulls us in and never ceases to surprise us. Never a boring second, I cherish my work beyond the office, it lets me grow and learn from my clients, and lets them grow and learn from me and for this I am certainly eminently grateful.
Education
- 2021 – 2022 Specialization: Emotionally Focused Therapy / ICEFT
- 2021 – 2022 Specialization: Equine Assisted Therapist / VÖPP Akademie
- 2020 Specialization: Mindfulness Based Emotional Processing Therapy (Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA) / Robert Weisz, PhD
- 2018 – 2022 Specialization in systemic family therapy / Institute for systemic family therapy (LA:SF)
- 2017 – 2022 Doctorate in Psychotherapy Sciences / Sigmund Freud Private University Vienna
- 2018 – 2019 Systemic Sexual Therapy (Heidelberg, Germany) International Society for Systemic Therapy (IGST)
- 2016- 2018 Psychotherapeutic “Propädeutikum” / ARGE Bildungsmanagement
- 2014 – 2015 Master of Science in Work, Organizational and Business Psychology (London, United Kingdom) / London School of Economics
- 2010 Exchange Semester (Moscow, Russia) / Lomonosov University
- 2009 – 2012 Bachelor of Art in Psychology & Management (Vienna/London) / Webster University/Regents University
- 2011 – 2012 Public Speaker Training: Moderation / The school of speech (Schule des Sprechens)
- Before: High School (Dallas, Texas) & Austrian Matura (Vienna, Austria) / Plano West (Plano, Texas), Musikgymnasium (Vienna, Austria)
Professional Experience
- Since 2023 Psychotherapist at the Psychiatric Department with Center for Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics / Otto-Wagner-Spital, Baumgartner Höhe
- Since 2019 Founder & CEO, SF Psychotherapist (Registration Nr. 12389) / Kastner Consulting GmbH
- Since 2019 Research Associate / Medical University of Vienna
- 2018 Psychotherapeutic Internship / University Hospital Vienna (AKH)
- 2017 Psychotherapeutic Internship / University Clinic for Children and Youth Psychosomatics, Landesklinikum St. Pölten
- 2014- 2019 Founder & CEO / Breakupbuddy GmbH
- 2012-2014 Strategic Assistance / Erste Bank Österreich AG
- 2011 Private Wealth Management (London) / Deutsche Bank