Eva Tam
Year of Birth: 1977, Married, Two Children, Two Dogs, Two Cats, 3 Reed Eels, 2 Clawed Frogs
Professional Background:
Trained clerk in real estate and housing management
Longstanding experience in the private sector in finance and appraisal services.
My professional journey is marked by a deep personal connection with psychology, which began in my childhood. My twin aunts were incredibly empathetic "Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists," and their practice rooms served as my first encounter with psychological influences. I practically spent my childhood in the therapy room without even being therapeutically treated. This formative experience ignited my passion and curiosity for psychological knowledge and therapeutic approaches from a very young age.
Education and Expertise:
My journey began in 2016 with training as a Heilpraktiker for Psychotherapy, leading me to systemic counseling and therapy. My additional focus was particularly on cognitive behavioral therapy, specifically in hyperkinetic disorders such as ADHD. I expanded my knowledge in the field of neurofeedback and completed a specialization as an ADHD therapist (IFWL).
My expertise also focuses on coping with serious illnesses such as cancer, strokes, and heart attacks. In psycho-oncology, the focus is on coping with psychological stress, particularly in dealing with death. Through my expertise in systemic therapy, I am able to identify resources, present new or old paths, and develop therapeutic approaches to address these challenges.
I am socially engaged and also assist the Erftstadt Hospice Association.
Experiences in Care -
Personal Words:
I cared for my father for 15 years until his death at the age of 83. This experience not only presented me with diverse challenges and boundaries in caregiving but also with the hurdles of the system – be it interaction with health insurance, administrative matters, the communication and relatively poor care of general practitioners for mobility-impaired individuals, or understanding in the social environment.
The waiting list for a nursing home place was endlessly long - unfortunately, my father did not live to see the end of this waiting period. The idea of simply dumping him somewhere far away in a home was not an option for me. For this reason, my father stayed at home, and I continued to care for him while a home care service supported me with medication administration and insulin injections.
In his final years, my father suffered from Lewy body dementia and vascular dementia. Fluctuations in blood pressure and blood sugar levels, moments of joy, or stress situations - such as during a football game - repeatedly triggered symptoms of dementia. A seemingly quiet week could suddenly end in chaos and nightly stress for me as a caregiving relative.
In the last years, camera surveillance, emergency buttons, fall alarms, reminder systems for drinking, bathtub lifts, nursing beds, walkers, wheelchairs, canes, wound care kits for open wounds on the legs, incontinence garments, hearing aids, etc. were part of the equipment. Technical upgrades such as disabling the stove and other danger zones also had to be carried out.
But: In all the caregiving stress I had alongside caring for my family with my father, there were also numerous beautiful moments. He repeatedly surprised me with how much beauty still lived in his mind, despite the challenges of his illness.
Of course, it must also be noted that many do not have the opportunity to care for their loved ones due to professional and family reasons, and a nursing home then becomes inevitable.
Every day we see staff shortages in nursing homes - there is barely enough time for physical care, but engagement and psychological support often fall by the wayside. For the majority of nursing home residents, an exclusive senior place remains unattainable due to financial circumstances. Therefore, they ultimately depend on the mental care of their relatives or volunteer helpers.
Regular visits and shared outings - even just a short walk around the block - have invaluable value!
From personal experience, I know how important psychosocial support is for all involved in caregiving. Therefore, my own experiences also influence my work.
Therapeutic Approach:
In my therapy practice, I place great emphasis on appreciation, flexibility, and individuality.
Each of my clients is accompanied at their own pace, and therapy is tailored to their individual needs. I also believe that a bit of humor can support the healing process.
Systemic Approach:
I work according to a systemic approach, which is based on looking at people and their problems holistically. This means that I not only consider the obvious symptoms (e.g., sleep disturbances, panic, anxiety, sadness) but also the social context in which they occur. Problems are not seen as individual defects but as reactions to stressors and challenges in life. My focus is on helping people find ways to cope with these challenges and promote positive changes.