Who you will be working with
Dr. Christopher Schwake
I support people and organizations through essential change, combining the essence of psychological science and practice, therapy and coaching, body psychotherapy and hypnotherapy, as well as meditation and martial arts.
My path
What my work has grown from
Science
Psychological expertise
My psychological expertise is rooted in a fascination with human experience and behavior that goes back to early childhood. It led to my studies, my doctorate (Dr. phil. in work, personnel and organizational psychology, University of Potsdam) and ongoing training in coaching and therapeutic methods. Research taught me to look closely, to measure honestly and not to be impressed by fashions. I am a member of the Professional Association of German Psychologists (BDP).
Craft
The art of transformation
As a coach and state-licensed non-medical psychotherapist, I work in systemic-integrative, hypnotherapeutic and body-centered ways. Thousands of sessions with individuals, couples, teams and organizations have taught me one thing: change does not happen in concepts, but in states, in the body, in feeling, in relationship.
Practice
Presence, awareness and inner strength
Before and alongside my training in psychology, I devoted myself intensively to meditation and to the movement and martial arts, first as a student, soon afterwards as an appointed teacher of meditation, Qi Gong and Tai Chi. I have practiced daily since the age of 17; more than 36 retreats of several weeks each and more than 15 years of teaching belong to this path. From this practice grew my own psychologically grounded meditation system, which I taught over five and a half years in more than 700 sessions, 70 workshops, 3 retreats and a two-year teacher training. This depth is the foundation of everything I do today.
since2006
daily personal practice
36+
retreats of several weeks
15+
years of teaching and accompanying
2,500+
sessions
1,000+
people I have been able to support in person on their path
96 %
would recommend my trainings (online evaluation 2026, n = 103)
Today
Deep one-to-one work, long-term engagements
Alongside one-to-one work with clients, I work with organizations over several years, currently including a company with around 250 employees in a three-year development process: from work with top management and leadership teams and a multi-year training program for staff (“Psychological relationship and change work”) to leadership development, a learning platform and measuring effectiveness.
This collaboration began as supervision and grew through workshops on “Feeling feelings safely and letting them be felt”. This is how trust grows: through work that works.
What guides me
Presence, patience, embodiment
I love creating conditions in which people meet themselves on a deeper level, see themselves and their purpose more clearly, and shape their lives in a more coherent and powerful way. This takes no tricks and no pressure, but presence, patience and someone who embodies what he teaches.
I live in Potsdam with my family.
At a glance
Qualifications at a glance
PhD in psychology (Dr. phil.)
Work, personnel & organizational psychology · MSc, BSc · Member of the BDP.
Licensed non-medical psychotherapist & coach
Systemic-integrative, hypnotherapeutic & body-centered training.
Trainer
For stress management & personal development.
Teacher of meditation, Qi Gong & Tai Chi
Daily practice since 2006 · more than 36 retreats of several weeks · more than 15 years of teaching.
Developer of my own meditation system
Psychologically grounded, more than 700 sessions, 70+ workshops, 3 retreats, two-year teacher training.
The path
Grown side by side
Science and practice never ran one after the other, but always side by side. This is exactly what this work grew from.
SCIENCE & PROFESSION
since 2026
Multi-year organizational development, including a three-year engagement with a company of around 250 employees, with scientific evaluation.
2023 to 2025
Developing and leading a two-year meditation teacher training.
2020 to 2025
Your Meditative Life: building and leading a psychological-meditative one-year program. More than 700 sessions, 70 workshops, 3 retreats.
since 2020
Self-employed psychologist, coach and licensed non-medical psychotherapist in Potsdam: individuals, couples, teams, organizations.
2017 to 2020
Researcher and doctorate at the University of Potsdam, Chair of Work and Organizational Psychology, in an international research project on proactivity and well-being. Graduated magna cum laude.
TRAINING & PRACTICE
2025 to 2026
Body-oriented coaching and couples coaching, Hendricks Institute (Dr. Gay and Dr. Katie Hendricks).
2021 to 2022
Modern hypnotherapy, Center for Creative Mind (Dr. Stephen Gilligan).
2017 to 2020
Qi Gong teacher training (Torsten Schiz).
2015 to 2016
Systemic-integrative coach (Dr. Migge Seminare).
2010 to 2016
Psychology studies at the University of Potsdam, BSc and MSc, Master's with distinction.
since 2006
Daily meditation and movement practice (including Tai Chi and Qi Gong) since the age of 17, more than 36 retreats of several weeks, countless workshops & courses.
INTERNATIONAL
A school year in the USA (Tampa, Florida), an Erasmus year at ELTE Budapest. Doctorate in an international research project with conference talks in Frankfurt, Turin and Boston; dissertation and talks in English. Training with international teachers, coaching and events in English. Languages: German (native), English (fluent, professional), Hungarian (fluent).
From the work
What people say about working with me
Three voices from people who have accompanied me over years, from the one-year program to the meditation teacher training (translated from German).
“Christopher has a very fine, authentic, inspiring way. A lot of knowledge, conveyed in a special, well-structured and encouraging way. It always feels as if he is on the journey together with us.”
— Birgit
“He has a great wealth of experience and knowledge, which he shares in an easily understandable way and with real enthusiasm. All my expectations were exceeded.”
— Sonja K.
“An incredible amount of knowledge and experience, yet never lecturing. You have the feeling of being on a journey together.”
— Henriette
Your first step
Get to know me
30 essential minutes, free, without obligation, insightful.