Curriculum Vitae - Curriculum Vitae of
Mag. Sonja Knefel

Focal points

  • Ways out of loneliness
  • couples therapy
  • Online dating
  • Psychological stress associated with cancer
  • Burnout
  • Depression
  • Generalized anxiety disorder
  • Psychotherapy (behavioral therapy) for body dysmorphic disorder (dysmorphophobia)

My values and working methods

In order to provide you with the best possible and, above all, state-of-the-art treatment, I have opted for an integrative treatment approach.

Unlike monotherapeutic approaches (e.g., pure behavioral therapy), it is not limited to a single therapeutic framework.

An integrative approach should be understood as flexible and holistic, combining elements from different schools of therapy rather than limiting itself to a single model.

The focus of my work is not only on symptoms, but also on personality development, biographical patterns, and subjective experience.

Furthermore, I support you with psychological coaching and mental training in the development and implementation of solution-focused strategies to achieve your personal and professional goals.

Humor is a core theme of my therapeutic work.

Psychotherapy can be fun too!

Humor in a therapeutic context is a powerful tool. The goals of humor in therapy are manifold:

  • trust building
  • relationship building
  • change of perspective
  • Change in thought patterns
  • Positive influence on brain structure by creating lightness

Education & professional activities

Professional activity Period
Clinical and health psychologist at JUVENIS since 2026
Team Leader Psychology – Pirawarth Clinic – Outpatient Rehabilitation since 2023
Clinical and health psychologist – Confraternität – Josefstadt Private Clinic since 2011
Men's Health Center Vienna since 2019
Private practice since 2010
Clinical and health psychologist – Golden Cross Private Clinic 2020 to 2022
Psychological coaching for executives – Austrian Business Solution (ABS) 2004 to 2022
Clinical and health psychologist – Döbling Private Clinic 2013 to 2020
Clinical and health psychologist – Pain Competence Center Bad Vöslau 2013
Board of Trustees of the Vienna Retirement Homes 2009 to 2010
Austrian Gallup Institute 1986 to 2009
Training in "Imago Couples Therapy" 2011 to 2012
Training as a clinical health psychologist 2009 to 2010
Studied psychology at the University of Vienna (awarded the academic degree Mag.rer.nat) 2008

 

Languages

  • German, English