Supporting you to move into your heart space...

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“The essence of my work is to find a ‘place’ where we can meet with love. From this place change can happen. Curiosity and respect are the two most powerful tools I have…”

My passion lies in supporting people to move from disconnection to connection and in the activation of resilience within everybody. I have been working with people for over 40 years and since I was a young child I have been fascinated by human relationships and psyches. 

I have been very fortunate to meet and learn from some amazing teachers in Gestalt therapy, Family Constellations and beyond and would like to offer my immense gratitude for their past and ongoing wisdom.

I feel priviledged to share my passion with clients and students and if you have found your way here, I look forward to connecting with you!

I was born in Colombia and raised in Germany and now live and work in Maleny, Queensland, Australia. I developed a passion for social work at a young age and trained as a social worker in Germany, where I was running a centre for disadvantaged children and youth for seven years.

​In 1985, I completed a five-year Gestalt Training at the GENI Institute in Frankfurt, Germany, where I studied under Laura Perls amongst others. My first job as a psychotherapist was in a German hospital where I worked in the area of substance abuse and addictions. Following this, I was employed by the German government to provide therapeutic care in a family counselling centre.

In 1992, I moved to Australia to pursue a sustainable, community-driven lifestyle and to be with my husband. I established a private practice in Maleny, Queensland, where I also began teaching counselling skills at Nambour Tafe College. Following my immigration, I worked as a faculty member at several Gestalt institutes, including the Brisbane Gestalt Institute, the Gestalt Institute in Lismore, and in Terrigal, Sydney.  

I supervised counsellors at Lifeline and provided counselling services to Indigenous clients through the North Coast Aboriginal Corporation. For the past decade, I have worked in various Hinterland Health Retreats, focusing mainly on family constellation work, which has proven to be highly effective.  

My passion is the modality of Family Constellation, for which I received training in Germany in the late 1990's. I frequently run Family & Systemic Constellation Workshops in Maleny and other areas of Australia and Europe. When I am not working, I enjoy being actively involved in community and spending time in my garden, growing food and developing a self-sufficient home environment. ​

The core principle of my approach is to meet each individual with love and gentleness because I believe that through love, change can happen.

 ....respected elder

"My wife  and I met Margarete at a Constellation Intensive workshop. After participating in one of her independent workshops, we both enrolled in the facilitator training offered by the Systemic Constellations Academy. What touches us most about Margarete is the relational “container “ she establishes. Her ability to be present is remarkable, taking care to ensure everyone in a group is heard and included. We deeply appreciate her humility and her willingness to learn from what comes up in the relational exchange.
We would highly recommend the opportunity to experience and learn from Margarete, as a respected elder in her field." Michael & Sandy 2025

 .....heart lead approach

"Margarete  is an incredibly intuitive and deeply authentic facilitator and teacher, with decades of leadership in the field of Systemic/Family constellation work. Her heart-led approach and profound understanding of systemic dynamics create a compassionate and safe space where true healing and transformation can unfold. As a teacher at the Systemic Constellation Academy, Margarete brings clarity and depth to complex systemic principles, making them accessible and meaningful. As a graduated student I can say that her teaching style is both nurturing and rigorous, inspiring students to embrace these methods with confidence and sensitivity.Personally, working with Margarete has been life changing. Her insightful guidance helped me uncover and release long-held patterns within my family system, leading to powerful shifts in my relationships and inner clarity. Her presence is both grounding and uplifting, and the impact of her work continues to resonate deeply in my life which I am very grateful for.With her decades of experience and genuine dedication, Margarete is a rare and invaluable guide for anyone seeking heartfelt, authentic growth through systemic work. I highly recommend Margarete & know you will feel completely supported."  Cecilia Cifaratti 2025

.....genuine presence

 "Margarete  brings a warmth and genuine presence that is rare and precious. Her way of working is direct, clear and very kind. She has an enduring love for her clients and humanity that is both palpable and powerful. Her mastery in working with clients and groups is evident in the profound healing that happens in the spaces she creates. She helps me to feel safe, supported and empowered and has a great sense of humour - laughing together is good medicine. I feel so very lucky to have Margarete as a supervisor and teacher." Cateliene

....warmth, wisdom & compassion

 "I can’t recommend Margarete  highly enough. Her 40 years of experience as a Gestalt therapist and family constellations practitioner and educator, places her as an elder in her field. She exudes warmth, wisdom and compassion, with a grounded and joyful presence that conveys palpably her lived experience and professional eldership. I feel immensely grateful to have studied under and alongside her in both family constellation and Gestalt group therapy contexts, and to know her as a friend."

Nicholas Payne, Gestalt Therapist 2025