Maria Zemp was born in 1957 in Switzerland, and has lived in Germany since 1989.  She runs her own independent practice internationally as a psychotherapist and coach.  The main emphasis in her work is on the effects of violence and trauma, and on organisational and personal self-care. She has many years’ experience as teacher and supervisor in social institutions and civil society support structures.

Since 2003 she has been developing an approach to stress and trauma-sensitivity and the concept of “mindful organisational culture”, in cooperation with the women’s rights and aid organisation Medica Mondiale.  She facilitates the implementation of both these methods in Germany and through international collaborations in Afghanistan, Liberia and Northern Iraq.