Katja Stark, originally from Germany but a resident of Pollensa for the past 26 years, has branched out into a new venture – happyhouse. As a qualified parental coach, Katja’s service is highly flexible, offering personalized support that ranges from coaching and counselling to childcare and tailored activities for children, all designed to meet the unique needs of each family.
These can range from sibling fall out/rivalry to teenage anxieties, from communication breakdowns to toddler tantrums, sleep habits to healthy routines or managing screen time. It doesn’t matter how small the problem, or how big the crisis, Katja’s family counselling will bring a rational voice to situations that can easily boil out of control and are sometimes impossible to solve.
TOTN met with Katja to learn more about her service.
What made you start Happy House?
Parenting has always been a topic that interested me throughout my life. I originally wanted to become a nursery teacher, but I ended up taking a completely different path. My true involvement with the subject came almost unconsciously, through my own experiences as a mother. I wholeheartedly embraced my role as a parent, but at the same time, I was constantly pushed to my limits. I truly understand the feelings of exhaustion, being overwhelmed, and the weight of parental guilt, and what it can do to you. These personal experiences have shaped my understanding of the struggles and uncertainties that families face. Motivated by this, and by the desire to help others, I pursued further education as a parental consultant and eventually launched happyhouse.
Tell me about the approach at Happy House. What is systemic counselling?
Systemic counselling is a psychotherapeutic approach that focuses on the interactions and relationships between people. It operates on the premise that problems and challenges never occur in isolation but are always connected to other people and social systems—whether within the family, at school, at work, or in other communities.
With this as the guiding principle, systemic counselling opens new perspectives. It helps us see challenges within these systems, enabling us to view the symptoms from different points of view and within context. This, in turn, allows us to find creative ways to respond to the current difficulty.
By discussing how all parties perceive the situation, clients gain a deeper understanding of why things are happening, which helps them get to the root of the issue. Therefore, systemic counselling is often described as helping people to help themselves.
This approach resonates with me because I believe parents are the experts when it comes to their own children. I never tell people what to do; instead, I use systemic counselling as a tool, acting as a guide to help parents gain deeper insights, along with strategies and tools that are aligned with their family dynamics.
Who is it for?
My services are primarily for families, but I also work with schools and other institutions seeking guidance on parenting and child-rearing matters. Families can reach out for support with childcare, navigating challenging times, improving communication with teenagers, addressing sibling rivalry, managing screen time, learning about media education, and, importantly, gaining tools for self-care—an often overlooked but vital aspect of parenting.
I also work with schools to provide talks or advice on student well-being and motivation. I offer flexible settings, meeting families either in my home office, their homes, or wherever they feel most comfortable.
How does your therapy work in practical terms?
The session process is tailored to meet the unique needs of each family. It typically begins with a free initial telephone consultation, during which we discuss current challenges, hopes, and goals.
At the end of this first consultation, we determine the most suitable approach—whether it’s systemic, solution-oriented counselling to address deeper patterns, or coaching to provide practical tips and background knowledge on specific topics.
Sessions can take place at your home, my home office, or online, and typically last about an hour.
What has made you follow this path?
My path to this role is rooted in both my personal experiences and my passion for child-rearing. Above all, my journey as a single parent living in Spain has profoundly shaped my perspective. Navigating parenthood as a foreigner while being self-employed was incredibly challenging—I often felt isolated, with no clear support system to turn to.
I have spent countless sleepless nights filled with worry, and those moments made me acutely aware of the struggles and uncertainties many families face. I’ve noticed that there is not nearly enough accessible support for parents, something I’ve seen done effectively in other places like Germany, where every small town has a parent counsellor.
I believe I have a lot to offer in this space, and I would be honoured to help parents navigate their challenges and create a supportive community.