Your osteopaths with hearts and hands in Bern
Johanna Sitaras, Anna Schmidt and Vitor Abreu da Costa
Johanna Sitaras
- From 7 September 2026, I’ll be on maternity leave – my colleague Anna Schmidt will be taking over my patients during this time.
- 4-year Master’s degree in Osteopathy in Maidstone, England
- Working as an osteopath in Switzerland since 2020 and recognised by all insurers
- I love playing padel, enjoy cooking and partner dancing, as well as the hiking trails and lakes around the Bernese Oberland
- I treat adults and children aged 12 and over, no babies – I recommend you to see our osteopath colleague Inga Thies
- Both German- and English-speaking patients are welcome
I’m happy to treat you …
… gently using rhythmic techniques for acute and chronic complaints.
… during pregnancy and in the period after birth.
… with taping to support the healing process
In 1993 I was born near Freiburg in Germany, in a small village called “Himmelreich.” I spent a lot of time at a horse riding stable next door and grew up with my two brothers, my German mother and my Greek father.
In 2013–2014 I was drawn to the sun and the community life in Israel, so after my highschool I lived for a year on a kibbutz (village), where I cared specifically for people with disabilities.
In 2014–2015 I tried to understand as much as possible of the conventional medical system and gained experience through internships in hospitals.
From 2016 to 2020 I studied osteopathy for 4 years in Maidstone, England, and earned my Master’s degree from the European School of Osteopathy. That’s where Vitor and I met.
In 2020 I ended up in Bern, Switzerland, and enjoyed learning from Alexander Klein and other osteopaths.
In 2026, my life and work partner Vitor and I decided to open our own practice, and we look forward to all the patients who find their way to our treatment bench.
Anna Schmidt
- From 7 September 2026, I’ll be joining the team while Johanna is on maternity leave
- 4-year Master’s degree in Osteopathy in Maidstone, England
- Working as an osteopath in Switzerland since 2025, recognised by all supplementary insurers except Visana
- I love singing, playing badminton and hiking
- I see adults and children aged 12 and over, but not pregnant women or babies – for these, we’re happy to refer you to our osteopath colleague Inga Thies
- German-, French- and English-speaking patients are welcome
I was born in Bulle in the canton of Fribourg and, because of my father’s work, grew up first in Belgium and then in Québec, Canada – my father is Swiss, my mother Canadian. As a child I played the cello for many years and loved swimming most of all.
At 12, back in Switzerland, I came into contact with osteopathy for the first time: I still remember how much better I felt afterwards with my stomach aches. My whole family benefited from treatments too – that’s where my fascination with osteopathy began.
2017 – 2018 I studied Biomedicine at the University of Fribourg before deciding to focus entirely on osteopathy.
2018 – 2022 I spent 4 years studying osteopathy in Maidstone, England and received my Master’s degree from the European School of Osteopathy – the same school where Johanna and Vitor also studied.
2022 – 2025 I worked as an osteopath in Whitley Bay near Newcastle in north-east England.
In 2025 I was drawn back to Switzerland – to Bulle, where my grandparents lived, and where I’ve since been working as an osteopath most of the week.
Now I’m looking forward to also taking over Johanna’s patients in Bern from September 2026.
We welcome you in the Weissenbühl neighbourhood
Vitor Abreu da Costa
- 4-year Master’s degree in Osteopathy in Maidstone, England
- Working as an osteopath in Switzerland since 2022 and recognised by all supplementary insurers except Visana
- I love challenging Johanna at padel and spend the rest of my time improving my German
- I treat adults and children aged 12 and over, no babies – I recommend you to see our osteopath colleague Inga Thies
- English-, Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking patients are welcome
I’m happy to treat you …
… for chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, using the Perrin Technique – at your home if needed.
… gently with classical osteopathy, also for acute complaints.
… with taping to support the healing process.
In 1978 I was born near Braga in Portugal, grew up with plenty of pastéis de nata (you know what these are?) and learned early on how to listen well.
Until 2016 I worked in various jobs in Portugal and England to fund my dream of studying osteopathy.
From 2016 to 2020 I studied osteopathy for 4 years in Maidstone, England, and earned my Master’s degree from the European School of Osteopathy. That’s where Johanna and I met.
In 2020–2021 I worked as an osteopath in the south-west of England, while Johanna had already moved ahead to Switzerland.
In 2022 I first worked at a practice in Zurich, then moved to Bern in 2023, where I’ve been based ever since.
In 2026, Johanna and I are now at home together in Bern, and we look forward to looking after you in our own practice.
