Julia Lüderwaldt, known among Barcelona’s upper class as Julia or María Julia, came under scrutiny after testifying in the investigation into the death of Mango founder Isak Andic. Andic died on 14 December 2024 after falling down a ravine during a walk in Montserrat, accompanied by his son Jonathan. Lüderwaldt, described in reporting as a therapist to members of the Andic family, was called as a witness at the Martorell court, where she discussed her involvement in the family’s internal disputes. Claims about her credentials and professional registration have also drawn attention: she lacks formal academic credentials and is not registered with a professional psychology association. Her approach extended into sensitive areas such as family finances and personal relationships, raising questions about professional boundaries and ethics.
Lüderwaldt’s clients have included some of Catalonia’s most prominent families, among them the Andics, the Sánchez Vicario family and the Urdangarins. Testimonies cited by EL PAÍS describe methods that some former clients said increased their dependence on her and reduced their autonomy in decision-making. One former patient said sessions expanded from once a week to three times a week and eventually involved the entire family. Lüderwaldt’s approach, based on psychoanalysis and confrontation, was presented in court as a means of fostering personal growth, though professionals have criticized what they regard as a crossing of ethical boundaries.
During her court appearance, Lüderwaldt explained her role in mediating between Isak Andic and Jonathan, whose relationship had reportedly been strained for more than a decade, primarily over financial disagreements. The conflict intensified in mid-2024, when Jonathan reportedly sought an advance of around €40 million on his inheritance to pursue business ventures. Lüderwaldt advised on these financial matters, a role that raised questions for the judge and prosecutor. Her influence reportedly also included encouraging family members to take part in therapy and asking for intimate details beyond the original reasons for consultation.
The case is being handled by Judge Raquel Nieto of Martorell’s Court of Instruction No. 5. Jonathan Andic was detained and formally investigated on suspicion of homicide in May 2026. He has denied pushing his father and maintains his innocence. Prosecutors have examined possible disagreements over inheritance and family finances as relevant to the inquiry, but the investigation remains open and no conviction has been established. Lüderwaldt has not been accused of causing Andic’s death; her testimony forms part of the effort to reconstruct the family circumstances surrounding it.
Her work was not limited to the Andics. Lüderwaldt also intervened in longstanding disputes within the Sánchez Vicario family, attempting to mediate between tennis champion Arantxa Sánchez Vicario and her relatives. In another high-profile case, she supported the family of Iñaki Urdangarin and Infanta Cristina during the fallout from the Nóos corruption scandal, aiming to help them accept the legal consequences facing Urdangarin. Despite her reputation among Barcelona’s elite, Lüderwaldt maintained a low public profile, with little online presence and no visible credentials at her practice.
Payment for her services was typically made in cash, and some clients said they felt pressured to continue sessions or involve additional family members. Former patients described her as a “shaman” and likened her practices to those of a sect, saying they fostered dependence rather than resolving their problems. Spain’s psychotherapy associations emphasize ethical standards, confidentiality and clear therapeutic boundaries.
The investigation has also brought other people connected to Lüderwaldt into the court’s inquiry. After her testimony, the court summoned Johanes Bechman, described as a psychotherapist with a practice in Palma de Mallorca, and José Martí Otin, both identified in reporting as colleagues or collaborators. They are prospective witnesses, not people accused of causing Andic’s death. The inquiry is examining whether his fall was accidental or the result of an intentional act.
On 19 October 2026, the court scheduled testimony from 33 witnesses across nine hearing dates, beginning on 26 October and continuing on 9-13, 16, 20 and 23 November. The list includes estate executors, Andic’s brother, his notary and trainer, as well as witnesses proposed by the prosecution and Jonathan’s defense. Prosecutors, supported by the Mossos d’Esquadra, have argued that financial disagreements between father and son may be relevant. Jonathan’s lawyers, Cristóbal Martell and Sebastián de Juan, have requested testimony from professionals involved in managing the family’s assets to challenge the existence or significance of a patrimonial dispute. The hearings are an investigative step: the court is assessing whether there are sufficient grounds to send Jonathan to trial, not determining guilt.
Payment practices and the lack of professional registration have sharpened scrutiny of unregulated therapy among Spain’s wealthy families. Spain’s psychotherapy federations say thousands of accredited professionals work under ethical guidelines, a contrast with the methods attributed to Lüderwaldt. The case has renewed attention to the risks of entrusting sensitive family and financial matters to practitioners operating outside recognized professional oversight, particularly for high-profile clients seeking discretion and privacy.
