Online therapy in English for expat women in Switzerland

Feeling stuck, exhausted, or overwhelmed?

Therapy isn’t just for crises - it’s for anyone who wants to feel more confident, at peace, and empowered.

Head over to my blog post and I’ll walk you through 7 signs that therapy might help and how to take the first step toward support.

You don’t have to figure it all out alone.

Contrary to the belief of many seeking out a therapist, we do not give you advice on how you should live your life and then you suddenly feel all better.

A good therapist helps you find out what you actually want and helps you develop strategies to achieve your goal in your unique way. My role is to guide your self-discovery process with questions and suggest different perspectives or interpretations. Therapy should always be a safe space to explore and experiment, where you decide the pace and discoveries you take home. I want to help you to connect with the best version of yourself and find the courage to live the life you want.

Starting therapy can seem daunting. Will the therapist ask me to tell them every single painful detail of my life? How will they react? What if they laugh? What if I cry?

First sessions are such a gift for me, because it takes so much courage for my clients to open up. It is important to me to be respectful of their boundaries and to be grateful for what they choose to share.

Besides simply getting to know each other, common questions for a first session are:

• Why are you here?

• Is there a reason you decided to come now?

• What would you like to achieve at the end of our work together?

• What are things you expect from me (your therapist) during these sessions?

• What are the things you are worried about?

These are some of the usual opening questions and depending on your needs we take it from there. I say we, because therapy is a common project and you get to decide what you talk about, which questions you want to answer and how fast we approach some of the more difficult topics. Therapy is your safe space and everything you share is confidential.

There really isn’t a one size fits all which is why finding the right therapist for you is so important. So how do you find the right therapist? Read my blog post How to find the right therapist!

The single most important thing is that you feel comfortable with your therapist and feel you might be able to trust them over time. You should feel heard and taken seriously.

Yes, absolutely. I will never disclose any information about you or what you shared with me.

I only share information my clients explicitly tell me to share - for example with parents or other people my client would want me to talk to.

Therapy is a collaborative process, and I will always honor your pace and your boundaries. If there are specific topics that you are not comfortable sharing at the moment, that is completely understandable.

Sometimes it happens that we stumble upon something painful and you might only realize during the conversation that you aren’t ready to share, that’s ok too. We will put a pin in it and circle back when you’re ready.

We can work together to gradually build trust and create an environment where you feel safe exploring those sensitive areas. It is essential to remember that therapy is a gradual process.

Most of my clients come to therapy for around 8–15 sessions.

However, the number of therapy sessions needed varies and is highly individual. Therapy is a dynamic process, and its duration depends on the individual, the complexity of the issues, the goals of therapy, and the person’s readiness for change. The ability to engage in the therapeutic relationship also plays an important role.

To make sure we are working effectively towards your goals, we regularly review your progress and where you are in the process, and consider how we can work together even more effectively.

Depending on your current supplementary health insurance provider, it is possible for therapy services to be covered either fully or partially. I have detailed information on therapy insurance coverage in Switzerland here.

However, it's important to note that in Switzerland, you are responsible for the initial payment of your sessions and the filing of reimbursement with your supplementary insurance provider later.

To simplify the process for you, I can provide a monthly cumulative invoice that you may submit to your health plan for potential reimbursement.

Based on available information online and the experiences of existing clients, the following Swiss insurances have been known to reimburse the therapy services I offer: Helsana, ÖKK, CSS, Visana, EGK, Atupri, Agrisano, Vita Surselva, SWICA, Assura, Rhenusana, Sympany, and Sanitas. Please keep in mind that insurance information and policies can change at any time, so it is advisable to contact your provider directly to verify how your specific plan compensates you for psychotherapy services.

I can provide any necessary documentation or assistance as needed.