Questions people often ask

Systemic therapy — often called family therapy — understands difficulties in the context of the relationships and systems a person belongs to: the family, the couple, the workplace, the culture and the wider community. Rather than locating the problem inside one person, it looks at the patterns of interaction, meaning and belief that surround it.

It is a collaborative form of therapy. Together we explore the stories you hold about yourself and your relationships, and look for the resources, exceptions and possibilities that a difficult time can make hard to see.

No. Although I am trained as a family and systemic psychotherapist, I work with individuals, couples and families alike. Systemic thinking informs the work whoever is in the room; it does not require the whole family to attend.

Sometimes we may agree that inviting a partner, a parent or another important person to a session would be helpful — but that is always discussed and decided together.

The first session is an initial assessment. It is an opportunity for you to describe what has brought you to therapy and what you would like to be different, and for us to meet each other and see whether we can work well together.

I will ask questions about your situation, your relationships and your history, and I will explain how I work. By the end of the session we usually have a shared sense of the focus of the work and how often it would be helpful to meet. There is no obligation to continue after the first session.

This varies considerably from person to person and depends on what you bring and what you hope for. Some people come for a short, focused piece of work over a few sessions; others prefer a longer process.

We review the work together at regular intervals, so that the number and frequency of sessions remains something we decide jointly rather than something fixed at the outset.

Yes. As a federally recognised psychotherapist, my psychotherapy sessions can be covered by Swiss basic health insurance (Grundversicherung) when prescribed by an authorised doctor. A medical referral/prescription (Anordnung) is therefore required. Coverage is subject to the applicable conditions of your health insurance; hence, I recommend checking with your insurer first.

Invoices are issued for sessions attended and settled by bank transfer.

Please ask me about current fees when we first speak.

Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice are charged in full, as the time has been reserved for you and cannot usually be offered to someone else at short notice.

If you need to change an appointment, please let me know as early as you can and I will do my best to find an alternative time.