We use the terms almost interchangeably, but there is a technical difference. Counseling deals with every day adjustment issues that can usually be limited to a given time period (think marital difficulties, communication issues, concern over meeting expectations, etc.). Therapy focuses more on going deeper into how you came to see the world and the patterns you’ve developed to keep the world (your spouse, your kids, your job) operating in this fashion. All of us at Family-Counselling are trained as both counselors and as depth psychotherapists. The healing course we take together will depend on the situation. Our approach to the issues you share will involve gaining a shared perspective on how you see the world and how that impacts you and your world.

Success in therapy is largely related to your good hard work - in session and out. Good hard work can be thought of as active engagement, openness, and a willingness to be a cooperative partner in bringing about the changes you seek. Other important factors? The fit between you and your therapist is critical.

Professional therapists have a duty to keep in-private the information shared between the therapist and patient during the course of their therapeutic relationship. This includes individual conversations conducted with spouses in couple’s therapy – they are not shared with the other spouse unless permission is granted. All records of this information are kept securely.

By law, however, there are three instances where confidentiality must be broken for the general welfare:

• Serious threats of self-harm or suicide;

• Serious threats of homicide or harming another individual;

• Sharing information about dependent person being at risk of abuse - whether a minor or an elderly person.

Professional Supervision: In keeping with standards of professional ethics, brief notes of counseling sessions are kept and periodic consultation with other helping professionals occurs in their capacity as clinical or peer supervisors. Any identifying information is carefully guarded or omitted altogether. With the patient’s permission, information pertinent to the therapist/patient relationship may be sought. This includes consultation with current or past medical and psychotherapeutic professionals.

While some international insurance companies recognize our credentials, we are not recognized by Swiss insurance companies. If insurance coverage is necessary to meet the cost of services, we encourage our clients to determine this with an immediate call to their carrier to minimize out-of-pocket expenses.

• Clients are expected to pay the monthly invoice and submit the paid invoice to their insurance provider for reimbursement.

• Upon request, we are happy to submit our credentials for review.

• Be aware that when consenting to use insurance, your diagnosis and dates of service may be requested by the insurance company.

• When paying without insurance, any diagnoses remain confidential and undisclosed.