Counselling in English – Switzerland
How many sessions should I I need?
This varies from person to person and depends on your reasons for seeking counselling and your goals. Generally an initial series of eight sessions is considered reasonable. Counselling can be short or long term, it’s entirely up to you.
Does my medical insurance cover counselling sessions?
Sometimes yes, it depends on the type of insurance that you have. It is best to contact your health insurer and ask.
In Switzerland what is the difference between a psychiatrist, psychotherapist and a psychosocial counsellor?
A psychosocial counsellor will hold a master’s degree in counselling. They will have completed a minimum of 280 supervised internship hours with clients dealing with psychological patterns of behaviours relating to for example, addiction, relationships, stress, anxiety and trauma.
A psychotherapist will hold a master’s degree in psychology and may work in a clinical setting They will have completed a minimum of 4 years of postgraduate clinical training with at least 500 supervised internship hours with clients.
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can diagnose and treat mental health illness using a combination of medication and therapy. They may see mental health issues as problems to be treated within a medical framework.