Body-Oriented Counseling in English in Switzerland

Body-oriented counseling in English for stress that has settled in the body. Online across Switzerland.

Stress and the body

You can understand your stress perfectly and still have a clenched jaw. Many people who contact me have already thought everything through. They know why they are tense. Knowing has not made the tension go away.

That is because stress is a physical state as much as a mental one. The heart rate rises, the breath gets shorter, and muscles prepare for effort. When this happens every day for months, the body forgets how to come back down.

Typical signs:

Constant tension, often in the neck, shoulders, jaw or stomach
Feeling on edge without a clear reason
Difficulty relaxing, even on holiday
Trouble sleeping because you cannot switch off
Feeling disconnected from your body, as if you live only in your head

What body-oriented counseling is in practice

It is still a conversation. The difference is that we include what your body is doing while you talk.

I may ask you to pause and notice your breathing. I may point out that your shoulders rose when you mentioned a certain person. We might try a short exercise: slowing the exhale, feeling your feet on the floor, loosening one muscle group and observing what changes. Then we talk about what you noticed and what it tells you.

Three things usually develop with practice:

You catch the early signals, before tension turns into a headache or a sleepless night
You have simple ways to calm yourself that take a minute or two
You begin to trust physical sensations as information, instead of pushing through them

There is no touch. Sessions take place by video, and everything we do is something you do yourself, seated or standing, in normal clothes. You stay in charge of the pace and can stop any exercise at any time.

What it is not

Body-oriented counseling is not medical treatment. I do not examine you, and I cannot say what causes a physical symptom. Pain, digestive trouble, dizziness or long-lasting sleep problems should be checked by a doctor first. Once the medical side is clear, counseling can help with the part that stress plays.

“During a year of work with Maryna, I received not only support, but also clear, effective tools and techniques that really help me better understand my body, my inner state, and reduce negative psychosomatic symptoms.”
O.F.

How it fits with my other methods

I rarely use body work alone. It sits alongside Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Gestalt-informed counseling and mindfulness. Some sessions are mostly talking. Others have more exercises. You tell me what helps.

It combines well with burnout counseling, where the body often signals the problem first, and with anxiety and stress counseling.

My role and its limits

I trained as a psychosocial counselor and am registered with the SGfB; my academic degree is an MSc in Psychology. Psychotherapists and psychiatrists treat mental disorders, sometimes with medication. A counselor works with everyday strain and does not diagnose. If you are in an acute crisis, call 144. You can read how the professions differ in Counseling vs. psychotherapy in Switzerland.

Practical details

The format is the usual one: 50 minutes online, on a secure video platform. On request we can meet in person in Switzerland. The price is CHF 120 per session, after a free 20-minute introduction. Basic insurance in Switzerland generally does not reimburse counseling. I offer sessions in English, Ukrainian and Russian.

Questions about body-oriented counseling

Is there physical touch?

No. I do not touch clients, online or in person. All exercises are ones you carry out yourself, guided by my voice. You will never be asked to do anything that feels uncomfortable.

Can body-oriented work really be done online?

Yes. What we need is your attention and enough camera view for me to see your face and upper body. Being at home can even help, because you practice in the same place where you will later use the exercises. A little space to stand up is useful but not required.

How is this different from physiotherapy or massage?

A physiotherapist or massage therapist works on the body directly, with their hands or with prescribed exercises for a physical problem. I work with the link between what you feel physically and what is going on in your life. I do not treat injuries or pain, and a counseling session does not replace either of those services. They can be used side by side.