English-speaking counseling in St. Gallen and eastern Switzerland. By video as the norm, and in person in St. Gallen on request.
Book Free 20-Min Intro Session
Between the university, research and the border
St. Gallen is the center of eastern Switzerland. Its abbey district is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and its textile and embroidery trade once made the city known far beyond the country. Today much of its international life comes from the University of St. Gallen (HSG), whose business programs attract students and academics from all over the world. Research institutes such as Empa, the university of applied sciences, the cantonal hospital and export-oriented companies add to that mix.
Lake Constance is close, and so are Germany, Austria and Liechtenstein. Many people cross a border on their way to work. The everyday language is Swiss German, in a dialect that even people with good German can find hard at first. English works on campus and in some offices. Outside them, much less.
Topics that often come up
- Performance pressure in a competitive degree or an academic career
- Anxiety before exams, deadlines and important decisions
- Looking capable on the outside and feeling worn out inside
- Loneliness after moving for a program or a job, often alone
- Living in one country and working in another, without feeling at home in either
- Not knowing what comes after graduation or after the current contract
These pages explain more: Counseling for anxiety and stress in Switzerland and Online counseling in Switzerland. The full overview is here: English-speaking counselor in Switzerland.
The practical side
We normally meet through a secure video platform. A session runs for 50 minutes. You need a quiet room, a screen and an internet connection, nothing more.
You may prefer a conversation in person. Then we can set up a session in St. Gallen on request. I plan these individually with each client.
A session costs CHF 120. The first step is a free introduction of 20 minutes, where we check whether my way of working fits what you need. Counseling is normally not covered by basic health insurance in Switzerland, so please plan for it as a private cost. Three languages are possible: English, Ukrainian and Russian.
Counselor or psychotherapist: which do you need?
It helps to be clear about this before you book. Psychotherapy is treatment for a mental health condition, carried out by a licensed psychotherapist. Counseling is support for people who are under strain, in transition or facing a difficult choice. I am a counselor. I studied psychology to MSc level and I am registered with the SGfB, which stands for Swiss Association for Counselling. I do not make diagnoses, I do not prescribe, and I do not treat psychiatric conditions. Here is a longer explanation: Counseling vs. psychotherapy in Switzerland.
“Every week, our sessions were a stable support that I could rely on even on the most difficult days.”
O.F.
From my blog
- High-functioning anxiety: why coping well can still feel exhausting
- Why emotions can be harder to explain in a second language
- The anxiety of waiting for an important answer
St. Gallen: three frequent questions
Are in-person sessions in St. Gallen available?
On request, yes. Video is how I usually work. For a meeting in St. Gallen itself, bring it up in the introduction and we will see what can be arranged.
I am a student or a staff member at the university. Is counseling suitable for me?
Yes. I work with adults, and that includes students, doctoral candidates, researchers and administrative staff. I am independent of any university, so nothing you say reaches your department or supervisor. Common themes are pressure, comparison with others, and doubts about the path you are on. If you need a certificate, a diagnosis or treatment, please turn to a doctor or a psychotherapist.
I live across the border in Germany or Austria. Can we still work together?
Yes, online. Where you live does not matter for a video session, and prices can be shown in euros for clients outside Switzerland. The same goes if you live in St. Gallen and spend part of the week abroad. In-person sessions are something I arrange within Switzerland.