What SGfB counseling means in Switzerland

If you are looking for emotional support in Switzerland, you may come across the term SGfB counseling. It can sound official but unclear, especially if you are new to the Swiss system or searching in English.

SGfB stands for Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Beratung, translated as the Swiss Society for Counseling. It is the Swiss umbrella association for psychosocial counseling, not for medical or psychiatric treatment.

What psychosocial counseling means

Psychosocial counseling supports people with the emotional, relational, and practical challenges of life. The word psychosocial points to the connection between your inner experience and your life context: relationships, work, family, culture, transitions, stress, identity, loss, belonging, and decision-making.

People often seek counseling when they are not in crisis, but they are tired of carrying things alone. The work can help you slow down, speak honestly, understand patterns, and find steadier next steps.

How it differs from psychotherapy

In Switzerland, psychotherapy is a regulated profession: practicing it under your own professional responsibility requires a cantonal license. Psychotherapists and psychiatrists may diagnose and treat mental health disorders. Counseling is different. The SGfB describes it as an offer of help and support, not one that aims to cure. It does not involve medical diagnosis, medication, psychiatric treatment, or emergency care.

That does not make counseling less serious. Many difficulties are real even when they do not require clinical treatment. The important thing is clarity about scope.

What SGfB membership can signal

• The counselor works within psychosocial counseling.
• Their training has been reviewed in an SGfB admission procedure, and the title has to be backed by continuing education.
• They are expected to take confidentiality, boundaries, and professional conduct seriously, as set out in the SGfB ethics principles.
• They should recognize the limits of counseling and refer out when needed.

SGfB membership is one part of choosing support. It comes from a professional association, not from the state. Fit also matters. You need to feel that the person listens carefully, explains their scope clearly, and respects your pace.

Why this matters in English

Many people in Switzerland use English as a personal, professional, or relational language. The point is not where you are from. The point is whether English gives you enough room to be honest.

Maryna Zaitseva offers counseling and emotional support in English for adults in Switzerland. She is a counselor SGfB, and her work is grounded in psychosocial counseling. It is not psychotherapy, psychiatric care, diagnosis, emergency support, or medical treatment. If you are in immediate danger or feel unable to keep yourself safe, contact emergency services or a qualified crisis service right away.

If you would like to see whether counseling in English feels right for you, you can book a free 20-minute introduction with Maryna Zaitseva here: Book an appointment.

Sources

• SGfB (undated, read 2026-10-05). Über uns. Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Beratung. sgfb.ch
• Bundesamt für Gesundheit BAG (undated, read 2026-10-05). Anerkennungen von Psychologieberufen. Swiss Confederation. bag.admin.ch
• SGfB (undated, read 2026-10-05). Das ist psychosoziale Beratung. Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Beratung. sgfb.ch
• SGfB (undated, read 2026-10-05). Mitgliedschaft. Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Beratung. sgfb.ch
• SGfB (2006). Ethikgrundlagen. Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Beratung. sgfb.ch