FAQ

Can I combine different types of offers?

Yes, that is possible.

How frequently would we meet for a session?

Usually, we would meet once every or every second week. Towards the end of a counselling/coaching/therapy process, scheduling sessions in lower frequency may be helpful to provide you with more time between the meetings to apply what we talked about.

How do you ensure privacy and data protection?

By law, as a psychologist, I am obliged to guarantee confidentiality. That means, I will not share nor enable third parties to access your data unless I received your explicit written consent to do so. More specifically, during online sessions, I take measures to prevent others to follow our conversation. Sessions will not be recorded on my end and all hand-written notes, I might take, will be kept safely in a locked container.

What is the difference between psychological counselling and life coaching on the one and short-term psychotherapy on the other side?

Whereas short-term psychotherapy aims to reduce the symptoms of a diagnosed mental health illness, counselling and coaching do not necessarily operate within clinical frames. Whereas counselling and coaching contain more elements of psychoeducation, self-help, and guidance to improve adaptation and wellbeing, psychotherapy aims to create specific remedial effects on your feeling, thinking, and acting through the application of indicated therapeutic techniques.

Which type of mental health problems do you treat with short-term online psychotherapy?

Mild depression and dysthymia, panic attacks and agoraphobia, specific phobias including social phobia, adjustment disorders, general and health anxiety, ADHD, mild OCD, sexual dysfunction of male sexuality in particular premature ejaculation

If seven Sessions are not sufficient to achieve the therapeutic goals set at the beginning of the process, we can decide together, if more sessions should be arranged or other forms of treatment seem more suitable as follow-up.

Which type of mental health problems do you not treat with short-term online psychotherapy?

Psychotic disorders, personality disorders, posttraumatic stress disorders, acute trauma, moderate to severe depression, autism spectrum disorders, bipolar disorders, eating disorders

What if I must cancel a session?

If you let me know at least 48h in advance that you can’t attend, we can just reschedule. If you let me know on shorter notice, I will charge you 50% of the regular price for the missed session since it might be difficult fill the previously blocked slot with another client.

Can I get a free trial session?

Unfortunately, this is not possible. Because even if you decide to leave it at the one session, you have already been offered a lot: a safe professional space to speak, an expert opinion and assessment of your concerns, as well as recommendations for your personal development and, if necessary, advice on alternative support services.

Can I record/capture our sessions?

Yes. In fact, it can be very powerful to watch the video(s) of our session(s). Uploading or streaming it on the internet as well as showing or disseminating it to others, however, is not permitted. Thanks for your understanding.

Do I need to reveal my name and contact details?

Yes, because unlike with providers of anonymous free helplines, you will receive a liable customer service that requires signing up and agreeing to the terms and conditions of our professional online relation. The communication and billing will, however, stay online and no paper document will be sent to any address unless explicitly requested.

Please make a booking request through the website. Briefly describe your concern and let me know about your availabilities for the next weeks. I will then invite you to a session that fits both our schedules and send you our service agreement to be return a signed copy via email. After we met, you can use PayPal, credit card, bank transfer or whatever is most convenient for you to settle the dues within a seven-day courtesy period.

If you have booked a package of seven sessions, you also have one week after our first session to transfer the amount, which already includes the fee for our first and all others session.

What are typical concerns to discuss with a counselor?

Typical concerns that people may discuss with a psychological counselor include stress, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, trauma, grief, and life transitions. Other common topics include self-esteem, self-doubt, and difficulty managing emotions. Some people may also discuss issues related to work or school, such as performance anxiety or difficulty with time management. Additionally, some people may seek counseling to address specific mental health conditions, such as ADHD or OCD. Ultimately, the specific concerns that a person chooses to discuss with a counselor will depend on their unique needs and circumstances.

Why is expat mental health an issue?

Expats, or people who live and work outside of their home country, may experience a number of challenges that can affect their mental well-being. Some reasons why expats may need psychological support include:

Culture shock: Adjusting to a new culture can be difficult and can lead to feelings of isolation, confusion, and homesickness.
Language barriers: Struggling to communicate effectively in a new language can be frustrating and can lead to feelings of isolation and anxiety.
Family separation: Being away from family and friends can be emotionally difficult and can lead to feelings of loneliness and sadness.
Career and professional challenges: Navigating a new work environment can be challenging, and expats may struggle to find a job or advance in their careers.
Identity loss: Being immersed in a new culture can lead to a loss of one’s sense of self, which can be difficult to navigate.
Financial stress: Living in a foreign country can be expensive, and expats may struggle to make ends meet.
Difficulty in building new relationships: Expats may have difficulty building new relationships due to language barriers, cultural differences, and other factors.
Difficulty in adapting to the new environment: Expats may have difficulty adapting to the new environment and feel overwhelmed by the new surroundings.

All these factors can contribute to mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and stress, and seeking psychological support can help expats to cope with these challenges and maintain their mental well-being.

What are typical objectives to achieve with counseling or training?

Generally speaking, psychological counseling or training aims to impart insights, attitudes, and behaviors that, to varying degrees depending on the specific service offered

Promote a better understanding of one’s mental health status and influencing variables such as life experiences and learned coping strategies,
Activate inner resources such as self-efficacy beliefs and courage to change,
Reduce stress by identifying functional strategies for dealing with stressors and stress responses,
improve the handling of difficult feelings such as fear, sadness, anger, etc.) through goal-oriented emotion regulation and
help in coping with interpersonal conflicts, psychosocial crises and critical life events.

What is the advantage of online counseling?

Online psychological counseling, also known as teletherapy or e-therapy, offers several advantages over in-person counseling. These include:

Convenience: Online counseling allows individuals to receive therapy from the comfort of their own home or any location with internet access.
Flexibility: Online counseling typically offers more flexible scheduling options than in-person counseling, making it easier for individuals to fit therapy into their busy schedules.
Anonymity: Some people may feel more comfortable sharing personal information with a therapist in an anonymous online setting.
Accessibility: Online counseling can make therapy more accessible to individuals who live in remote or underserved areas, or who have mobility or transportation issues.
Cost-effective: Online counseling can be more cost-effective than in-person counseling, as it eliminates the need to travel to and from appointments.
Record keeping: Many teletherapy platforms provide the therapist and the client with the session recording, which can be helpful in reviewing important topics discussed during the session.

It’s important to note that online counseling may not be suitable for everyone, and it’s important to consult with a mental health professional to determine whether it’s the right option for you.

Why is it important to be culturally sensitive as counselor?

Culture can influence how people think about and treat mental health issues in several ways:

Attitudes towards mental health: Different cultures may have different attitudes towards mental health, with some cultures viewing mental health as a personal weakness or moral failing, while others may view it as a medical condition that requires professional treatment.
Stigma: Stigma surrounding mental health issues can vary across cultures. Some cultures may have high levels of stigmatization towards mental health, which can discourage individuals from seeking help or disclosing their mental health issues.
Conceptualization: Different cultures may have different concepts of what constitutes a mental health issue, and how these issues should be understood and treated. For example, some cultures may view mental health issues as being caused by supernatural or spiritual factors, and therefore may seek treatment from spiritual or religious leaders, rather than from mental health professionals.
Treatment options: Different cultures may have different treatment options for mental health issues, with some cultures relying more heavily on traditional or alternative forms of treatment, such as herbal medicine or spiritual healing.
Access to care: Access to mental health care can vary across cultures, with some cultures having more limited access to mental health services and professionals.

It’s important to keep in mind that while there may be cultural generalizations, individuals within a culture may still have personal variations and preferences. Additionally, it’s important to remember that culture is not fixed and it’s constantly evolving. It’s important for mental health professionals to be aware of cultural differences and to be culturally sensitive when working with individuals from different cultures.