ABOUT
My background
I trained in psychology, clinical psychology and psychotherapy, then deepened my understanding of anxiety, depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, trauma, family dynamics through continuous education as well as professional experience in Geneva , the Boston area and Caracas. In the past years I have learned and gained experience in the Dr.Alfred Tomatis methodology as a complement to psychotherapy.
As a Swiss national, I have an understanding of multinational communities because of my cross-cultural personal experience. My father was from Geneva and worked mostly as an executive for international companies. My mother who is originally from Hamburg was raised in Curaçao.
After my parents met in Venezuela, they lived back and forth between Europe and South America. I was born in Caracas, came as a toddler to Geneva, moved as a teenager to Caracas where I completed a French baccalaureate in the local French school. Then I left for San Diego, California where I studied two years of biology and pre-medicine before opting for psychology and choosing Venezuela as my homeland for the next twelve years. Marriage and two children rooted me finally back in Geneva.
With this background, I have developed an approach which focuses essentially on the here and now and exactly what you are trying to solve. It respects how you envision yourself, the goals you pursue, your personal preferences and your wishes.
ABOUT
Psychotherapy
Read down to find out about common questions people ask themselves before deciding to start psychotherapy.
Why do I feel bad if everything in my life is perfect and others have it far worse?
There is an extremely wide array of difficulties troubling normal people at any age, regardless of outward signs of wealth, success and well-being. It is an underestimated challenge for everyone to face modern occidental life with its load of high expectations, high demands, emphasis on individualism and materialism, denial of other needs, high levels of stress, disjointed family and social support networks, increased migration and instability, changing roles, clashing communication patterns and values …to name only a few external factors related to inner trouble.
I have good friends, I wonder how talking to a psychotherapist would make a difference?
What happens between a psychotherapist and a client is different. The psychotherapist does not - as much as humanly possible - involve you in his or her problems. The time you pay for is completely dedicated to you. The psychotherapist focuses on you with no preconceived opinions or judgments. He does not intend to make you do things you don’t want to. His role is only to make a specific process happen (the psychotherapeutic process) .
To contact a psychotherapist, does it mean I’m crazy?
To contact a psychotherapist does not mean you are crazy. It means you are healthy enough to know you need help.
What if I become dependent on psychotherapy?
You remain free at all times to book appointments or not. If you feel you enjoy psychotherapy it’s essentially because it has become helpful. You need not fear dependency for at some point when you've reached a level of comfort you will wish to take a break.
What if the psychotherapist judges me?
Psychoherapist’s training and job focuses on shedding light, understanding and unravelling what seems to make no sense, what seems irrational and unacceptable. In order to do that, psychotherapists adopt a neutral and non-judgmental attitude.
What if the therapist tries to influence me?
It’s not the psychotherapist’s job to give advice or try to make you do what he considers fit. He may express an opinion in certain circumstances such as related to your safety but he will make it clear that you remain the boss at all times.
What if I don’t like the psychotherapist ?
One of your main tasks at the beginning is to find someone with whom you feel comfortable, respected and listened to. Psychotherapy will not occur if you constantly hold ill feelings towards the therapist. Trust is essential. Make appointments with several psychotherapists and stay with the one you prefer.
What if I don’t feel like saying everything and don’t want to dwell on my past?
You are expected at all times to say only what you feel the need to say. You are neither required to say everything nor requested to dissect your past. Eventually, you will feel free to express the flow of thoughts and feelings as they come up. You will discover that often, it is what seems to be silly, trivial and unrelated which helps shed new light on situations.
How will I know psychotherapy is helpful?
The best indicator of psychotherapy being useful is when symptoms gradually disappear and/or you feel you are back on track on the path which leads you towards your goals. This won’t happen immediately though, especially if you’ve been suffering for years. This is why there is another good indicator you need to pay attention to: your subjective experience. Do you “feel” the sessions are useful? Do you feel you are gaining clarity, understanding and new insights? If not, if you feel repeatedly angry and resentful towards the therapist, if you feel you are stagnating, either you have wrong expectations as to what can be achieved in therapy or you plainly need to change therapist. Discuss it over and proceed to change.
I’m scared the psychotherapist will determine I’m mentally ill!
Psychotherapists are trained to focus and enhance resources, capacities, talents and strengths. Everyone has positive sides. It’s the constructive side of you which is going to get you where you want to be. This is what needs to be focused on. The latter is always true independently of diagnostics.
If you live in Switzerland, what you need to know is the following.
- Psychologists working for Swiss public insurances (LAMAL) are required to give to the insurance a mental health diagnosis based on your psychological symptoms and a couple of psychological reports. After 30 meetings you are required to be evaluated for medication and regularly followed-up by a medical doctor specialized in psychiatry.
- Psychologists covered by international or Swiss private insurances are not required to give mental health diagnosis from the start. Clients are not required to be followed-up by an MD nor be evaluated for medication.
What are mental illnesses?
The current occidental categories of mental illnesses were created to describe syndromes in the psychological area. Psychological syndromes are clusters of symptoms in the cognitive, emotional and behavioural areas. These diagnostic categories facilitate communication between specialists and with medical insurances and help justify medical decisions such as medication, crisis intervention or hospitalization. They are not effective as far as helping you reach your own goals and getting better.
What are my rights?
You are free to think what you want. You are free to consult with any psychologist you want. You are free to breack away from any professional relationship which you feel is useless. Within limits set by the law, what you say in a session remains confidential.
Is there anything expected of me?
Your main responsibility is to attend settled appointments, pay for reserved time slots and tell the psychotherapist when you decide to stop.
What is the difference between therapists, psychotherapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, psychoanalysts, counsellors and coaches?
People who are helpers come from different backgrounds. This explains the array of terms used to refer to them. ·
- Psychologists are in Switzerland university graduates registered in the LAMAL data basis of SASIS (Santé Suisse). They have completed at least master's level studies in psychology. They can be employed and work under the guidance and supervision of mental health facilities. Their services can be charged to public insurance.
- Psychiatrists are in Switzerland medical doctors registered in FMH (Swiss Medical Association) specialized in prescribing medication for mental health illnesses and determining whether you need hospitalizing. Some of them are also psychotherapists thanks to additional certified training.
- Psychotherapists are in Switzerland psychologists registered in the LCA data basis of SASIS (Santé Suisse). They are authorized by the Canton’s Health Department to work independently after having completed a long and certified training to guide clients/patients towards their stated psychological goals. The training includes hundreds of hours of supervision as well as a personal psychotherapy intended to clear up most past troubles. Psychoanalysis is the name given to the specific type of psychotherapy originally developed by Freud.
- Clinical psychologists are in Switzerland psychologists specifically trained in psychopathology, testing, differential diagnostics and reporting as well as following-up their clients towards the goals defined and stated in the report.
- Therapists, counsellors and coaches come from other backgrounds, nursing, social work, physiotherapy, kinesiology or others. If they say they are psychotherapists, you need to check that they are certified by the Swiss Association of Psychotherapists (ASP) and authorized to practice as such locally. In Switzerland, anyone who handles your health independently is meant to request and obtain the authorization to practice by the canton’s Health Department.
How come psychotherapists also seem to have at times problems in their personal life?
Psychotherapists are normal people tangled up in life like everybody else. It is commonly expected from psychotherapists to be magicians, wise know-it-all men & women. But to be a psychotherapist remains first of all a job. Psychotherapists know a method to make a process happen that will make YOU get where you want to get but psychotherapists do not hold the secret to eradicate life’s difficulties altogether!
How many types of psychotherapies are psychotherapists meant to know?
Psychotherapists are required to specialize at least in one recognized method in order to be allowed to practice. However most experienced psychotherapists, respectful of the diversity of clients and situations have studied over the years an array of methods and have integrated them in a meaningful, coherent and personal style.
Do all psychotherapists treat all disorders?
It is the psychotherapist’s responsibility to know what he feels comfortable and experienced enough to treat; he will discuss this with you, usually at the beginning.
Can clients rely on the ability of the psychotherapist to choose what method is best?
Certified psychotherapists have the training to lead psychotherapy. However, clients’ input remains essential to inform the psychotherapist as to whether they are comfortable with the psychotherapist’s approach and ways.
Do psychotherapists appreciate feedback?
Feedback is useful, even years later. It is the only way a psychotherapist can really assess the results of what he does.
ABOUT
The Alfred Tomatis Methodology
Audio – Psycho – Phonology (APP) methodology, commonly called “listening therapy” was invented by a French medical ENT specialist, Dr. Alfred Tomatis, and described it in his multiple books.
It is a central nervous system (CNS) integration training program through auditory channels.
Even though Dr. Tomatis didn’t originally intent to improve patients systemically, he discovered overtime that his CNS “rewiring” approach within a psycho-medical setting had an overall positive impact on health, heart, mind, spirit, expression, communication and integration.
The inner ear is responsible for hearing and automatic responses linked to posture, balance and movement all necessary for danger awareness, and survival. It is also directly linked to active listening, communication and higher brain functions responsible of complex behaviours such as attention and concentration, thought, language, learning, motivation, control of emotions, creativity and initiative. As a result, listening training has a diversity of therapeutic applications and effects.