Terms of Engagement

1. Who these terms are between

These terms apply to counselling provided by Theresa Frische, Gimenenstrasse 1, 6300 Zug, Switzerland, to you as a client. They form part of the agreement between us and are accepted when the first session is booked.

2. What is offered, and what is not

The service is psychological counselling: a structured, confidential conversation aimed at reflection, orientation and personal development.

It is not psychotherapy, not medical treatment, and not a substitute for either. It does not involve diagnosis, and it is not billed to health insurers. Theresa Frische is not an authorised psychotherapist and does not hold a cantonal licence to practise psychotherapy.

If what you need is medical or psychotherapeutic care, this will be said plainly and you will be pointed towards it. That conversation is part of the work, not a failure of it.

3. Not an emergency service

Counselling is offered by appointment. Enquiries are not monitored around the clock and there is no on call service between sessions. In an acute crisis, contact the emergency services on 144 in Switzerland or 112 in the European Union, Die Dargebotene Hand on 143 in Switzerland, or Telefonseelsorge on 0800 111 0 111 in Germany.

4. How an engagement begins

The usual first step is a free discovery call of about fifteen minutes, at no obligation to either side. If we go ahead, the format, frequency and fee are agreed before the first session and confirmed in writing by email.

The agreement is a mandate under Articles 394 and following of the Swiss Code of Obligations. What is owed is careful professional work, not a particular outcome. No specific result can be promised, and none is.

5. Sessions

Individual sessions run 60 minutes. Couples sessions run 60 to 120 minutes as agreed. Sessions are held online by video, or in person by arrangement.

For online sessions you are responsible for your own end: a private space where you will not be overheard, a working connection, and a device that is yours. If the connection fails, we reconnect, and if that is not possible the session is rescheduled without charge.

6. Fees and payment

Fees are agreed individually before the first session and confirmed in writing. They are quoted in Swiss francs. No value added tax is charged, as the turnover threshold for tax liability has not been reached.

Invoices are payable within 14 days of issue.

Counselling is a private service. It is not reimbursed by Swiss basic health insurance and is not billed to any insurer.

7. Cancellation of a single session

Sessions cancelled more than 24 hours in advance are not charged. Sessions cancelled less than 24 hours in advance, or not attended, are charged in full, because the time cannot be given to anyone else at that notice.

Where illness or another genuine emergency prevents attendance, tell us and a fair solution will be found. This clause exists to protect the schedule, not to catch people out.

8. Ending the engagement

Either of us may end the engagement at any time, without notice and without giving reasons. That is your right under Swiss law and it cannot be signed away. Sessions already held remain payable. Sessions paid for in advance and not yet held are refunded.

If the engagement is ended at an inopportune moment, the party ending it may be liable for loss caused, as Swiss law provides.

9. No right of withdrawal

Swiss law does not provide a general right of withdrawal for contracts concluded online. Once an appointment is agreed, the cancellation terms in section 7 apply. This is stated plainly because clients used to EU rules often expect otherwise.

10. Confidentiality

Everything you say is treated as confidential. Nothing is disclosed to anyone, including family members, employers, doctors or insurers, without your explicit consent.

There are three exceptions, and they are the standard ones:

Where you give your consent, in writing, to a specific disclosure. Where there is a serious and immediate danger to your life or to the life of another person. Where disclosure is required by law or ordered by a court or an authority.

Cases are discussed in professional supervision, which is a normal part of responsible practice and improves the quality of the work. In supervision your identity is not disclosed and details that could identify you are removed.

11. Records

Brief notes are kept for the purpose of the work. They are stored securely, are accessible only to Theresa Frische, and are handled as set out in the privacy notice.

12. Your part

Counselling works through your participation. You decide what to bring and how far to go. You are responsible for decisions you make about your own life. If you are receiving medical or psychotherapeutic care at the same time, saying so is important, because the work needs to fit alongside it rather than cut across it.

13. Liability

Liability is limited to intent and gross negligence, to the extent Swiss law permits. Liability for injury to life, body or health is not excluded. Nothing here limits liability that cannot be limited by agreement.

No liability is accepted for interruptions to online sessions caused by internet or device failures outside reasonable control.

14. Changes to these terms

These terms may be updated. The version in force when your engagement began is the one that applies to it, unless a change is agreed.

15. Applicable law and place of jurisdiction

Swiss law applies. The place of jurisdiction is Zug.

If you are a consumer resident in the European Union or the European Economic Area, mandatory consumer protection provisions of your country of residence, including any right to bring proceedings there, are unaffected.