An Cuypers Counselling & Therapy in Geneva for Humanitarian, UN & International Professionals

Specialised, trauma-informed counselling for people who carry the weight of others’ suffering  aid workers, UN staff, human rights professionals, and expats navigating life in Geneva. Sessions in English, French and Dutch, in person or online, worldwide.

The Weight You Carry Is Real

You spend your days attending to the suffering of others — in the field, in negotiations, in policy rooms, in courtrooms. You are the person others turn to. But when the mission ends, when the report is filed, when you come home — where do you go?

Many of the people I work with are high-functioning, deeply committed, and quietly exhausted. They have learned to compartmentalise. They have learned to keep going. And somewhere along the way, the cost of that has started to show up — as insomnia, irritability, a sense of dread before the next deployment, or simply a quiet feeling that something inside has shifted and won’t shift back.

If any of this sounds familiar, you are in the right place.

Who I Work With: Mental Health Support for UN Staff, NGO Workers & Expats in Geneva

As an English-speaking counsellor in Geneva with over a decade of lived experience inside the UN system, I specialise in supporting professionals who work in complex, high-responsibility environments:

Whether you are working through the cumulative weight of years in the sector, the specific impact of a recent deployment, or the quieter unraveling that comes with carrying too much for too long — I understand this world from the inside.

What I Offer

All sessions are available in person in Servette, Geneva, or online worldwide — in English, French or Dutch.

Individual Counselling & Therapy

Individual Counselling & Therapy Confidential 50-minute one-to-one sessions tailored to your needs. Whether you are facing burnout, trauma, anxiety, grief, or a longer process of healing and reorientation — we work at your pace, grounded in evidence-based, trauma-informed practice.

Group Counselling & Peer Support

Group Counselling & Peer Support Facilitated group spaces for professionals in shared contexts — a place to process, reflect, and reconnect with others who understand the work without needing it explained.

Workshops & Trainings

Workshops & Trainings for Teams Practical, interactive sessions for teams navigating high-pressure environments. Topics include wellbeing, sustainable communication, burnout prevention, and psychological safety. Delivered in 1-hour, 1.5-hour, or half-day formats — tailored to the realities of your team.

Meet An — A Therapist Who Has Lived This World

Before I became a therapist, I spent more than a decade as a human rights lawyer with international organisations, including years of service within the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. I did not just study this sector — I lived it.

I understand the emotional weight of carrying other people’s suffering as part of your job. I know what it feels like to witness injustice and be unable to fix it. I know the exhaustion of missions, the difficulty of switching off, and the strange loneliness of doing work that most of the people in your life will never fully understand.

Today, I bring that lived experience into every session — together with formal training in psychological counselling and trauma-informed care.

Qualifications & Memberships

A Compassionate, Trauma-Informed Approach

My work is integrative — meaning I draw from several therapeutic traditions to meet you exactly where you are, rather than fit you into a method:

Therapy with me is not about pushing through, fixing yourself, or becoming more productive. It is a space to slow down, make sense of what you are carrying, and find your way back to yourself.

What Makes My Practice Different

10+ years of lived experience inside the UN and international humanitarian sector

Trauma-informed, evidence-based, integrative methodology

Sessions available in English, French, and Dutch

In-person in Servette, Geneva — or online, worldwide

Sliding-scale pricing available based on individual circumstances

UNSMIS and Cigna clients often reimbursed (please check with your provider)

Free 20-minute intro call before any commitment

Frequently Asked Questions

These titles often overlap, which is understandably confusing. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who can prescribe medication. Psychologists typically focus on diagnosis, assessment, and clinical treatment. Counsellors and therapists (like myself) support you with talk-based and somatic approaches for life challenges, trauma, stress, burnout, and personal growth. If you're unsure which is right for you, reach out — I'm happy to help you find the right support, whether that's with me or elsewhere.

A first session is a conversation. You do not need to arrive with everything figured out, or with the "right" words for what you're experiencing. We talk about what brings you here, what you're feeling, and what you hope might change. There is no pressure to disclose more than you are ready to.

Individual therapy sessions are 50 minutes. The free intro call is 20 minutes. Workshops and group sessions range from 1 hour to half a day depending on format.

Yes. Online sessions are available worldwide and are clinically as effective as in-person work for most issues. This is especially helpful for humanitarian and UN staff who travel frequently or are stationed in other duty stations.

Swiss LAMal basic insurance does not currently reimburse counselling sessions with non-psychiatrist counsellors. However, several international and employer-based providers — including UNSMIS and Cigna — do cover this type of support. I recommend checking directly with your provider before booking.

Yes. Everything you share in session is confidential and protected by my professional ethical obligations as a member of the Swiss Counselling Association (SGfB). The limits of confidentiality — which apply equally to any qualified therapist — will be discussed with you clearly at the start of our work together.

Sessions are available in English, French, and Dutch.

Counselling Practice in Servette, Geneva

In-person sessions take place at Avenue Wendt 65, 1203 Geneva — conveniently located in Servette, easily accessible by public transport, and central to the UN and international sector hub of the city.

Online sessions are available to clients across Switzerland, Europe, and worldwide.

Taking the First Step

Taking the first step is often the hardest part. If something in what you’ve read resonates — even quietly — that’s reason enough to reach out.

There is no obligation, no commitment, and no pressure. Just a 20-minute conversation to see if this is the right support for you, right now.

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A safe space for reflection, healing, and growth. Offering personalised therapy and counselling in Geneva and online to help you navigate stress, trauma, and life’s challenges with clarity and care.

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