SMART COUNSELING

COUNSELLING, GENERATIVE COACHING AND SUPERVISION IN LUGANO

I support adults, adolescents and couples with relationships, life transitions, and personal and professional growth. I also offer supervision for counsellors.

My approach draws on relational and systemic perspectives, third-generation Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), and the generative approaches developed by Robert Dilts and Stephen Gilligan.

We begin with what matters to you and what you would like to work on. Together, we agree on goals and shape the process around your needs, taking time along the way to reflect on your progress.

MY APPROACH

A relational, systemic and generative perspective

A systemic approach pays attention to the connections between our thoughts, emotions, physical responses and behaviour, as well as the relationships and circumstances that shape our lives.

A difficulty may touch several areas at once: how we see ourselves, family expectations, professional roles, personal values and everyday demands. Exploring these connections can help us understand what is happening and where change may be possible.

Third-generation systemic NLP brings language and thinking together with bodily awareness and relationships. It explores how we make sense of our experiences, how we respond, and what other possibilities we can develop.

The generative approaches developed by Robert Dilts and Stephen Gilligan place creativity at the heart of this process. They help us bring together our experiences and resources to find new ways forward.

PSYCHOSOCIAL COUNSELLING

Understanding your experience and finding greater choice

Counselling offers a supportive professional relationship in which to explore life’s difficulties, develop self-awareness and improve the quality of your relationships.

Through conversation and experiential practices, I support you in making sense of your situation, recognising your needs and resources, and exploring the choices available to you. Together, we look for ways forward that fit your values and circumstances.

Areas we may work on include:

• Personal, family and couple relationships
• Life changes, separation, bereavement and loss
• Self-esteem, assertiveness and personal boundaries
• Stress and everyday demands
• Career choices, professional roles and transitions
• Identity, belonging and life across cultures

Throughout the process, the focus is on strengthening your ability to make your own choices and find your own direction.

GENERATIVE COACHING

From intention to action

Coaching is a collaborative process that helps you develop your capabilities and move towards personal or professional goals.

Generative coaching, developed by Robert Dilts and Stephen Gilligan, explores both what you want to achieve and what will help you get there. This includes your attention, emotional and physical state, beliefs, and the relationships that support you.

We begin by clarifying what you want to create or change and why it matters to you. From there, we draw on your resources and develop practical steps you can take.

When obstacles arise, we explore what they may be telling you, including any concerns or needs that deserve attention as you move forward. Your experience and feedback guide the process, helping us recognise progress and make adjustments along the way.

This work can support personal projects, career decisions, communication, creativity and the development of your abilities.

MENTAL COACHING AND CREATIVE MIND

Developing focus, presence and flexibility

Mental coaching helps you strengthen the mental skills involved in preparation and performance: concentration, inner dialogue, motivation, managing pressure and learning from feedback.

It can support you in studying, work, sport or artistic expression. Goals and practices are adapted to your needs and the situations you face.

Creative Mind Coaching, developed by Stephen Gilligan, brings together thinking, bodily awareness, imagination and connection with others. Centring practices and creative exploration help you draw on your resources and respond with greater flexibility.

HOW WE WORK TOGETHER

Our first meeting gives us time to get to know each other, understand what brings you here and agree on a direction.

Sessions combine conversation, reflection and experiential practices, guided by your goals and what you feel ready to explore.

We may look at the language you use and the beliefs that influence your choices, explore a situation from different perspectives, or work with bodily awareness, visualisation and dialogue between different aspects of yourself.

This inner dialogue can be particularly helpful when different needs, values or wishes pull you in different directions. Giving each of them space can help you understand what matters and make more considered choices.

Between sessions, we may agree on simple practices or things to notice in daily life. These experiences help connect our work to your everyday circumstances and give us a way to reflect on what is useful.

ADOLESCENTS

Space to grow and find your own direction

I support adolescents in developing self-awareness, navigating relationships, building independence, strengthening study skills and exploring educational and career choices.

Sessions offer space to explore emotions, expectations and decisions, with respect for each young person’s age, individuality and pace.

From the outset, we clarify the purpose of the work, how sessions will unfold and the boundaries of confidentiality. Where appropriate, we also agree on how parents will be involved.

COUPLES AND RELATIONSHIPS

Understanding each other and improving communication

Relationship counselling offers space to explore how you communicate, understand one another’s behaviour and respond to recurring patterns in your relationship.

Together, we look at needs, expectations, differences and each person’s role in these interactions. The aim is to support clearer communication and more informed choices about the relationship.

We agree on goals that reflect your circumstances and respect everyone involved.

SUPERVISION

Space to reflect on your practice and develop professionally

Supervision offers counsellors a dedicated space to reflect on their work, consider questions that arise in practice and deepen their understanding of the helping relationship.

My integrative approach takes into account the client’s needs, the wider context, the relationship between counsellor and client, and your own emotional and personal responses. We also explore your choice of methods and any ethical considerations.

The aim is to support thoughtful, effective practice, strengthen your observational skills and bring greater awareness to how you use your professional knowledge and tools.

ABOUT ME

I am Barbara Zacchè Pincus, a psychosocial counsellor specialising in third-generation systemic NLP and a counselling supervisor with an integrative approach.

My training in relational counselling is complemented by mental coaching and ongoing study of the generative approaches developed by Robert Dilts and Stephen Gilligan. I have completed both Coaching of Creative Mind and Advanced Coaching of Creative Mind with Stephen Gilligan.

I am an SGfB-recognised counsellor, a member of ANCoRe, and an Associate Member of the International Association for Generative Change (IAGC).

Before becoming a counsellor, I worked in international business environments in marketing, sales, personnel management and client relations. My experience also includes volunteering with the SOS Infanzia telephone support service in Lugano.

Music is part of my life. I play the violin as an amateur musician and help organise cultural and orchestral activities and projects.

Having lived and worked in Italy, the United Kingdom and Switzerland, I bring an awareness of different cultural perspectives to my work, particularly around identity, belonging and relationships.

Ongoing training and supervision are integral to my professional practice.

SESSIONS AND CONTACT

I offer sessions in Lugano and online, in Italian and English.

I offer a free initial consultation so we can get to know each other, explore what brings you here, and see how I might support you. I’ll also explain how I work, so you can decide whether the approach feels right for you.

Book an initial consultation

Via Al Forte 2
6900 Lugano, Switzerland
info@smartcounseling.ch
+41 78 659 07 77