The admission requirements for the individual courses and training programs in couples therapy can vary greatly and are aimed at different target groups. For example, one course is open to interested individuals without any counseling experience, while the other is open exclusively to professionals from the fields of social work, psychology, medicine or related disciplines who wish to acquire special knowledge of couples work. Please enquire about the exact admission requirements directly with the schools using our contact form.

The title "relationship coach" is not yet protected, so it is possible to offer coaching for couples without the appropriate training. However, sound training is highly recommended so that you have the necessary tools to conduct successful relationship coaching sessions.

You should have the following qualities:

• Ability to think analytically
• No fear of confrontation and conflict
• Neutral and diplomatic stance
• Ability to reflect on oneself
• Openness with regard to the development of personality

After completing the couples therapy training course, you will be in a position to become self-employed and open your own counseling practice or to take up employment. This can be in any institution where well-trained specialists are needed to provide support, counseling and movement therapy. Examples of employment as a couple therapist or partner, couple and family counselor include therapeutic residential communities, schools and kindergartens, rehabilitation clinics and addiction counseling, psychiatric facilities and psychosomatic institutions. Depending on your previous knowledge and training, you may also be able to work at cantonal counseling centers.

There is no clear definition of what a relationship coach does, as the profession is not federally protected and coaches are very free in the design of relationship coaching sessions. As a rule, a relationship coach primarily listens to the client, mediates, leads the conversation, asks targeted questions, helps to process injuries and promotes mutual understanding and finding solutions and compromises.

The training courses and continuing education, further training in couples therapy are designed to take place alongside your work, so that you do not have to give up your job, but can simply reduce your working hours or take vacation on the course dates. Some courses take place in blocks from Thursdays to Saturdays, others exclusively in the evenings or on Saturdays and Sundays. It is best to obtain the course dates and course variants directly from the relevant schools.

It always depends on which training you choose and which target group you focus on. For example, you can focus exclusively on couples coaching, but you can also expand your field of activity with partner, couples and family counseling. Since couples therapy often does not focus exclusively on the couple, but also includes problems from other relationship constellations, such as with children, parents, former partners, etc., a combined training course that includes all these relationships is certainly very enriching for a prospective couples therapist.

What you earn as a relationship coach depends on various factors - especially as you are usually charged per session and work independently in your own coaching practice:

• Degrees and diplomas
• Size of the clientele
• Number of sessions

In Switzerland, the cost of a session is between approx. 120 and 500 francs.