We will match you with a counselor based on your needs
Program Leader
Counseling Center Coordinator
Vivienne Herke, MSW, UKCP
Vivienne Herke, MSW, MBACP, UKCP completed her Masters in Clinical Social Work in 2000 at Wilfrid Laurier University (Waterloo, ON, Canada) which built upon a Bachelor's degree in Psychology at McGill University (Montreal, PQ, Canada). Vivienne is also currently a Counselling Psychologist in training as she in the final year of a PhD in Counselling Psychology and Psychotherapy at the University of Middlesex, England (in conjunction with the New School for Psychotherapy and Counselling in London).
During her career, Vivienne has moved back and forth between the private and public sectors as she has lived abroad for 25 years. She has experience of working in psychiatric hospitals, crisis units of general hospitals, community mental health services, youth offending services, child welfare and various counselling services in Canada, England, Switzerland and Spain. Vivienne is an integrative British registered Psychotherapist (UKCP) with a holistic and humanistic-existential orientation who works in a relational way incorporating CBT, ACT and mindfulness techniques in service of her clients. Most recently, she has been in private practice for 5 years in Lausanne and online across Europe working with teenagers, students, adults, couple and families. Issues of anxiety, anger, depression, developmental trauma, emotional regulation, identity, purpose or meaning in life and relational issues have been the focus of her therapeutic work.
Vivienne is committed to ensuring the overall responsiveness, effectiveness and quality of the multi-cultural counselling service at Webster University.
Who are the Trainee Counselors?
Counselors come from a variety of professional backgrounds such as lawyers, teachers, journalists, human resources, UN employees, NGOs, the corporate world and more. They have very valuable life experience, and this can be so important in understanding the challenges that their clients face. They are realistic, dedicated, and resourceful with a wide range of life skills.
Some have grown up in international, multilingual contexts, knowing first-hand the difficulties faced by individuals and families adjusting to a new country. All the counselors are passionate about supporting people in navigating difficult life transitions and creating meaningful change.
We are delighted to be able to extend our services to students at Webster Tashkent. Trainee counsellors available for this purpose can be identified by a (T) next to their name.
Trainee Counselors
Michal Sharon Nahum
Michal is currently a trainee counselor at Webster Geneva Campus in the Master's in counseling program. She sees therapy as a path for crossing obstacles and uncovering your inner resources for having a more joyful and meaningful life experience. She would be curious to listen openly, to jointly find the path to make your journey lighter and brighter, walking towards healing and growth.
Michal is also a Mom of three teenage boys, a yoga teacher, and has lived in three different countries. She speaks fluent English and Hebrew.
Michal warmly invites you to start with a chat and discover new possibilities.
Olivia Sacconi (T)
Olivia is dedicated to supporting individuals on their journey toward healing and personal growth. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and is currently completing her Master’s in Counseling. Her educational background, combined with practical experience, enables her to offer compassionate, effective, and personalized care to each of her clients.
Olivia focuses on creating a supportive and non-judgmental space where individuals feel heard and understood. To enhance her practice, she is currently undergoing training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). These evidence-based approaches combined allow her to employ a variety of techniques tailored to fit her clients' unique needs, helping them build resilience and regain control over their lives.
Anne Ellsworth (T)
Anne offers a safe, welcoming and non-judgemental space for clients to express themselves. She provides a collaborative and integrative approach to counselling, tailored to each individual’s unique needs and goals. Anne is in the final year of her MA in Counselling at Webster, Geneva Campus, and is an SGfB (Swiss Association for Counseling) member-in-training. Anne is originally from Canada, where she earned her B.A. in Psychology and she is very familiar with the transition challenges of living abroad and cross-cultural issues having lived in the United States, Nigeria, and Sweden, and having worked in many more. She moved to the Geneva area 5 years ago with her husband and daughter. Anne provides counselling services in English, and has a good working knowledge of French and Swedish.
Allison Weed (T)
Allison is a SGfB Member in Training in her final year of the MA in Counseling at Webster University - Geneva Campus. She grew up in the United States and obtained her BA in Psychology from the University of New Haven. Having lived in the USA, Italy, and now Switzerland, Allison recognizes that life transitions can be difficult and appreciates that everyone comes from a unique culture and background. Allison offers a warm, welcoming and non-judgmental space for clients to freely express themselves. She uses an integrative approach and aims to work collaboratively with her clients in order to tailor counseling to each individual’s needs and goals. Allison offers sessions in English.
Samantha Elaine Groulx (T)
Out of admiration for human resilience during her humanitarian career, Samantha nurtured a deep desire to hold safe space for individuals who have faced harsh realities. She offers you her full presences to your healing journey, without judgement. With a steadfast respect that you are the expert of yourself, Samantha offers a collaborative, resilience-oriented approach to counselling. She offers a space for all thoughts and emotions to be fully acknowledged, felt and honoured for the valuable information they provide. She helps her clients navigate and connect with their emotions, where they are free to explore what healing means to them.
Samantha emigrated from Toronto, Canada to Geneva in 2020. She is a queer woman, with a passion for community gardening. Samantha is a SGfB Member-in-training and offers counselling services for English-speaking clients in Geneva and beyond (through distance counselling).
Laura Lightbody
Laura works collaboratively with her clients to help them move through whatever issues and challenges they are currently facing. Her person-centred approach also includes elements of somatic therapy, focusing on the mind-body connection. By bringing awareness to the body, she seeks to help clients reshape their perspective on, and relationship to, difficult emotions such as anxiety and sadness.
Laura has a BA in International Relations from NYU in New York City and a Masters of Business Administration from IE University in Madrid. She has a successful 12+ year career in international development that has focused on improving opportunities for certain populations in developing countries. Now based in Geneva for many years, she decided to also train as a Counselor after seeing the value that therapy sessions have brought to both herself and her loved ones. Her specific areas of interest for working with clients include life transitions, establishing healthy relationships, exploring the mind-body relationship, and career development. She offers sessions in English and French.