About Martina Famos,
Counselor and Author

Nestled in the Swiss Alps, I was born in Engadine, where my childhood unfolded within the vibrant world of our family hotel. This unique upbringing immersed me in a daily tapestry of cultures, as I interacted with staff from across Europe and guests who brought their diverse perspectives from around the globe.

The hotel became my window to humanity – a place where I witnessed the fascinating interplay of different cultural backgrounds, observing both the challenges and the beautiful synergies that emerged. These early experiences planted the seeds of my deep fascination with human nature and the complexities of the mind.

Though my path to counseling emerged later in life, beginning in my early forties, it was shaped by the rich mosaic of experiences that came before. The insights gained through my multicultural upbringing, combined with decades of life experience, have proven invaluable in my journey as a social entrepreneur since 2009.

Martina’s Voice: Published Interviews

Please click on the publication names or images to access the links,

or download the magazine pages for reading.

My Professional Journey and Approach

Diploma as Adlerian Counselor in 2011

At "Akademie für Individualpsychologie" (AFI)

Counseling Approach:

Principles and Theory of Alfred Adler

Counseling Concept by Rudolf Dreikurs

Encouragement by Theo Schoenaker

REBT-Therapy methods of A. Ellis

Purpose of Emotions by G. McKay and D. Dinkmeyer

GPI Coaching by U. Bärtschi

Positive Discipline by Jane Nelsen

STEP-Theorie ("Systemisches Training für Eltern und Pädagogen")

Adlerian psychology is a cognitive and holistic depth theory that considers linkages between behavior and achieved end-results and what conclusion and meaning the client takes from it in terms of their social environment, themselves, and a universal context. Go to the Alfred Adler page describing the foundational principle of Adlerian psychology.

Before studying psychology, I owned an action sports event company and later became a production manager of an international snowboard magazine printed in four languages. Driven by my interest in understanding human behavior, I took my diploma. First, I subleased a practice room in Zurich for four months to test the waters, which turned into eleven years of counseling individuals, couples, parents, and executives.

In 2009, right at the beginning of the globalization boom, my neighbor told me she couldn't find an English-speaking psychologist to help her with her marriage, encouraging me to offer counseling in English.

My native language is Romansh, the fourth national language of Switzerland, and even if my English was far from perfect, I jumped at the challenge. Thanks to my neighbor, an exciting journey as a counselor for internationals began.

In 2019, I moved to Scuol to offer Private Counseling Retreats, as I believe nature is the best "counseling office".

In 2022 I self-published my first book Cultural Grief, a self-help book for expatriates.

Food for thought

Texts by Martina Famos, Video production by Serhii Presniakov @press_videographer

Equality

Belongingness is reflected in an individual's social interest. Those who do not care about the welfare of others lack a sense of belongingness and do not see themselves as part of the human family.

Feeling equal means not feeling inferior or superior but feeling on par with others.

Grief

If individuals knew how to express and process their grief when required, we would reside in societies with fewer mental health issues.

Grief is a natural mechanism that aids in emotional, mental, and spiritual healing and growth.

Self-Care

Self-care is an essential aspect of our lives. While activities like eating healthy, working out, and using health products are essential, we should broaden our understanding of self-care to encompass our entire being, essence, and soul. By taking care of ourselves on a larger scale and connecting with the universe, we can achieve a more fulfilling and satisfying life.

Faith and Doubt

After reading a book by Tomáš Halík, I understood that extremists fear doubting their faith, beliefs, and leaders. They attach to ideas even if those lead to pain and suffering.
And it is not different from self-imposed beliefs. Doubting our attachments can be scary and liberating if there is the courage to question and release them.

We Belong
The Self is our human existence, equal to every human, pure love, and free from choices and conditions. The person is the unique identity with which we choose to go through the earthly experience. The two separate but interconnected perfections are holistically connected to others and everything around us. We choose every step we make on this life's stage, how we play our roles, and what meaning we give to what we do.