Since time began, security blankets and soft toys have been the bane of most parents' existence. The dependance and comfort a child gets from this attachment has long been studied by doctors, scientists, psychologists, and psychiatrists! They refer to them as transitional psychological supports that give concrete emotional reassurance. Yes, on one hand, there are real advantages; on the other, tantrums and stress when they are lost, missing, in the wash, or tattered to the point of no return can be disturbing. A beloved stuffed animal, a soft edged blanket, or a scrap of fabric that is unrecognizable to the average beholder is a must-have accessory in the sight of the youngster!
In English, the proper names and synonyms are often altered by the child but start off as:
- blankie
- softie
- comfie
In French, they fall under the following appellations:
- doudou
- toutou
- nin-nin
- peluche
Of course, these names are often renamed by the child.
We were recently contacted by Carla M. Zilli and Mélanie Svalander who launched a divorce consulting service, or divorce coaching, providing emotional and practical support. We sent them a few questions after two women sent us these following recommendations this January:
"I worked with SPARQ and they provided me with the knowledge and clarity that I needed to navigate a very challenging time in my life. They helped me stay focused, manage (and reduce) conflict and in the end they helped me make decisions that protected my emotional well-being. A very rewarding experience."
"My lawyer recommended SPARQ, and I’m so grateful I chose to work with them. My husband had walked out on me, and my life felt like a complete mess. The confusion and shock were beyond words. SPARQ provided me with a sense of direction, helping me set realistic goals and actionable plans. Divorce can feel overwhelming, but talking to a caring professional helped me move forward. I highly recommend Sparq Divorce Consultants. Their wealth of life experience, coupled with their understanding and empathetic approach, makes them exceptional at listening and guiding you throughout the journey."
What languages do you speak?
Carla is Italian and Dutch, with experience in the legal field, while Mélanie is Swiss and Swedish, with expertise in the communication field. Fluent in English, French, Dutch, Italian and Spanish, we use a multilingual and multicultural approach to help clients from diverse backgrounds navigate challenges effectively.
Why did you start?
We both experienced divorce in Switzerland (one as an expat and one as a Swiss citizen) and found ourselves completely lost as we tried to navigate the complexities of the process. While we had good legal counsel, we quickly realised that divorce extends far beyond legal advice — it touches every part of life, from our children and health to our careers, finances, and living arrangements. It even impacted our sense of identity and future aspirations.
Lois Vitry Trapman, 9D Breathwork Facilitator
We have known Lois Vitry Trapman since 2019 when we wrote an article about Royal Bloom florist shop in Lausanne at this link. We got to know Lois better when The Fish Club opened in Geneva in 2021 (now closed) at this link. Following this talented, beautiful, humble, and personable lady has been an inspiration and we are delighted to let our readers know about her new venture, BloominBreath. She explained it to us below.
How did you get started in breathwork?
I have always cared about people, about wellbeing, about betterment. What we do with bretahwork can result in the same amount of work of years of psychotherapy... It has transformed me and I believe in it so much that I wanted to be able to teach others how they can transform their lives in a positive way.
What is the biggest obstacle you have had to overcome?
So far everything has been aligning in my life regarding this path. I feel drawn to it and it feels natural. Breathwork is not very well known but I think it is so important to your wellbeing that it should be taught in schools! It is something that needs to be explained as it is not very common yet.
What is the definition of Breathwork?
There is nothing like breathwork and its not just meditation or breathing calmly. Its breath WORK, I have been utilizing breath throughout my life. I started running with my father when I was 6 years old, and I practice apnea diving whenever possible.
I discovered "breathwork" itself in Bali during a life changing voyage, and i have decided to share this beautiful knowledge since.
In layman terms Wikipidia describes Breathwork as a term for various breathing practices in which the conscious control of breathing is said to influence a person's mental, emotional, or physical state, with a therapeutic effect.
The 9D method is one of a kind, mixing hypnosis bibaural beats voice coaching, and other methods to help you feel and deal with imprinted traumas and limiting beliefs in order to become a better you.
We were contacted by Erica Sluys, Founder of And You, a recently created company that offers online courses for postpartum women to take care of their body and get back to movement. The courses are taught a multidisciplinary, professional team in English. Erica explained all about And You here:
Why did you start? What has been the inspiration?
And You was founded in October 2023 and courses were launched in July 2024. As an American expat and medical writer, Erica was motivated to reach English-speaking women in Switzerland and in the US (where there is such a lack of postpartum support) with trustworthy information. Erica is passionate about making health-related information easy to understand. As the postpartum period can be overwhelming, hard to navigate and also very baby-focused, And You is solely focused on taking care of the mother, holistically. Our courses are self-paced and online so that they can fit into the real constraints of postpartum.
Have you been working on this idea forever?
This idea has been turning in my head for a few years now. I wasn't exactly sure of the how but I knew why and what was needed. I started putting paper to pen with the blog and talking to mothers and healthcare professionals to see what we could create. Once I found a motivated and multidisciplinary team of teachers we ironed out the core material the courses came to life.
What is the biggest obstacle you have had to overcome?
Learning about building a company! My career has been spent in medical communication so I knew what I wanted to deliver and how, but building a website, design, contracts, business admin, marketing and growth are all new to me and still part of the learning process.
ESCA CancerSupport is undergoing a significant transformation and will now be known as Cancer Support Switzerland. This name change is more than just a rebranding; it signifies their commitment to expanding their services beyond the Lake Geneva region and reaching a broader audience across Switzerland.
Cancer Support Switzerland, a non-profit association, will continue its mission to provide free support in English to those affected by cancer. Expanding their services across the country comes from the growing number of individuals affected by cancer. With increased life expectancy and a diverse population, our goal is to ensure that no one, regardless of nationality or language, feels alone during such a challenging time.
We caught up with Alana Dunsmore, Communications and Awareness Manager at Cancer Support Switzerland. She told us, "We believe that our new name better reflects our mission and the inclusive nature of our services. Expanding our services allow us to offer emotional support, practical assistance, and well-being support to anyone directly or indirectly affected by cancer who prefers assistance in English. We have services and activities available in Geneva, Lausanne, Zürich and online, delivered by both professional Counsellor and trained volunteers.
