Perinatal Psychologist & Doula in Zürich

Hello and welcome!

I’m Aline Schnekenburger, a perinatal psychologist and certified doula, member of the Federation of Swiss Psychologists (FSP) and the Swiss Doula Association.

I specialize in guiding mothers, fathers, and families through the emotional journey of conception, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
Parenthood is a deeply transformational experience, often filled with joy, but also moments of anxiety, stress, and vulnerability. My mission is to provide emotional support, therapeutic guidance, and practical tools so that parents can feel empowered, confident, and connected throughout this important stage.

How I Support Families

Using the lens of Systemic Family Therapy, I help you explore parenthood from multiple perspectives, from the most individual to the social and relational.

Some of the most common themes we work on include:

  • Pregnancy & postpartum anxiety or depression
  • Stress and burnout in early parenthood
  • Processing birth trauma
  • Strengthening relationship & communication
  • Parent-child bonding and family dynamics

I work with parents from preconception through the second year postpartum, always with the goal of promoting mental well-being and helping families thrive during this unique time.

Giving birth is actually a fantastic rehearsal for the task of motherhood, although most of us don’t realize this at the time

Milli Hill

I’m here to help you feel seen, supported, and prepared for the emotional journey of parenthood.

Aline Schnekenburger
🇵🇹 Português
Doula · Psychologist FSP · Zürich

Pregnancy, birth and the transition to parenthood

Doula support and psychological counselling for individuals, couples and families — warm, reflective and evidence-informed.

Based in Zürich · Online across Switzerland · Sessions in EN, ES & PT

Aline Schnekenburger
🌿
Doula & Psychologist FSP Two roles, one practice
🇨🇭
Zürich · Online EN · DE · ES · PT
Psychologist FSP · Psicóloga FSP · Psychologin FSP
Swiss Doula Association
Perinatal specialist
Sessions in EN, ES & PT
Online & in-person
A different kind of support

Becoming a parent can be beautiful, disorienting, intense, lonely, transformative — often all at once.

Many people prepare practically for birth, but feel less prepared for everything else that comes with it: the emotional shifts, the identity changes, the impact on relationships, the mental load, the vulnerability, the invisible reorganisation of life itself.

My work is about helping people feel more accompanied through these transitions.

I offer doula support and psychological counselling with a systemic and relational approach, supporting individuals and couples through pregnancy, birth, postpartum and other important life transitions.

My approach
What I offer

Four areas of practice

My doula and counselling work are kept distinct — so each client receives fully undivided attention.

01

Doula Support

Continuous emotional and practical support through pregnancy, birth and postpartum.

Learn more
02

Psychological Counselling

Support for pregnancy and postpartum, relationships, anxiety, overwhelm, infertility, pregnancy loss, grief and other life transitions.

Learn more
03

Couples & Parenthood

Support navigating communication, identity shifts, coparenting and emotional connection.

Learn more
04

Corporate Consulting

Programs supporting employees and organisations through the transition to parenthood.

Learn more
My approach

A systemic and relational way of working

I work through a systemic lens, meaning I see emotional wellbeing not only as an individual experience, but as something shaped by relationships, family systems, work, culture and life context.

My approach combines:

Psychological understanding Grounded in evidence-informed relational and systemic practice.
Relational awareness Attention to how we function within — and between — each other.
Practical support Care that engages with real life — not only the consulting room.
Emotional depth Without pathologising normal human experiences.
"I believe people do not need to become 'perfectly prepared' for parenthood. They often need more support, more continuity, more space to process, and more permission to remain human within the experience."
Aline Schnekenburger
About Aline

Hi, I'm Aline.

I'm a psychologist, doula and former corporate leader based in Switzerland, working mainly with people navigating pregnancy, birth, parenthood, relationships and major life transitions.

Before working in psychology and perinatal care, I spent many years in international corporate environments. Over time, I became increasingly interested in the emotional realities that often remain invisible beneath performance, productivity and functioning — especially during periods of transition.

My path eventually led me toward psychology, systemic thinking and birth work. Today, I combine these worlds in my practice.

I work with individuals and couples in a warm, reflective and non-judgmental way, combining emotional support with psychological and relational understanding.

Psychologist FSP · Psicóloga FSP · Psychologin FSP Doula CH Systemic & relational Perinatal care Life transitions EN · ES · PT · DE
Doula Support

Continuous support through birth and postpartum

Birth is not only a physical process. It is also emotional, relational and deeply human.

Many people long for more continuity during pregnancy and birth — someone who knows their story, understands their fears and hopes, and remains present through the unpredictability of the experience. That is the role I hold as a doula.

I offer non-medical emotional and practical support through pregnancy, birth and the early postpartum period, complementing the care provided by midwives and medical professionals. I also support VBACs, planned caesareans and other birth paths that benefit from additional continuity.

Four preparation sessions before birth
On-call support from two weeks before the due date
Continuous birth support, with backup doula system
Postpartum visits and breastfeeding guidance Breastfeeding support offered in partnership with specialist lactation consultants
Birth debriefing and emotional reflection
Optional psychological integration sessions after birth
Book a free 30-min call Full details
What families say about doula support

"Aline was completely present — without agenda. I never felt alone during labour, and I had no idea how much that would matter until I was in the room."

37%
Reduction in caesarean rates with continuous doula support
— Cochrane Review
A note on my background

My psychological training informs the quality of attention I bring — but doula and counselling work remain entirely separate practices.

Zürich area · Online preparation available across Switzerland
Kind words

What families say

The following are from doula clients, shared with permission.

"You can't imagine how important and truly empowering it is to have a professional and compassionate companion until you have one by your side. Aline's presence gave us energy, calm, wisdom, and a deep sense of safety during the most crucial moments of our birth."

D.Z.
Doula client

"Aline was truly the best thing that could have happened to me during my birth. Her empathy, strength, and calm presence gave me the confidence I needed, and together we achieved the natural, empowering birth I had dreamed of."

J.V.
Doula client

"Aline was crucial throughout both of my pregnancies. Thanks to her support and guidance, I felt confident enough to pursue natural births with both of my children."

K.L.
Doula client

"Aline became my safe space and my anchor. She held my fears, dreams, and wishes with extraordinary care, and I am absolutely certain my birth experience surpassed my wildest dreams because she was by my side."

V.V.
Doula client

Testimonials relate to doula support only. Professional confidentiality applies to all psychological counselling work.

Fathers & Co-Parents

The transition into fatherhood is often underestimated

Many fathers and partners experience pressure, emotional isolation and major identity changes while feeling they need to remain "strong" or functional for everyone else.

I offer space for fathers and co-parents to reflect on what is actually happening — without the expectation that they need to figure it out alone.

Support for fathers & co-parents

Emotional adjustment

Making space for the real experience of becoming a father — not only the expected one.

Identity shifts

Who you are, how you work, what you prioritise — and how all of it is reorganising.

The couple relationship

What changes between partners in the early years — and what can be protected.

Balancing caregiving & work

Navigating expectations, leave, return and the pressures that come with both.

Reflections

On birth, parenthood
and the life in between

I often write about the emotional and relational realities that shape modern life — parenthood, relationships, work, identity, overwhelm, transition and the tension between performance and being human. These are not quick fixes or perfect answers. Mostly, they are invitations to pause.

🤱
On birth

What birth partners actually need to know

A frank perspective for non-birthing partners — not a checklist, but a way of thinking about the experience.

8 min read
💑
On couples

The relationship before the child and the relationship after

A systemic view of what changes between partners — and what doesn't have to.

10 min read
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On work

What organisations get wrong about parental leave

The gap between policy design and the human experience of transition.

7 min read
All reflections
Get in touch

How can I support you?

Each path into working together begins with a simple conversation.

Doula Support

Book a free 30-min call

A relaxed introductory conversation to understand what you're looking for and whether we're a good fit.

Book a free doula call
No commitment. Available in Zürich and online.
Psychological Counselling

Book a first session

An initial 50-minute session to explore what's bringing you here and what working together might look like.

Book a session
Available online across Switzerland in EN, ES & PT.