How it works: Payment link instead of terminal – why psychotherapists in Switzerland collect payments differently

A card terminal in the treatment room disrupts the therapeutic setting – the Payment Link is the more elegant alternative. Psychotherapists send a payment link via SMS or WhatsApp after the session. Clients pay discreetly at home using TWINT, card, or mobile wallet. For online sessions, the Payment Link is the only sensible solution anyway.

This guide shows you what the Payment Link workflow looks like in practice for a psychotherapy clinic, how you can use it for online sessions, and how to eliminate outstanding balances for good.

1. The problem with the terminal in therapy

Imagine: A patient has just completed an intensive session. The consultation ends, the therapist accompanies them to the exit. And then: hand over the terminal, insert the card, enter the PIN, receipt. This checkout moment disrupts the therapeutic transition and feels clinical – not because money has bad intentions, but because the context isn't right.

Many psychotherapists describe this moment as uncomfortable. Some avoid card payments entirely and only accept cash or TWINT transfers – with the well-known issues: no structured accounting, no possibility for refunds, manual tracking.

The Payment Link solves this structural problem without compromise: The checkout process is physically decoupled from the session. The therapist sends the link after the session – in their own time, discreetly, without interrupting the conclusion of the session.

2. The Payment Link workflow step by step

The entire workflow takes less than 2 minutes per session and can be completed entirely from a smartphone:

• Conduct and conclude the session – no checkout process

• Create a new Payment Link in the Payrexx Dashboard: enter the amount, set an optional title (e.g. 'Session 3 June'), generate the link

• Send the link via SMS to the client

• Client pays at home: TWINT, card, or mobile wallet, in less than a minute

• Payment appears immediately in the Dashboard – no further action required

For clinics with fixed session prices, a pre-configured Payment Link with the standard amount is recommended, which can be shared directly from the Dashboard. Even simpler: A Payrexx Pages with the fixed session price as a permanent URL – set up once, always the same.

3. Online sessions: Payment Link before or after the session

Remote therapy via Zoom, Teams, or other video conferencing tools has permanently established itself in Switzerland. There are two sensible Payment Link options for these sessions:

Prepayment before the session

The therapist sends the Payment Link with the appointment confirmation. The client pays before the session. Advantage: No payment step after the intensive session, the session starts with a settled context. Particularly suitable for new clients or if there is a high risk of no-shows.

Payment after the session

Just like in-person sessions: Send the link after the session via WhatsApp, the client pays afterwards. Advantage: More flexible handling, the amount can still be adjusted after the session (e.g. if the session lasted longer). Less upfront friction for existing clients.

4. Recurring Payments: Collect automatically without manual links

For clients who come weekly or bi-weekly, Recurring Payments are the most elegant solution: The client enters credit card details once, and the amount is automatically charged after each session. No manual link creation, no payment reminders, no outstanding balances.

Recurring Payments are available in all Payrexx plans, including Free. Important: Only Visa and Mastercard (debit and credit) support Recurring Payments via Payrexx – TWINT does not support tokenised recurring payments. The client must explicitly authorise the automatic debit once. This happens during the first Payment Link access when Recurring is configured.

5. Eliminating outstanding balances: Why payment discipline matters

In psychotherapy, the relationship with money is a topic of its own. Some therapists hesitate to send payment reminders – they do not want the therapeutic relationship to be burdened by payment notices. This leads to a silent tolerance of outstanding balances that accumulate over months.

The Payment Link establishes a different framework: The payment is part of the agreed setting, not a subsequent demand. If the client knows that a link will be sent after each session, paying becomes normal and expected – no awkward moment, no social embarrassment. Clinics that consistently adopt this system report significantly fewer outstanding balances.

In the event that a payment is missed: The payment status of each link is immediately visible in the Payrexx Dashboard. You can see at a glance which links are outstanding and follow up specifically – in a friendly manner and without formal notices: just send the link again via WhatsApp.

6. Discretion and data protection with Payment Links

The Payment Link leads to a secure Payrexx payment page. No diagnoses, names, or other sensitive data are contained in the link itself – it only contains the amount and an optional title. The client sees 'Session CHF 160' – nothing more. Payrexx is PCI DSS certified. Payment data is stored as tokens, with no credit card numbers in plain text.

According to the revised FADP (since September 2023), Payrexx acts as a processor. For the clinic, this means: concluding a data processing agreement (DPA) under FADP Art. 9 with Payrexx – Payrexx provides this upon request. Do not use diagnoses in the booking description: initials or a patient ID are sufficient for internal reference.

7. Checklist: Setting up the Payment Link workflow in your psychotherapy clinic

• Create a Payrexx account – the Free plan is sufficient for Payment Links

• Pre-configure a standard amount link or set up a Payrexx Page with the session price

• Activate TWINT and credit card as payment methods

• Prepare a WhatsApp or SMS template: 'Your payment link for today: [Link]'

• For weekly clients: set up Recurring Payments with credit card

• Define a booking description convention: initials or ID, no diagnoses

• Check outstanding links daily or weekly in the Dashboard

• Conclude a DPA with Payrexx (FADP Art. 9)

Payrexx Payment Links are available in all plans, including Free. For psychotherapy clinics that exclusively use Payment Links and Recurring Payments, the Free plan represents a complete setup with no monthly fees. Transaction fees: TWINT Standard 1.25% + CHF 0.18, Visa/Mastercard Standard 1.65% + CHF 0.18. Accurate as of May 2026.