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WHAT IS PSYCHOTHERAPY?
Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is a way to help people with mental health issues and resilience. Psychotherapy can help eliminate or reduce troubling symptoms so a person can function better and well-being increases. Therapy will be short if possible or longer if needed.
Dutch psychotherapists are registered by the Dutch government. For more information: BIG-register or Dutch Society of Psychotherapie (NVP).
Which problems and symptoms?
Problems and symptoms like depression, anxiety, trauma and PTSD, loss and mourning, personality disorders, identity, relationships. (Young) adults from 18 years and older are welcome.
I conduct individual therapy either face-to-face, online or hybrid (combination of both). Group therapy is also possible (once a year a group schematherapy starts), but is it is in the Dutch language. Couples are also welcome for couples therapy, mainly based on the EFT approach. I also provide learning therapy for colleagues in training.
Waiting list
I try to minimise waiting times, but demand can be higher than supply. Current waiting times are on the home page.
- Individual therapy - No availability
- Couples therapy - No availability
- Group therapy - November 2024 (new group, language: Dutch)
- Learning therapy - To be discussed
Your health insurance may be able to help you find a therapist with earlier availability. Please contact your health insurance.
Partners
I cooperate with my colleagues Petra Huizenga and Wies Verheul of Intrapsy. And with colleague Tasja van Veen in the area of group psychotherapy.
In the case of psychiatric expertise needed, I will consult a psychiatrist.
I am a member of a network of psychotherapist and psychologists in De Bilt/Bilthoven.
Referrals
Patients can be referred for either 'basis' or 'gespecialiseerde GGZ'.
You can download referral form here.
METHOD
Intake
After our first contact we will plan an appointment by telephone to determine whether your symptoms and request for help will be best served in my practice (screening). If so, I will ask you to register online and we will plan a first session. We will start with an intake focusing on your question for help, your background, earlier treatment and expectations. You will be asked to fill in some questionnaires. For questionnaires I often make use of Embloom. The intake leads to a diagnosis and treatment plan which we will discuss and agree upon. After agreement the treatment starts.
Treatment
The therapy consists of sessions in which we talk about what is going on and how you feel or do more experiential work. Between sessions you may get homework. We will work to develop a productive therapeutic relationship that offers you the space to be open and feel safe. E-health can also be part of the treatment. For e-health I make use of Embloom.
As a psychotherapist I will not solve your problems. You have agency in your issues and the treatment. But I will help you to increase understanding and insight and new ways of dealing with your issues. You will learn to recognise feelings, thoughts and experiences and to better verbalise. Eventually you will increase grip on your own life and experience healing, because your issues will decrease, disappear or play a different role in your life.
During treatment we will regularly evaluate on progress and value. We will end the therapy if we mutually agree that enough is achieved or that treatment somewhere else might be more beneficial for you.
Approaches
I am trained in different therapeutic approaches and I use - in consultation with you - what works best for you (client centred, psychodynamic, MBT, system, EFT, schema therapy, EMDR, NET).
Crisis
In case of crisis and you cannot reach me or it is outside office hours, then please contact your GP or the huisartsenpost.
Sharpening the saw
Continuous development and training is important in this work. I continue to be curious and still have intervision, supervision and training.
Document of quality and audit
Providers of mental health care within the Dutch healthcare are legally obliged to have a document of quality which we call 'kwaliteitsstatuut'. You can have a look at it in my practice (although it is in Dutch). For more information you can have a look at the website ggzkwaliteitsstatuut.nl .
Independent psychologists and psychotherapists are audited every five years by the LVVP (the Dutch association of independent psychologists and psychotherapists). My practice is internally audited by the LVVP. It means that I comply to the professional standards of and follow the code of conduct for a registered psychotherapist.
Complaints/WGBBO
When you are unhappy with your treatment, I hope that you will discuss that with me. There is also a formal process to deal with complaints, set up by the For more information please refer to the NVP and the LVVP.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Insurance
Psychotherapy is covered by your Dutch health insurance if you have a referral from your GP or other medical specialist. I have contracts with most Dutch insurance companies. The insurance will cover your therapy besides your own risk ('eigen risico'). In 2022 this is € 385,- minimum, unless you have agreed upon a different contract with your insurance company.
Paying yourself
Not all mental problems will be covered by your health insurance or you may prefer to pay yourself. If psychotherapy is not covered by your health insurance or you pay yourself, the rates as determined by the Dutch authorities (Nederlandse Zorgautoriteit) will apply.
Contracts
For 2023 I have contracts with most insurance companies. These are the following insurance companies: VGZ, Zilveren Kruis Achmea, Caresq, VRZ, Menzis, DSW, CZ.
Cancelling or no-show
Cancelling an appointment can always happen. However, if an appointment is cancelled shorter than 48 hours beforehand or in the case of no-show costs are incurred (individual therapy: €50; couples therapy €70). You cannot claim these at your insurance company.