Psychological treatment
A treatment consists of three parts, the intake, the treatment itself and the conclusion.
Intake
The intake consists of two conversations. The first conversation lasts 90 minutes, in which we map out the complaints and the request for help, but also the living situation and history of the complaint. The main goal of this conversation is to get a good picture of the client’s situation so that it can be determined what the treatment should be about. Before the conversation, it is possible that a few questionnaires are sent to support the intake conversation,
In the second conversation, which lasts 45 minutes, the goals and the treatment plan are finalized. As a psychologist, I often propose several methods that are effective for the treatment. I always make the final choice for the method used together with the client. An important condition for the success of the treatment is the motivation that a client has to start treatment. It is therefore extra important to choose a method that you as a client also support.
The intake is an important phase because it offers the client and psychologist the opportunity to get to know each other and to assess whether we want to enter into a treatment relationship together. Only when we have reached an agreement on this, the treatment begins.
Treatment
In my treatment, I use various scientifically substantiated methods that are most suitable for the complaint being treated. Treatment sessions generally last 45, 60 or 90 minutes, but can also be shorter in consultation. On average, a treatment lasts 12 to 20 sessions, but this may vary depending on the request for help.
Methods in which I am trained:
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Schema therapy (basic course)
- Affect phobia therapy (basic course)
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) (basic course)
- Motivational interviewing
In addition to these methods, I have come into contact with psychodynamic therapy and body-oriented therapy during my training. Elements from these forms of therapy can be included in the therapy.
Conclusion of treatment
At the end of the treatment, one or two conversations are used to reflect on the end of the therapy, relapse prevention and signalling.
Psychological assessment
Psychological assessment is an in-depth and targeted method to map out a client’s complaints and to formulate a working hypothesis about the connection and cause of the complaints. Advice for further treatment can be given based on this examination. In my practice, I do not perform separate psychological examinations, only as part of a treatment.
Usually, a good intake is sufficient to map out the complaints of a client and appropriate treatment can be started from there. But if in a treatment things do not go as expected, or other complaints come to the surface that were not clear during intake, psychological assessment can help to identify what the problem is and how to continue from there. An assessment will always be started after discussing this the client and after getting explicit consent. In a psychological assessment, complaints, personality traits or skills are mapped out using conversations, interviews, questionnaires and test material. After the examination, a report is drawn up with the results and a recommendation for treatment. Assessments are concluded with an evaluation talk and an update of the treatment plan.
Terminating treatment
If it appears that I can no longer provide you with the right help, the treatment can be terminated early. Where possible, I will help with advice for a more appropriate treatment or a more appropriate therapist.