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PAOLA BOBADILLA

Rules for Psychologist and psychotherapist in The Netherlands

Feb 02, 2022

Why you can't find me under the title’s ‘psychologist’ and ‘psychotherapist’

Dutch rules for using the titles: 'psychologist and psychotherapist'

Rules netherlands psychologist and psychotherapist

A piece of Dutch history

Psychological treatments are now very logical and normal. Yet it was only at the end of the 19th century that psychological treatments were carried out for the first time in the Netherlands. A little later, at the beginning of the 20th century, the offer was limited to psychoanalysis. It was performed by psychiatrists in private practice and were reserved for a small elite of affluent patients. This met with criticism from other psychiatrists. They wanted to make psychotherapy accessible to the general population. This led in 1930 to the Dutch Association for Psychotherapy, and in 1940 to the Institute for Medical Psychotherapy.



It was not until almost fifty years later, in 1986, that the profession of psychotherapist was recognized by law in the Netherlands. The Individual Health Care Professions Act (BIG) regulates the training and professional activity of health professions in the Netherlands. Therapists must have a BIG registration to be able to perform their profession. But only therapists who have been trained according to the BIG requirements are admitted to the BIG register and all they are allowed to call themselves psychotherapists and perform the profession under the name 'psychotherapist'.

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First-line psychologists

A form that occurs almost exclusively in the Netherlands are the first-line psychologists. First-line psychologists are trained according to state guidelines. They must be certified and registered. They should only diagnose and treat mild cases. If a patient falls outside the care field of the primary care psychologist, a referral to a psychotherapist or psychiatrist follows. First-line psychologists are a first, low-threshold point of contact and often work together with a general practitioner or company doctor. The field of care of the primary care psychologist consists of treating common problems such as complicated grief, pain without physical findings, sleep disorders or anxiety.

Client-oriented therapies according to a trajectory

Under the name 'psychotherapist', around 5,000 therapists work in the Netherlands who offer a wide range of therapies, including: client-oriented therapy, relationship and family therapy, problem-solving training, short-term therapies, cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, psychoanalysis, and psychodynamic procedures.


For people who need psychological care or want to turn to psychological care, the care is structured according to a trajectory:

In case of complaints, people can first turn to the general practitioner, the company doctor or a first-line psychologist.

Mild to moderate psychological problems fall under the basic mental health care. This can consist of: Conversations with, among others, a psychologist, psychotherapist, or psychiatrist.



Serious complaints psychological complaints and psychiatric disorders that fall under the care of psychiatrists.

In addition, people are of course always free to visit a free therapist themselves, but this care is not always reimbursed.

'BIG' is the difference 

My practice is focused on transpersonal therapy. My therapeutic approach is integrative, creative, and expansive. I use techniques such as deep analysis of subjective identity, analysis of dreams, dance-art-play therapy, Jungian archetypal symbology, breathing/relaxation techniques, and therapeutic meditation.


In order to be able to carry out my work in the Netherlands, I am accredited as a Transpersonal Therapist who meets the Dutch Wkkgz quality standards in that capacity. I am also CAT-accredited for this.

As the largest professional organization in the alternative field, CAT has a responsibility in guaranteeing quality and in structuring the alternative sector. For this recognition, a therapist must at least meet the Profile Reimbursable CAT therapists so that the treatments are partially eligible for reimbursement from the additional package of the health insurers.


As a quality monitor, CAT guarantees the professionalism of the alternative professionals and ensures that the professional knowledge has a high level that remains up to date.



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Rules netherlands psychologist and psychotherapist

Dance movement therapy is for people of any age

Dance of the Soul is accessible to people of any age, regardless their physical condition. It can be practiced both individually, or in a group. Group work offers a series of sessions (e.g., 10) on a specific topic. There is no choreography to follow. A person dances with himself, within a safe and supportive setting.


It is effective for people with different abilities.


Individual sessions on dance-movement therapy can be reimbursed by insurance companies. But group sessions are not.


Dutch professional treatment-code: 24513 - body-centred psychotherapy treatment


For more info on professional treatment-code: https://catcomplementair.nl/soorten-therapie/

For more information about insurance and reimbursement: https://www.catcomplementair.nl/vergoeding-zorgverzekeraars/

My own path

I got my bachelor's degree in psychology and a degree in psychotherapy at the University of Science and Information of Santiago Chile in the year 2000.
I immediately began my professional practice at a psychiatric hospital in the City of Talca Chile.
 
But after a couple of years of working with clinical cases I realised that clinical psychotherapeutic techniques learnt at University were not enough to help patients to overcome their mental struggles or psychological disorders.
 
It was then when I decided to move to London (2006) where I found the School of Kabbalah. A school of mysticism and human development where I received teachings on transpersonal psychology and mystical understanding of human nature.
 
Those years of study radically changed my therapeutic approach, which further was enriched by studies at several schools of mysticism and transpersonal psychology in England, Canada, Ireland, Spain, Perú, Chile and The Netherlands.
 
However the intense training and experience that I've got are different from that promoted by BIG (Professions in Individual Health Care). Therefore, as you now understand, I cannot call myself a psychologist or psychotherapist in The Netherlands without the BIG-registration.

 

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