Individual sessions

In Cognitive behavioral therapy the assumption is made that it is not the situation itself that gives a person a certain negative feeling and behavior , but the but the way the situation is interpreted. Cognitive behavior therapy helps people identify their distressing thoughts and evaluate how realistic the thoughts are. Then they learn to change their distorted thinking. When they think more realistically, they feel better. The emphasis is also consistently on solving problems and initiating behavioral change.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most common forms of treatment in the Netherlands. The focus lies on the present, and the therapy is more problem-solving oriented. In addition, patients learn specific skills that they can use for the rest of their lives. These skills involve identifying distorted thinking, modifying beliefs, learning how to relate to others in different ways, and changing behaviors.

Schema Therapy is a form of treatment used for chronic or persistent problems. It has been proven to be successful in helping people to change negative patterns which they have lived with for a long time. The origin of these patterns will be looked at and worked with. The therapist focuses on the “healthy” part of the client – the old, maladaptive patterns are reduced as much as possible and the healthy side is strengthened. The client will understand his or her chronic patterns better and therefore be able to change them.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing ) is a treatment method used for healing trauma’s. Studies show a high degree of effectiveness with other problems and symptoms too, such as anxiety or self-esteem.

For further information, or to see a movie about how EMDR works, you can look on the website (link naar website) of the Dutch EMDR Association (includes a film of an EMDR session).