Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost?
How do I pay?
Will my insurance cover the cost of counselling?
How long is a session?
How do I know counselling will help me?
What if I miss my session?
What if I need medication?
Can I ask for a specific counsellor?
What if I don't speak English very well?
What if I don't like my counsellor?
What if I have a complaint?
Can we meet at my house?
Can we meet outside the sessions for coffee?
What if I don't want anyone to know I'm getting counselling?
I know other people who see or know counsellors at ICC. Will they
know that I'm seeing a counsellor there?
What is supervision?
What age groups can you see?
Who can come to my counselling sessions?
What kinds of counselling can you provide?
What is Cancerlink and how does it work?
How much does it cost?
Our fees start at 70 euro. Check the personal profile of each of our counsellors to see their fee schedule.
It's important to note that if VAT is charged, it is included in the fee. Also, most insurance policies provide some coverage for individual counseling but none cover sessions for couples.
In special circumstances, we can apply a sliding scale to reduce the fee. Package deals can also be arranged, and we offer special rates for students. Be sure to discuss these options with your counsellor.
How do I pay?
We would prefer that you pay in cash at the beginning of each session. If you need an invoice in order to make a claim to your insurance provider, we can give you a receipt at the end of each month. You are responsible for making the claim to your insurer.
Will my insurance cover the cost of counselling?
Many insurers do cover the cost of counselling for individuals, but not for couples.
The ABvC provides a list of insurers that recognize counselling and provide coverage, although what they cover differs from policy to policy (see below).
There are also several other options for coverage, such as work-related programs like the re-integratietrajecten (IRO), as well as the Persoons Gebonden Budget (PGB) and tax-related deductions.
Before assuming that you are covered, however, there are several things you should check with your insurer:
- What kind of referral do they require? (Usually it is from your GP.)
- How much will they cover? (Some will cover 100% for a specified number of sessions. Others will pay a percentage of the fee. There are many different arrangements, so you need to check with your own insurer to find out what they will cover.)
- If your insurer is a Dutch company, be sure to tell them that you will be receiving counselling or "psychosociale hulpverlening."
You are responsible for making the claim to your insurer.
How long is a session?
Sessions are usually 50 minutes, but, depending on the approach your counsellor uses, the session can be longer. For example, couple counselling and hypnosis sessions are often longer than 50 minutes.
How do I know counselling will help me?
Counselling can be beneficial in a number of ways: if you're having problems adjusting to change or experiencing relationship problems, for example, or if you just want to learn more about yourself.
The assessment session is also a chance for you to ask questions and to see how your
counsellor works. You can decide then if counselling is something you want to try
and if the counsellor you have just met is the one you want to work with.
What if I miss my session?
Unfortunately, you will have to pay for any session that you have been unable to cancel in advance. The cancellation period is usually at least 24 hours. It will be clearly indicated in your contract.
What if I need medication?
If you have been referred by your GP, he or she will be aware that you are receiving counselling, and you can discuss your medication needs with him/her. If you have not been referred by your GP, but you feel you need medication, it is advisable to contact your GP about this. As counsellors, we are not authorized to prescribe medication for you.
Can I ask for a specific counsellor?
You are free to ask for any of our counselors. If the counsellor you've asked for is not available, our intake counsellor will let you know, and you can discuss other options.
What if I don't speak English very well?
Our counsellors are proficient in a range of languages and can offer counselling in Dutch, German, and Greek in addition to English.
What if I don't like my counsellor?
We understand that counselling is a very personal experience and that it is important for you and your counsellor to work well together. We also understand that for one reason or another, this doesn't always happen. After your intake session, we try to find the best match of your needs to the experience and approach of one of our counsellors. If, however, you do not feel comfortable with your counsellor, feel free to mention this to him/her and ask to see another person. Your counsellor will not be offended by this request. In fact, we urge you to discuss your feelings with him/her. This will help your counsellor refer you to someone with whom you might feel more comfortable. It can also help you sort out your own feelings; people in this situation often end up resolving their discomfort and staying with their original counsellor. At the same time, if your counsellor does not feel that s/he can offer you the safety and support you require, s/he will discuss options for referral with you. You should not take this as a rejection, but as a way to provide you with the best support possible.
What if I have a complaint?
The ICC therapists who are members of the Algemene Beroepsvereniging voor Counselling (ABvC) are registered with the Stichting voor Complementaire en Alternatieve Gezondheidszorg (SCAG), a foundation for complementary and alternative healthcare, and are subject to their complaints procedure. You can download a PDF copy of the SCAG brochure in English here).
However, such issues often arise from simple misunderstandings and can be easily
resolved; the first step in the complaints procedure is to discuss the problem
with your counsellor, if possible. The next step is to contact the complaints
officer of the ABvC (klachten@abvc.nl).
If you are still not satisfied, the complaint will be submitted to the SCAG.
Can we meet at my house?
It is difficult to maintain the professional nature of the counselling relationship if we see clients in their homes, and there are often distractions, such as pets, children, telephones, etc. We have counselling rooms at several facilities (away from distractions) and we hope that one of them will be convenient for you.
However, in special circumstances (if you are housebound and unable to come to the counselling room, for example), we can arrange to have our sessions at your home. It is also possible to arrange online sessions.
Can we meet outside the sessions for coffee?
In order to maintain the professional nature of the counselling relationship, it is important that we not meet socially. Sometimes, in a small ex-pat community like this one, that is unavoidable. In that case, your counsellor will make every effort to avoid an awkward situation, and no mention of anything having to do with your counselling will be brought up.
At your first session, your counsellor will also ask you about this, and you will have a chance to explain how you want contact to be handled (if s/he has to cancel a session, for example) or what to do if you run into each other on the street or at a social gathering.
What if I don't want anyone to know I'm getting counselling?
As counsellors, we work with confidential personal information, and we understand that you might have concerns about your privacy. You can rest assured that we treat your personal data with care and in accordance with all applicable legislation. Your paper records are kept in a secure, locked cabinet, and digital files are password protected.
ICC counsellors fully comply with the privacy requirements as set out under the General Data Protection Regulation of the European Union. You can also see the specific steps we take to protect your privacy in our Privacy Declaration.
I know other people who see or know counsellors at ICC. Will they know that I'm seeing a counsellor there?
The fact that you are receiving counselling, as well as the content of your counselling sessions, is completely confidential. ICC counsellors protect your personal information to the gretest extent possible. All ICC counsellors receive supervision and intervision (see below), during which time they do discuss their clients. However, the identity of the client is carefully disguised. Having said that, if you know any of the ICC counsellors or supervisors, it is important for you to tell the intake counsellor who they are so that we can make sure your privacy is protected.
What are supervision and intervision?
Supervision, in the context of counselling, is not about management and oversight; rather, it is about providing professional support to counsellors to protect the safety of the counselling relationship. As part of their ethical framework, professional organizations for counsellors, such as the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), require counsellors to work under supervision. The counselling supervisor is a counsellor who has been specially trained to help counsellors in their relationships with their clients and in their own personal development. Clients are discussed in supervision sessions, but their identity is carefully disguised.
Intervision involves a group of counsellors who meet to discuss a case
or a specific question. Meetings occur on a regular basis with the same group, so
no one outside the group knows what has been discussed or any details thereof.
Professional organizations in the Netherlands require their members to participate
in a specified number of intervision sessions per year.
What age groups can you see?
We are qualified to provide counselling to adolescents and adults.
Who can come to my counseling sessions?
Unless you have arranged for couple counseling, the counselling sessions will involve only you and your counsellor. You can discuss with your counsellor whether it would be appropriate to invite another person to a session. However, if this were to happen often, it would be better to recontract for a different kind of counselling.
What kinds of counselling can you provide?
Our counsellors offer a range of therapies. Check the counsellor profiles to see what approaches each of us offers.
What is Cancerlink and how does it work?
Cancerlink is a support network in English for those with cancer and their family, friends, co-workers, and caregivers. It is a free service offered by ICC.