Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost?
How do I pay?
Will my insurance cover the cost of counselling?
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?
What is core energetics?
What is this pet-related counselling I've heard about?
How much does it cost?
Our maximum fee is 65 euro per session (incl. VAT) for individuals and 110 euro for couples. In special circumstances, we can apply a sliding scale to reduce the fee. We also offer a package deal of six individual sessions for 360 euro (incl. VAT).
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. The ABvC keeps a list of these, and there are several other options, 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 "psychosociale begeleiding." Most Dutch insurers require the counsellor to be registered with Vektis, an organization that standardizes healthcare providers. ICC is registered with Vektis, which means that we have a "Praktijk AGB-code": 90(0)14501.
You are responsible for making the claim to your insurer.
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. If you're not sure, perhaps our
self-assessment questionnaire can help you decide.
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 Bulgarian, Dutch, French, German, and Russian 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 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 her. This will help her 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 she can offer you the safety and support you require, she 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?
If you have a complaint, you are encouraged first to discuss it with your counsellor. If you are not satisfied, then you may submit the complaint in writing to the director of ICC (director@icconnections.org) as an e-mail or an e-mail attachment. If you are not satisfied with the outcome of this procedure, you can complain to the Algemene Beroepsvereniging voor Counselling (ABvC). You can request a copy of their complaints procedure from your counsellor or the director of the ICC at any time. Or you can download a copy here (PDF, 115 kb).
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. In unusual circumstances (if you are housebound and unable to come to the counselling room), we can arrange to have our sessions at your home.
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.
What if I don't want anyone to know I'm getting counselling?
Your counsellor will usually ask you about this at your first session, and you will have a chance to explain how you want her to handle calls to your house (if she 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.
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. Nothing will be discussed with anyone outside of the organization. All ICC counsellors receive supervision (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 is supervision?
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, most 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.
What age groups can you see?
We are qualified to provide counselling to people over the age of 16. If you have a child below that age who would benefit from counselling, we would be happy to help you with a referral to someone qualified to counsel younger age groups.
Who can come to my counseling sessions?
Unless you have arranged for couples 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 have received training in an integrative approach that combines person-centered, psychodynamic, and cognitive-behavioral therapy, which allows us to offer a comprehensive service to our clients. We do not offer other kinds of therapy, such as hypnotherapy, reflexology, etc., but we would be happy to help you find a referral for such therapy.
What is Cancerlink and how does it work?
ACCESS Cancerlink is a support network in English for those with cancer and their family, friends, co-workers, and caregivers. It is a service offered by ACCESS, which is now being handled through ICC.
What is core energetics?
Core Energetics is a form of psychotherapy that approaches the person as a whole: mind, body and soul. It rests on the belief that emotional release and resolution in the body is necessary in addition to cognitive understanding to achieve permanent personal change and growth. More . . .
What is this pet-related counselling I've heard about?
Pets are often important members of the family, and the loss of a pet or questions surrounding what to do with a pet if you have to move, for example, can be very difficult. Losing a pet can also bring up strong feelings of guilt or loss, which can be dealt with in counselling. If you have questions about pet-related counselling or if you are wondering if it would be beneficial to you or a family member, feel free to contact us. We would be happy to discuss it with you and to answer your questions.