At our center, psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals work together in a multidisciplinary team, using a shared patient record and holding regular consultations, which enhances the continuity and quality of care.
We offer a variety of evidence-based individual treatment options, including medication, talk therapy, EMDR, relaxation, and mindfulness.
After the initial consultation, depending on expertise and availability, a targeted referral may follow—either within the team or to an external partner.
Check out the questions and answers below that may be helpful to better understand our treatment offerings.
☑️ Psychiatrists are medical specialists who can prescribe medication, make psychiatric diagnoses and coordinate the treatment of (sometimes complex) mental disorders.
☑️ Psychologists, in turn, specialize in talk therapy to help patients move forward or gain greater insight regarding their symptoms.
☑️ Based on the initial interviews, counseling by a psychiatrist and/or psychologist may be chosen, depending on respective availability.
☑️ Our operation does not currently allow us to provide care within a legal framework, as imposed by a judge or other judicial authority.
Your psychiatrist or family doctor may prescribe one or a combination of the following medications. In choosing the appropriate treatment, various factors will be taken into account, such as the effect of medication taken earlier or the side-effect profile. Below, you can find more information on a number of treatments that may be prescribed to you.
Depending on the request for help, psychotherapy may be suggested. We may then refer to a psychotherapist with a specific approach. Research shows that especially common factors such as empathy, the therapeutic relationship and expectations make the difference(Lambert, 2001; Wampold, 2015). Below are some forms of therapy used at BMHC:
☑️ Client-centered Psychotherapy (developed by Carl Rogers) believes in the natural growth of human beings in a supportive environment, with unconditional acceptance and empathy. It promotes self-insight and self-confidence. Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), an evidence-based variant of this, focuses on identifying and processing emotions to break through blockages.
☑️ Psychodynamic Psychotherapy: Het central idea is that many psychological problems have their origins in unconscious conflicts, often rooted in early childhood experiences and relationships. During therapy, the therapist helps the client identify and understand these unconscious patterns and inner conflicts.
☑️ Gestalt Therapy emphasizes awareness and experiencing emotions in the here and now, leading to integration of thoughts, feelings and behaviors. This increases the client’s autonomy.
☑️ Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on recognizing and changing dysfunctional patterns of thinking and behavior. It is goal-oriented and practical, aimed at improving daily functioning.
☑️ Mentalisation Based Treatment (MBT) strengthens the ability to understand one’s own and others’ thoughts and feelings, with the goal of a more stable self-image and healthier relationships, especially with interpersonal problems.
Psychotherapy is more than just an hour-long conversation. The fee also reflects the therapist’s specialized training (which typically totals about 9 years) and experience, as well as preparation and documentation, clinical consultations, and the careful application of scientifically-based treatment methods.
Many international treatment guidelines recommend approximately 8 to 16 regular sessions for common issues such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress. More time may be needed for more complex, long-term, or combined symptoms. Progress usually occurs step by step and depends in part on continuity, good therapeutic collaboration, and active engagement between sessions.
The fact that patients in Belgium have to pay a significant portion out of pocket does not mean that specialized care is rarely necessary. Belgium has virtually universal health insurance, but does not yet have universally accessible specialized mental health care. Belgium is internationally known for having insufficiently accessible outpatient mental health care, including affordable psychotherapy.
There are now a limited number of reimbursed primary-care psychological treatment programs, but their reach remains limited. According to a 2025 OECD evaluation, this program reaches approximately 147,000 people annually—an estimated 6% of Belgians with mental health issues. Long wait times also remain a significant barrier to accessing specialized care in parts of Belgium.
Therapy is therefore not just a payment for consultation time, but an investment in expert and systematic guidance aimed at improving functioning and fostering lasting change. The World Health Organization has calculated that every dollar invested in more comprehensive treatment for depression and anxiety generates, on average, about four dollars in societal benefits, through improved health and an increased ability to work. Of course, this is a societal estimate and not a guarantee of the outcome of an individual treatment.
Key Sources
NICE, Depression in adults: treatment and management, NG222, 2022.
NICE, Post-traumatic stress disorder, NG116, 2018.
Mistiaen et al., KCE Report 318, Organisation of Mental Health Care for Adults in Belgium, 2019.
Europese Commissie & OESO, Belgium: Country Health Profile 2023, 2023.
OESO, Belgian Mental Health Reform, 2025.
Chisholm et al., Scaling-up treatment of depression and anxiety: a global return on investment analysis, The Lancet Psychiatry, 2016.
For several years, the NIHDI has offered reimbursement for primary psychological care. To qualify for this, the clinical psychologist or orthopedagogue must be affiliated with a mental health network through a cooperation agreement. Unfortunately, the number of consultations that can be performed through this agreement is limited. It generally allows clinical psychologists and remedial educators to offer short-term treatment for problems of “mild to moderate severity.” Click here for more information.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, also known as EMDR, is a therapy for people who continue to suffer from the effects of a shocking experience, such as an accident, sexual assault or violent incident.
☑️ EMDR was first described more than 25 years ago by American psychologist Francine Shapiro. In the years that followed, this procedure was further elaborated and developed into a fully-fledged and effective therapeutic method.
☑️ Some studies show that 84-90% of single trauma victims no longer have PTSD symptoms after three 90-minute EMDR sessions.
☑️ Click here for more information about EMDR, and here for the informed consent form that must be signed before starting treatment.
Yes. Living and working in Brussels can be rewarding, but it may also bring loneliness, work-related pressure, relationship difficulties, or a sense of not fully belonging anywhere. Many of our clinicians are familiar with the realities of international life and understand the challenges of relocating, adapting, and building a new social network. We have experience supporting staff from the EU, NATO, embassies, and other international organisations. Consultations may be eligible for reimbursement through JSIS.
Psycho-education is providing information and education about your mental health symptoms and how you (and/or your family/relatives) can cope with their limitations and consequences.
☑️ These interventions are a proven effective intervention, including for the relief of anxiety symptoms.
☑️ Feel free to take a look at our page Self-help To get inspired!
☑️ Relaxation therapy can be one of the methods used to treat and prevent conditions related to chronic or post-traumatic stress.
☑️ Among the exercises offered at our center are Trauma Release Exercises (TRE). These are a series of physical exercises designed to release tension and stress stored in the body by traumatic experiences.
The duration of treatment is difficult to predict in advance and depends from person to person.
☑️ We try to offer short-term treatment where possible, and long-term treatment where necessary, according to the so-called stepped care principle.
☑️ Either way, realistic complaint reduction is pursued.
Please discuss a misunderstanding or concern with your practitioner first – such a conversation is often enlightening and may even be therapeutic. If that doesn’t work or doesn’t feel safe, you can notify us at complaints@mentalhealth.brussels.
