Below are the most frequently asked questions and the answers.
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 progress or gain more insight into their symptoms.
In function of the complaints that emerge during the first, exploratory talks, treatment by a psychiatrist and/or a psychologist can be chosen, taking into account the respective availability.
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.
Also, psychotherapy may be advised. Depending on the symptoms and request for help, a referral to a psychotherapist with a particular therapeutic stream may be considered. The best-known therapies are psychoanalytic psychotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, client-centred therapy and systemic therapy. Regardless of the therapeutic models used, large-scale research has shown that common factors such as empathy, the therapeutic relationship, expectations of therapy and the therapist’s technique are decisive(Lambert, 2001; Wampold, 2015).
Each therapeutic stream offers unique methods to support clients. Here are some examples of therapeutic currents used in BMHC :
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Mentalization Based Treatment (MBT). Strengthens the ability to understand one’s own and others’ thoughts and feelings, aiming for a more stable self-image and healthier relationships, especially with interpersonal problems.
For several years, the NIHDI has offered reimbursement for primary psychological care. To be eligible 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. Clinical psychologists and remedial educationalists can use this to generally 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 subsequent years, this procedure was further elaborated and developed into a full-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 to learn more about EMDR.
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 relieving anxiety symptoms. Feel free to take a look at our Self-Help page for inspiration!
Body-oriented therapies start from one’s own bodily experiences as an entry point to change. As a supplement to traditional psychotherapy, these techniques can show promise, for example, there is increasing scientificevidence that body-oriented therapies can be effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression and trauma as well as other mental symptoms.
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 on the individual person. We try to offer short-term treatment where possible, and long-term treatment where necessary, according to the so-called stepped care principle. In any case, a realistic symptom reduction is aimed for.
We all experience moments in our lives of feeling stuck, but sometimes it becomes too overwhelming to handle on our own.
In those moments, reaching out for help can make all the difference.
