In working with clients, I have learned that there can be many different issues as to why someone comes knocking. Someone experiences difficulties in connecting with other people or with themselves, someone finds it difficult to fathom their own emotions or experiences them as too intense or just too cloudy, someone is left with past memories or traumatic experiences, etc. What almost all of them have in common is that the person is experiencing a burden and wants to change it. In therapy we try to find out together what is difficult, what caused it and what you have missed and possibly still need in order to move forward.
As a client-centered psychotherapist, I work from emotion theory. This theory talks about how emotions are a great source of information and are similar to a compass. They show us the way to what we miss, find painful, need, desire… Due to painful events in life or emotional deficits, it happens that we experience our emotions not quite pure, or too intense or just too little etc. in therapy we try to restore this contact. That way, our emotions can flow back and give us direction back in our lives.
Course
The first step to a therapeutic course is the registration and intake interview. During this conversation I explain my methods, we try to clarify the reason for registering and we talk about your expectations as a client and mine as a psychotherapist. In addition, this conversation also gives a first impression about how the match between us is, as the therapeutic relationship is one of the most important helping factors within a therapy program. Together we create an open, quiet and safe space for you and your feelings and story, to let your life flow back and get back closer to yourself.
When we decide to continue working together, the therapeutic relationship remains important, we connect and together try to dive deeper into the themes that are important to you. As a psychotherapist, I am someone who values authenticity and transparency. We also work interactively, meaning that our relationship is representative of relationships you enter into outside of therapy. Working in depth, also goes hand in hand with getting in touch with your emotions.
I graduated in 2014 as a social worker in Leuven, after which I switched to psychology at VUB. I completed my internship in a mental health center and continued working there for several years.
After graduating from the VUB, I immediately started a postgraduate degree in client centered therapy and completed this in the summer of 2023. Currently, I work as a self-employed psychotherapist in Brussels Mental Health Center and another practice in Brussels.
Some health insurances or “mutualités” offer partial reimbursements or psychotherapy.
Two rates apply. The price per individual session is 80,00 EUR if there is limited/no intervention from your health insurance. If 50% or more is reimbursed by your health insurance, the price per individual session is 110,00 EUR.
For the first consultation, a one-time administrative fee of 10,00 EUR will be charged. After 17h00, the evening rate applies and an supplement of 5,00 EUR will be added.
Changes regarding appointments must be made at least 48 hours (2 full working days) in advance, through Sophie or the secretary. This allows us to use the spot for other patients who may require urgent care. If this delay is not respected, the full cost of the consultation will be charged for the late cancellation or missed consultation.
- Tuesdays: 9:00-13:00
- Thursdays: 9:00-13:00
Click here for an initial appointment with Marinke Abrams (if available).
If you have questions for Marinke about ongoing treatment or about an indication of future treatment (if she is marked “Available” on the Application page), you can reach her at marinke.abrams@mentalhealth.brussels.
