Dr. Thomas Van der Poorten

Methodology

• In treatment, I focus on biological, psychological, familial and social factors that may be contributing to the current symptoms. I value an empathetic, human and authentic encounter.
• Usually, patients are seen once a month. This may be more frequent at the start of treatment, in crisis or in treatment using EMDR. Upon stabilization, consultations can be scheduled every 2 to 3 months, in conjunction with follow-up by the primary care physician and/or psychotherapist.
• ​Consultations typically last 30 to 45 min. Associated with this time is also administration time, including maintaining medical records, correspondence with your physician and contacting your other caregivers.
• During periods of limited availability, one-time consultations can be provided, in close consultation with your primary care physician. Treatments can be individual, couple or family-based.

Curriculum Vitae

I obtained my Master of Medicine with Magna Cum Laude from KU Leuven in 2015, then I pursued the Adult Psychiatry specialization between 2015 and 2020, also within KU Leuven.

I have had the opportunity to gain broad experience in internships between Leuven, Brussels, Amsterdam and Aruba. Thus, I have gained experience in the following specialty centers:

• UZ Leuven: Pain Clinic (Leuven Algological Center), Liaison Psychiatry, Emergency Psychiatry
• UPC KU Leuven campus Kortenberg: Elderly psychiatry, Young adult psychiatry, ADHD in adults, ECT
• PSC St.Alexius Ixelles: Resocialization ward for psychosis
• Clinique St.Jean in Brussels: General psychiatry, Emergency psychiatry, Consultative psychiatry
• High & Intensive Care Haarlem (Amsterdam): Psychiatric intensive care unit, Crisis service, Airport psychiatry
• Respaldo, Oranjestad (Aruba): General psychiatry
• Europe Hospitals, Uccle: PAAZ department, multidisciplinary suicide prevention in St.Michielssite and St.Elisabethsite
• Woluwé Psycho-Social – Centre Psychothérapeutique De Jour, Woluwé: acting medical director.

Training

• Postgraduate Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (KU Leuven 2017-2019)
  
• Master in Clinical Sexology (KU Leuven, 2020)
• EMDR (RINO Amsterdam, 2021)
• Diagnostics of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Adults (Annelies Spek, RINO Utrecht, 2022)
• Mentalization Based Treatment (MBT Netherlands, 2023)
• Exposure 2.0 (RINO Amsterdam, 2024)
• Imaginaire Rescripting (RINO Utrecht, 2026)
• INSEAD (2026). New Business Ventures — Executive Education.

Scientific Publications​

• Van der Poorten, T., & De Hert, M. (2019). The sublingual use of atropine in the treatment of clozapine-induced sialorrhea: A systematic review. Clinical Case Reports, 7(11), 2108–2113. 🔗ReseachGate
• Van der Poorten, T., Enzlin, P., & Thys, E. (2020). Sexuality and psychosis: A systematic review. KU Leuven 🔗 Limo KU Leuven

Policy Documents

• Van der Poorten, T., Cools, O., Catthoor, K., Tecco, J., Morrens, M., & Depuydt, C. (2024). Updates on adult outpatient psychiatry insurance coding: Urgent request to the Belgian Federal Minister of Health for universal insurance coverage to strengthen outpatient psychiatry.
• Van der Poorten, T., Beckers, A., Van Durm, K. (2025). Position Paper Sectie Ambulante Zorg
  Vlaamse Vereniging voor Psychiatrie (VVP): Tweedelijns ambulante GGZ-triage binnen de netwerken GGZ: een geïntegreerd stepped-caremodel voor doelmatige verwijzing en capaciteitsbeheer.

Press Coverage

• Van der Poorten, T. (April 30, 2025). The Silent Crisis in Outpatient Psychiatry.🔗Despecialist.eu.
• Van der Poorten, T. (November 17, 2025). Euthanasia for psychological suffering: a symptom of what is fundamentally wrong with the Belgian mental health care system? 🔗 Despecialist.eu
• Eva Christiaans (2026, January 24). Huge waiting lists at Brussels psychiatrists. 🔗 Bruzz
• Elise Legrand (February 5, 2026). The Silent Burnout Among Psychiatrists: Why More Than One in Three Is ConsideringReducing Their Workload🔗 Le Vif
• Carole Stavart (2026, 25/2/2026). Why could the decline of outpatient mental health care end up costing society dearly? 🔗 Mediquality
• Van der Poorten, T. (2026, 14/5/2026). Onbehandelde psychische klachten: de 30 miljard die niemand in de Wetstraat ziet. 🔗 Knack

Lectures and presentations

• “Complex PTSD: A case report.” [Afternoon seminar] UPC KU Leuven, Kortenberg campus (2018)
• “Sexuality and Psychotic Disorders: experience, gender related issues, risk behaviors.” [Webinar] FMSA Respaldo, Oranjestad, Aruba (2020)
• “A drop a day keeps the saliva away: A review of atropine eye drops in the management of clozapine-induced sialorrhea.” [Poster Presentation] American Psychiatric Association, San Francisco, USA (May 2019)
• “Acute Dystonia.” GGZ inGeest, Haarlem, Netherlands (May 2020)
• “Prévention Suicide en Hopital Général.” Clinique St. Jan, Brussels (Feb. 2022)
• “Anxiety Disorders.” Odisee College, Terra Nova campus, Brussels (Oct. 2022)
• “Transgender inclusivity in clinical settings.” 30th European Congress of Psychiatry (EPA), Budapest, Hungary (2022)
• “Sexuality and Psychotic Disorders.” PSC St. Alexius, Ixelles (May 2022)
• “Phasing out antidepressants.” [Webinar] Prof. Dr. Christiaan Vinkers, moderated by Dr. Thomas Van der Poorten as chair of VVP Section Ambulatory Care (Feb. 2025)
• “LGBTQ+ inclusivity in psychiatric care.” [Webinar] Prof. Dr. Rick Roels & Dr. Thomas Van der Poorten, Flemish Society for Psychiatry (June 2025)
• “The multidisciplinary group practice in ambulatory psychiatry” [Webinar] Belgian Association of Psychiatry (Aug. 2025)
• “Community Mental Health & Collaborative Care in Belgium” Berlaymont Health Center, Brusssel (September 2025)
• “Universal Access to Outpatient Mental Healthcare & Deinstitutionalization in Belgium”, The 122nd Annual Meeting 2026 of the Japanese Society of Psychiatry & Neurology, Yokohama, Japan (June 2026)

See Rates page

EUR 20.00 supplement will be charged per EMDR session.

NIHDI number: 1-99809-11-780
BIG number: 19925823901

Dr. Van der Poorten is accredited, thus fulfilling physician obligations around continuing education

If you believe that the JSIS reimbursements are insufficient for mental health care, we strongly recommend that you report this to the EU Ombudsman.

See Rates page.