Adults and elderly:
Psychotherapy: meaning for adolescents,adults and seniors
Concrete explanations of psychotherapy for adolescents, adults and the elderly can be found here in the Psychologist practice.
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Take a look around our website for more information about psychological problems, our approach and training.
Introduction interview
In an introductory meeting, you can talk about what you expect from adult and elderly psychotherapy and how it came to be.
You take your time to decide whether to start psychotherapy or choose counselling or guidance. Your psychological problems tackling can mean a way out to some control over your life, in your relationships and in your work.
Talking it through in psychotherapy with someone who listens carefully can bring peace, security and the prospect of a better life.
Do you opt for psychotherapy?
Find out how you can find a suitable psychologist in six steps
First interview with psychologist ?
History and context
Initially, the psychologist tries to understand your symptoms within the broader framework of your family history and environment. To this end, the psychotherapist asks targeted and simple questions during the first session(s).
Psychologist's own questions
During your first interview in the psychology practice you can put all your questions to the psychologist About the counselling (diagnosis, counselling, coaching, psychotherapy) and how it proceeds. For example: duration, frequency, rate, methodology, expectations, confidentiality.
Your story
In addition, you can tell everything you want yourself: what is going wrong in your life, the complaints you have. How everything has come to this point.
And it goes without saying that you don't have to tell anything you don't want to tell. The psychologist will make this conversation smooth and pleasant with questions and explanations.
Opinion
After one or a few exploratory sessions, the psychologist will give you concrete advice, suggest coaching or psychotherapy, or refer you.
Can I trust the Psychologist Practice?
Yes. Clinical psychologists are bound by their profession's deontology and ethics. Anything you put in the Psychologist practice tells is strictly confidential. It is talk therapy. There is also a disciplinary board at the psychologists' board where you can go to complain about your psychotherapist yourself: complaint against therapist
You can always restart terminated or discontinued psychotherapy later. You will then be given priority over new patients. This therefore means that the relationship with the psychotherapist remains forever a psychotherapist-patient relationship, even after therapy.
Psychologists are not allowed to disclose about psychotherapy to others without your written consent. Exceptionally, however, the psychotherapist has the right to speak in emergencies. Of course, you can always tell anyone about your psychotherapy and your psychotherapist.
Is the Psychologist Practice bound by rules?
Yes. The psychotherapist in the psychology practice must adhere to strict professional rules when practising his profession. These rules are contained in the Belgian Federation of Psychologists' professional code of ethics (www.bfp-fbp.be). And also in that of clinical psychologists (www.vvkp.be).
Moreover, a psychotherapist bound by the rules of the professional association to which he belongs. At the Psychologist Practice, you will find them at www.bsp-ebp.be
The ground rules of our Psychologist Practice:
- There is only talk (with child psychologists, there is also play therapy).
- The psychologist is subject to strict professional secrecy.
- The fee is fixed and payment is made after each session.
- The frequency of calls is fixed. The duration of each call is fixed.
- Patient decides when to stop treatment
For any questions or complaints about your psychotherapy in the Psychologist practice you can contact us, your GP and the Flemish Association for Mental Health Care (www.vvgg.be)
Is taking psychotherapy difficult?
Nay, anyone can do it, at their own pace. The psychotherapist specialises in working with people with psychological problems who struggle to speak.
Do I have to take medication to do psychotherapy?
No, on the contrary, often psychotherapy allows medication to be reduced or discontinued.
In general, anti-depressants are prescribed far too often, while scientific research proves that medication only helps with (rare) very severe depression.
Schizophrenia
Some mental illnesses (e.g. schizophrenia, bipolar) really do require medication in combination with psychotherapy.
At psychotherapy for adults and the elderly we often reflect together on the moment, the stage in life one has reached. And is often about making different choices. Psychological problems can overwhelm or make adults and the elderly feel hopeless.
With the elderly, it is not infrequently about coping, about accepting what has been. It is also often about finding out what is still possible and desirable. And about the limitations and finiteness of old age and life.
It helps to get back overview.
Psychotherapy for adults at the Psychologist Practice consists of exploratory interviews, diagnosis, accompanied by concrete advice and counselling by the psychotherapist.
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Psychotherapy and diagnosis
To arrive at your diagnosis, a scientific approach is needed. This may involve using tests that are scientifically recognised.
The idea is to get a correct estimate of what the problem is. However, besides testing, there are important ways to correctly estimate what is going on.
Psychodiagnostics: seeking meaning
We try to identify in detail, in depth and sensitive to the context your situation and your perception. We attempt to gain insight into your social environment.
To understand how you experience a problem (and life in general) and how you make sense of it. How you already sought solutions to your problem. How you grew up and in which family this happened. Whether your family also struggled with problems. What your current life situation is. What your strengths and weaknesses are.
Get overview
Ultimately, our aim is to properly assess your personal functioning. In such a way that we can help you solve your problem. ‘Measuring’ your problem is important in this respect.
Just like finding out the meaning and empathising with your perception of the problem. It is also important to understand your problem within your life course and environment.
Psychodiagnostics: viewed differently
As a therapist, I then bring together all the information you told me and all the test results. This allows us to understand your problem and help find the right words for it. While talking about it with you.
We prefer asking the right questions. To searching together, while speaking, for answers. Rather than giving tests and questionnaires.
Tests or interviews
Tests are not necessarily more ‘objective ‘ than interviews. Sloppiness or ‘wet finger work’ can also crop up in psychological tests.
We also rely on our years of experience and intuition. As do our training and our knowledge of theory and types of psychological problems.
From test to insight
In doing so, we do not try to “stick” a particular diagnosis on you that you cannot do anything else with. We also avoid getting bogged down in diagnoses given from our own blind spots.
Sometimes giving the right diagnosis is necessary to give you insight. Why you have certain symptoms.
From insight to diagnosis
But more importantly, to give you clarity on how to address those symptoms. Examples include ADHD, ASD and schizophrenia. It will contribute to treating and supporting you better.
We try to understand all kinds of experiences, recurring relationship patterns and your behaviour. And to understand their meaning and see their context.
What does psychotherapy do?
Psychotherapy for the young, adults and elderly helps you get rid of your symptoms and problems first. For that, you are looking for a psychologist.
How does this happen? With psychotherapy, you get to know yourself better. By speaking in psychotherapy, you can get to know and understand the cause of your problems. It also often allows you to better empathise with the point of view of others.
Your current state and situation may become clearer. Memories, emotions, dreams and expectations sometimes become more understandable. Psychotherapy can help you gain more insight into your life.
Your life can gradually unfold into your story.
Psychotherapy for the elderly and adults: key questions
Important relationships and moments of your life will be better understood through psychotherapy. And it may become clearer how these are related to your problems. As psychotherapy progresses, the psychotherapist be able to advise you more.
Psychotherapy is more
Psychotherapy can also help you enjoy interacting with others more. Or help you take more control of your own life, and make more conscious choices in love, work, education or leisure.
After a psychotherapy remain life's inevitable difficulties and impossibilities. But with psychotherapy, you may be able to re-roll the dice of your life.
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Skills of a psychotherapist
Therapists need to have some general skills. These skills are basic prerequisites for helping patients with psychotherapy.
Theory on psychotherapy
Psychotherapists must have mastered a recognised theoretical model. And they must know how to apply this model in the concrete reality of the therapy situation.
This requires a basic university degree in clinical psychology, medicine or education. They need to update this theoretical model and its application in therapy for life.
Be able to establish and maintain therapeutic relationship with the patient
This means a relationship that inspires trust, is warm, edifying and encouraging. And in which the patient is accepted, even with his faults and flaws.
Without this confidential relationship, the therapist's interventions will be more difficult to accept. This largely determines whether a therapy will be successful.
Equally important is dealing with ending therapy. This is often a difficult issue, for both therapist and patient.
Target
An important skill in psychotherapy is goal-oriented work. This means that the therapist knows very well what, when and why he intervenes in therapy. And when he is better off not doing it.
Because the theory has to be applied in the practice of the therapeutic session. And because the intervention has to be adapted to the patient sitting in front of you. Adapted to their person and their problem.
Knowledge, skills and attitude
Theoretical knowledge
The therapist must be able to combine his theoretical knowledge with appropriate skills and with a basic general attitude.
Psychotherapists must have a thorough knowledge of psychiatric and psychological problems. Knowledge also of the therapeutic model they work with. And especially being able to call on and apply this knowledge is important.
Practical skills
To apply theory in practice, you need skills are needed. Theory helps to know how one applies those skills. But also why.
The right attitude towards the patient
Also important is the right attitude towards the patient and towards the organisation in which one works. An attitude that is ethically and deontologically correct. And that takes into account the cultural context.
Therapy must therefore be ethical, professional and adapted to the patient's demand and culture. One must be able to work with patients from very different backgrounds.
Overview
The therapist must obviously have a good understanding of the patient's problems.
But equally necessary is a good general view. About the patient's life history, their views, needs and desires, strengths and weaknesses, motivation for therapy. Insight into the risks of therapy.
Self-knowledge
A psychotherapist needs to know himself well. Because working as a therapist is demanding and sometimes requires complex decisions.
The psychotherapist should have an open mind, plenty of self-reflection, open to criticism, eager to learn. And willing to permanently update their own blind spots and lack of knowledge and skills.
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Psychotherapist
How to choose a psychotherapist for psychotherapy?
Psychotherapist Becoming is like learning a craft. A shoemaker or a blacksmith. The tool one uses in this is my own person. One starts with the basic techniques and basic training.
I start with the basic techniques and basic training.
And then I continue to refine me and my craft. I do this through continuing education. Especially by continuing to educate. About my own person and my work. Through patients and through colleagues who are older and more experienced. Experience is incredibly important.
The right psychotherapist finding is not easy. Because the profession of psychotherapy is not (yet) scientifically nor legally recognised. Anyone, with or without a diploma, may for the time being still psychotherapist name and work as a psychotherapist. Make the right choice.
You can find a suitable psychotherapist on this website in just a few steps
Does a psychotherapist really help me?
Yes, scientific research proves that psychotherapy with a well-trained psychotherapist really helps. The person, experience and training of the psychotherapist are very important here.
A doctor's advice is needed before taking medication or in case of admission. After an admission, we help you with aftercare.
Carefully review the training from our psychologists.
Psychotherapist training?
No. You will be guided by highly trained psychologists with extensive experience working within an ethical and deontological framework. Your own demand and pace will be respected.
Do I hang on to a psychotherapist?
No. You can decide each session whether you want to use the psychotherapy wants to discontinue. Best to take one or two sessions to discuss this with the psychotherapist. It is already a question you can ask during the introductory interview.
Treatment duration psychotherapy
Psychotherapy can be long or very short depending on the problems and its duration is sometimes difficult to predict. Sometimes psychotherapy lasts a long time, often not. A one-off conversation or brief counselling can sometimes provide a solution.
Concentration problems treatment, fear of flying or burnout therapy?Tackling overwork or depression treatment?
Sometimes you are already helped with clear advice or an enlightening insight, sometimes in one, two or three conversations.
What do you offer our psychotherapists?
- We are at your service with one-off counselling, coaching and psychotherapy.
- Treatment children, adolescents and adults.
- We have extensive experience with both simple and very serious problems.
- Treatment: most psychological problems.
- You will find ethics, deontology, a receptive place and drive.
- Years of experience in a psychiatric hospital.
Why should you choose our psychology practice?
- With us, you will find a place where you will feel safe and understood.
- Master clinical psychologist with the right training.
- Bound by the professional rules of our professional association.
- We actively assist you to turn your life around.
- After therapy, you can continue to call on us (much) later.
- Member of VVKP, BFP and its own professional group.
- Partial reimbursement by mutual health insurance for some.
Psychotherapist reimbursement
Visiting psychotherapists is partly reimbursed by most mutual health organisations. You will find an overview at psychologist fee.
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Psychologist practice
Psychotherapy & medication
A psychologist may not prescribe medication. The clinical psychologist is neither trained nor qualified to do so. Taking psychotherapy does not require taking additional medication. Conversely, medication without psychotherapy rarely has a lasting effect. Very exceptionally, medication is needed to enable psychotherapy.
Scientific research suggests that the combination of medication and psychotherapy is most effective in very severe depression. In mild depression, medication is not appropriate. There are many questions when young people use antidepressants. Research shows an increased risk of suicide. In general, antidepressants are still prescribed far too much and too quickly.
Consult your doctor
Discuss the use of medication with your GP/psychiatrist. Always follow your doctor's advice! When in doubt seek advice from a second doctor, your own doctor will not blame you. Take under no circumstances medication on your own initiative! Always consult your doctor when increasing or decreasing the dose.
When do I stop therapy?
You determine the duration of psychotherapy in the psychology practice. You stop when you want, but best in consultation with the psychotherapist.
A psychotherapy in the psychology practice it is best to stop if your complaint has diminished or disappeared completely. Or if the costs (time, energy, money) and benefits (progress) no longer seem balanced. Discuss this in your psychotherapy and with your doctor.
A number of people in the Psychologist Practice continue their psychotherapy after the symptoms have disappeared, to further improve the quality of their lives.
After you have stopped psychotherapy, you can of course always resume therapy at a later (or much later) time in the future. You will then be given priority over new patients.
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Find a psychologist
Psychologist-psychotherapist sought?
A suitable psychologist Finding a job is no easy task. The profession of clinical psychologist was recently recognised. And there has only been legal protection of the title ‘psychotherapist’ since 3 March 2018. Previously, anyone could call themselves ‘psychotherapist’.
Currently, there is still no legal recognition against all those who pass themselves off as ‘counsellor’, ’trainer’, ‘(life) coach’, ‘healer’, ‘hypnotist’, fortune teller etc.
The title of ‘psychologist’ and ‘clinical psychologist’ has only been legally recognised for some time, with patients protected by a disciplinary committee.
Finding a clinical psychologist in 6 steps
You should find this on a psychotherapist's website:
- Master's degree in psychology
- Direction in clinical and/or developmental psychology
- University additional training in psychotherapy
- Recognised by an official professional association for Psychotherapy
- Sufficient experience
- Unambiguous and fixed rate stated on website
1. Find a psychologist
Search a website under ‘staff‘, ‘contact‘, ‘who we are’ etc.. Find out if the ‘therapist’ or ‘psychotherapist’ or ‘coach’ (or whatever), has the basic diploma of psychologist disposes.
That is already a first step. Often, you won't even find this information on the website! In that case, leave the website.
In doing so, make sure you find a master's (formerly: licentiate) in psychology. A master in psychology has a five-year university degree in psychology to UGent followed. Check the approval number. No approval number? Leave the website.
You found a psychologist with accreditation number.
2. Find a clinical psychologist
A master in psychology can have very different training : corporate psychologist, school psychologist, clinical psychologist, experimental psychologist, sports psychologist...
Of this group, the clinical psychologist the right basic degree to help you solve your problems. But by itself, this is not enough.
3. Finding a psychotherapist
A clinical psychologist has extensive theoretical knowledge. But this degree in itself lacks the skills and clinical experience to help you with your problems.
Only a clinical psychologist with the right psychotherapy training gives an initial guarantee that you will be well served.
In doing so, choose a clinical psychologist who has a postgraduate training followed.
4. Find a psychologist with relevant experience
Look for a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist with relevant work experience. And this with psychotherapy in a hospital or other G.G.Z. organisation, is a sure guarantee.
5. Find psychologists who are accredited
Is the clinical psychologist a member of a recognised professional association? If so, you may have made the right choice.
6. Find a psychologist with a clear rate
Psychologist fees are completely free i.e. any psychologist may charge any fee. A reliable website will quote a correct and unambiguous rate ranging between 50 and 60 euros per 45′ session.
Do you find no fixed rates or are they higher or unclear? For example ‘to be agreed’ , ‘to be agreed’, ‘depending on your income’, ‘according to current guidelines’,...) Then leave that website.
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