Netherlands

The situation of psychotherapy in the Netherlands, 2017

In the Netherlands a restrictive law on psychotherapy applies. The entrance level as well as the modality-training is defined by governmental bodies.

This means that only psychologists, psychiatrists and medical doctors can start a modality-training in cognitive-behavioural therapy. After their training, these psychotherapists enter a national register that had been installed by law and is being governed by a governmental authority.

All other modalities are so called ‘alternative’ therapies and are not accepted by the national register. It is even prohibited to use the word ‘psychotherapist’ as this resembles the word ‘psychotherapeut’ too much and this is one of the protected titles in the governmental register. So far, the word ‘ECP-therapist’ is used instead.

Since 1997 the NAP (the Dutch awarding organisation of EAP) started to organize the ‘alternative’ psychotherapists in the ECP register. Only modalities recognised by EAP can be registered.

NAP started a register and checked the entrance level at level 6: first University degree. Other therapists in other modalities of alternative therapies (acupuncture, osteopathy, massage therapies etc.) receive recognition by some Dutch Health Insurance Companies and they meet lower requirements than the ECP-level guarantees.

The Netherlands has a fully privatised system of medical health insurances.

To be in the NAP register and to be reimbursed by the insurance companies, therapists have to prove they meet three requirements:

• They master the psycho-social basic knowledge (level 6) which is now mandatory for the health insurance companies;
• They are trained in a psychotherapy modality recognized by EAP
• They fulfil CPD requirements every two year.

The register of NAP is public and is also checked by the insurance companies.
The number of registered ECP holders with NAP is about 350.
Most psychotherapists work in private practise where clients pay about € 50,00 to € 120,00 per hour.
Most psychotherapists and psychiatrists in the state-register working in a clinical setting are paid by the clinic.

The situation of psychotherapy in the Netherlands, 2014

In the Netherlands a restrictive law on psychotherapy applies. The entrance level as well as the modality-training is defined by governmental bodies.

This means that only psychologists, psychiatrists and medical doctors can start a modality-training in cognitive-behavioural therapy or family therapy. After their training, these psychotherapists enter a national register that had been installed by law and is being governed by a governmental authority.

All other modalities are so called ‘alternative’ therapies and are not accepted by the national register. It is even prohibited to use the word ‘psychotherapist’ as this resembles the word ‘psychotherapeut’ too much and this is one of the protected titles in the governmental register. So far, the word ‘ECP-therapist’ is used instead.

Since 1997 the NAP (the Dutch awarding organisation of EAP) started to organize the ‘alternative’ psychotherapists in the ECP register.
NAP started a register and checked the entrance level at level 6: first University degree. To do this thoroughly, NAP described 11 modules to which students have to prove they master the topics at level 6. The subjects of these modules are mentioned in the ECP text.

NAP registers two student levels as well. Other therapists in other modalities of alternative therapies (acupuncture, osteopathy, massage therapies etc.) receive recognition by some Dutch Health Insurance Companies and they meet lower requirements than the ECP-level guarantees. As a consequence, the student level-registration at NAP can in some cases also lead to recognition by some health insurance companies, which then leads to partial refund of the cost of therapy to clients by their insurer.

The Netherlands has a fully privatised system of medical health insurances.

To be in the NAP register, therapists have to prove they meet three requirements:

• They master the 11 modules of the entrance level;
• They are trained in a psychotherapy modality recognized by EAP
• They fulfil CPD requirements every year.

The register of NAP is public. The number of registered ECP holders is about 400, trained in one of the modalities recognized in EAP.

In 2013 and 2014 the healthcare insurance companies stopped to reimburse almost all psychotherapists, the ‘recognized’ field and the ‘alternative’ field.

Most psychotherapists work in private practise where clients pay about € 50, 00 to € 120,00 per hour. Most psychotherapists and psychiatrists in the state-register working in a clinical setting are paid by the clinic.