Will I get a diagnosis?

You will not get a label for the sake of a label. You will get an explanation you can understand: which patterns I see, what seems to be the core and what keeps the situation going.

Is therapy with you reimbursed?

Sessions fall outside basic Dutch health insurance. Your supplementary insurance may cover part of it, and an employer is sometimes willing to contribute. Check this in advance with your own insurer or employer.

Seating area in the practice of therapist and psychologist Pauline Bos in Amsterdam

Therapy in Amsterdam city centre

A therapist in Amsterdam who first understands what is going on

"Therapist" can mean many things in the Netherlands, because the title is not protected. With me you know who you are talking to: Pauline Bos, NIP psychologist and educational psychologist, with more than 25 years of experience.

Book a free intro call See how I work

Good therapy does not start with a method, but with an explanation you can understand. Which patterns do I see, what seems to be the core and what keeps the situation going? Only then do we choose together what fits.

The forms of therapy I use

For me, the method never comes before the person. Depending on what is going on, I work with approaches including:

EMDR, when an earlier experience still carries a lot of weight
ACT, to relate differently to what you think and feel
cognitive behavioural therapy, to break patterns in thinking and doing
solution-focused techniques, aimed at what you want to achieve
exposure, possibly with VR, for a specific fear

Actively thinking along, not just following

I listen carefully, but I also ask questions and make connections. How do your complaints relate to the way you think, your life story, your relationships and the choices you have made? And which qualities help you, but sometimes also work against you?

People appreciate that I get to the core quickly without oversimplifying their story. We agree what we are working towards and regularly check whether the direction still fits.

What you can expect

After a free 15-minute phone call comes an intake of 75 to 90 minutes. A follow-up session lasts 60 minutes. A short course of four to six sessions is often enough.

You do not need a referral. Sessions take place at the practice on Sarphatistraat in Amsterdam city centre, or online.

Therapy with me is a good fit

If you want to understand why you keep getting stuck
If you want someone who thinks along and dares to name things
If you want a short, goal-oriented course
For mild to moderate complaints

Something else fits better

In an acute crisis or with active suicidal thoughts
With severe addiction or psychosis
With complex PTSD
When specialist mental health care is needed

More about the sessions

What you are facing

The themes people most often come to me with.

See the themes

About Pauline

My background, and why I work the way I do.

Rates and reimbursement

What sessions involve and what you can check with your insurer or employer.

See the rates

Frequently asked questions

Questions about therapy in Amsterdam

The title therapist is not protected in the Netherlands: anyone may use it. I am a psychologist registered with the Dutch Association of Psychologists (NIP), and also an educational psychologist.

See if it clicks

A good click matters. In a free 15-minute phone call you will notice whether you want to continue with me.