Systeemtherapie Van Velzen  

Introduction

Everyone has to deal with problems and tension in his or her life or family system. To some extent this is normal and part of life. Sometimes the problems are predominantly relational, whether between partners or between parent(s) and child(ren). Sometimes the problems are more individual, however they affect the environment.

Many people do not manage to solve the problems by themselves. Sometimes it helps to talk to friends. But helping families or relationships with problems is complicated. A system therapist is specialised to do this; changes can be made in a relatively short period, which reduces complaints.  Couple or family therapy by a specialist with whom you feel in good hands and who feels very strongly about quality: It could be of great help when you have problems in your relationship or family.

When looking for a family or couple therapist one wishes to be seen in a pleasant surroundings and not to be faced with long waiting lists. Very shortly after you register I arrange to meet you in my practice in the centre of ‘s Hertogenbosch to get acquainted.

The therapist

My name is Lex van Velzen. I am a system therapist and registered as such with the specialist psychotherapy association Nederlandse Vereniging voor Relatie- en Gezinstherapie, the NVRG (Dutch Association for Marital and Family Therapy). I took my post academic training in accordance with the demands of the NVRG. Besides theory this training covers a few years of supervision and a learning therapy.

I have a 20-year experience in the ambulant care and the clinical care in the welfare and mental health care sector. Beside anxiety disorders and mood disorders, I was mainly engaged in trauma related problems and autism related problems with adults in the past few years.  

I have learned that, besides a good implementation of the therapy, it is very important as a therapist to be able to be close to people and to follow people’s needs. As a therapist you direct the conversation, this way you create a clear and safe surroundings for your clients. Involvement and closeness are very important.

System therapy

Couple therapy and family therapy are two specific forms of psychotherapy. Nowadays in the Netherlands couple and family therapy are referred to as system therapy and the therapist is called system therapist. Specific to this therapy is that partners or family members usually are in therapy together. But individual therapy is also possible. The problems of one or more people involved are central in the therapy.

Relationships, family and surroundings together form a system. A therapy which pays attention to the interaction between people and between complaints and reactions from people in the environment, helps people overcome their problems faster. Complaints of one person are influenced by others in the system and vice versa. Couple and family therapy make use of this knowledge.

Treatment focuses on the presented problems as well as on the relationships and the pattern of reacting in the family. Practising this, the therapist enables the clients to break the vicious circle. This way prevents problems to last partly due to someone’s environment and changes can sink in.

System therapy is not only an approach for problems in a relationship or family. It is a specialist form of psychotherapy which has proven effective with for instance mood complaints (depression), anxiety complaints, loss/dealing with mourning and trauma related complaints.

Method

When you register, individually or together, a first appointment can be made on a short term. During this consult I determine together with you whether system therapy is indicated or a different or additional therapy would be appropriate. Purpose of the therapy is to eventually change behaviour patterns related to your complaints. It is important in the therapy, however, to not only deal with the behaviour. Obstacles that are in the way of change are often in the emotional sphere, whereby safe attachment is the central theme.

Both in the individual therapy and the couple therapy, I work with  Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT or EFT Nederland). For clear information about this form of therapy click here. On the weblinks page you will also find books that are specifically written for cliënts. 

In a system therapeutic treatment one usually works from various perspectives.

After the first appointment I make arrangements with you about the duration and frequency of the treatment. Research of Emotionally Focused Therapy show a complete recovery of satisfaction in the relationship in 70-75% of the cases within 10-12 sessions and  an important improvement in 86-90%. These results prove stable over a long period, even under high stress.

Quality

Qualified family and couple therapists are members of the Nederlandse Vereniging voor Relatie- en Gezinstherapie, the NVRG (Dutch Association for Marital and Family Therapy). The association promotes the quality of couple and family therapy, controls the quality of the post-master training for system therapists and is involved in scientific development of the subject. You can turn to the association to find out if someone is actually qualified and registered as a system therapist. In addition, the professional code for psychotherapists applies for members of the NVRG. 

The NVRG has described her vision on system therapy in this document.

Registration

There are three ways to register (referral not required) or ask for further information:

	By e-mail  info@systeemtherapie.net
	By telephone 06-24 14 98 11, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 19.00 until 20.00 Outside these hours you can leave a message when I can't answer your call. I will phone you back as soon as possible.
	By filling out this contactform

Tarieven

Depending on your additional health insurance policy, you can be partially compensated, because I am also registered with the NVPA. You can contact your insurance company for further information about compensation based on this registration or see the page Compensation.

Cancelation of appointments is possible if at least 48 hours in advance.