About us

Grip Psychologen was founded with the aim of providing accessible and high-quality psychological care within basic mental healthcare (BGGZ) and, if required, also within specialist mental healthcare (SGGZ). Grip Psychologen is based in the city centre of Amsterdam and in Amsterdam West. From Monday to Thursday we also offer treatment in the evening hours at both locations. For both daytime and evening treatments we try to keep our waiting list as short as possible. A large number of our psychologists are BIG-registered, affiliated with the NIP (Netherlands Institute or Psychologists) and a member of the VGCT (Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapy).

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What is a psychologist and what types of psychologists are there? The term ‘psychologist’ can be confusing, because it is not a regulated profession in the Netherlands since 1993. This means that anyone can call himself a psychologist regardless their education or degree. At Grip Psychologen we exclusively have psychologists working who have completed a Master degree at a University. We also have other disciplines and specialists working in our practice:

The registered psychologist Many psychologists enter in a registry in order to prove the quality of their degree and their expertise. To be able to enter the registry of the NIP-register (Dutch Institute of Psychologists) the psychologist is required to have completed four years of scientific education and at least have one year of practical experience.

Psychologists who have completed further education can enter the BIG-register (Law of Professions in the Individual Healthcare). With this registration the psychologist complies with the specific requirements in education level and quality that are demanded by the Health care insurers for insured healthcare. These are for example the Healthcare psychologists (GZ-psychologen) and Clinical psychologists.

Basic psychologists (WO-psychologist; psychologist with scientific degree) Our therapists at Grip Psychologen all have completed the Master Psychologie at University level. These psychologists, also called Basic psychologists or WO-psychologists (psychologist with scientific degree) generally all have years of experience and expertise in more than several specialistic interventions. They are trained to diagnose and treat a variation of psychological problems.

GZ-psychologen (Healthcare psychologists) and Supervising psychologists At Grip psychologen we also have GZ-psychologen (Healthcare psychologists) working at our practice. After their University Master they have completed a Postmaster degree of two years. The GZ-psychologen often perform as Supervising psychologist in the treatment process and coordinate the ongoing treatment. It is mandatory to have a GZ-psycholoog act as Supervising psychologist in treatment given by a Basic psychologist.

Clinical psychologists These psychologists have done a four year specialization after their degree of GZ-psycholoog. This degree focuses on understanding and treating complex psychological problems, which enables the Clinical psychologists to give in-depth and specialized care. They have an important role in developing the treatment plan and putting it into action. Subsequently the Clinical psychologists do scientific research within the practice. They support the team of therapists with their specialized knowledge and experience in case of complicated symptoms.

 PMT (Psychomotory therapist) The PMT offers therapy in addition to the psychological treatment in the form of improving the psychological health through body-oriented exercises and locomotor activity. This type of treatment helps clients to get a better sense of the relation between their thoughts, feelings and behaviour.

What does a psychiatrist do? A psychiatrist is a medical specialist in diagnosis and treatment of psychological illnesses. Other than psychologists, psychiatrists have completed a study Medicine and a specialization in Psychiatry. They have extensive knowledge of psychopharmaceutical drugs and are specialized in prescribing and monitoring of medication for psychological illnesses.