Not everyone experiences therapy in the same way, and that makes going to therapy for the first time a little intimidating to most people. What exactly does a therapeutic programme involve?

The answer to that question can’t be described on a page on the internet. It’s something that you experience, and that takes place between you and the therapist. There are, however, some things that can be said about therapy in general.

The word therapy stems from the Greek word therapeia, meaning ‘treatment’, ‘service’, ‘bodily care’, and ‘methods of improvement’. 

At sinteze, therapy is focused on the future, using your potential to be yourself. 

Due to the protection of our physical health, we are being encouranged to keep the distance when running into other human beings. All of a sudden, another human being became a threat to our health, or we to them. On an emotional level, this social distancing migh both feel very unnatural and might not be as healthy, mentally speaking, even when we are aware why we need to follow the health autorities advices. Already are we confronted with uncertainty, the threat of illness and uncertainty of our future. Now we also have to sustain from our connections with the ones we love and who support us and to those we want to support and connect to.

Therapy doesn't need to stop

Are you still looking for support through psychotherapy or coaching, know that this is still possible and available. In the meeting with 'the other' something shifts for most people. You can share intimate thoughts and feelings, your confusion in life and receive support in those areas where you might need it most. Our practice is open, yet for now we onliy work online as long as needed to know more about the new mutations in the Covid-19 virus and its risks of contamination. If you feel more relaxed about it, we can also meet by going for a walk through the more quiet and greener streets in the neighborhood.

For some people, leaving the house has become too much of a challenge. Or travel restriction make it too complicated to reach the practice. Then you can have your sessions online.

So, what is online therapy ?

Online therapy means you still meet your thepapist or coach for an hour, but on the digital high way. Using Caresharing or Zoom, an end-to-end encripted digital meeting space, or if you prefer, by phone. The session won't be different from another session, except that the meeting takes place digitally. You might be scared off by having to watch a screen. Others have preceeded you and had to get used to it. Most people notice that they can switch and engage in the meeting more than they would have given themselves credits for at the start. Yes, it's different than meeting in person and yes, there are limitations. Like there are too, when you choose not to meet your therapist or coach at all and have to try figuring out your puzzles all by yourself.

How do I set a meeting?

If you choose to meet through Caresharing, plan schedule your appointment in the online planner. If you do not wish to use the video camera, just leave it switched off. The platform works in such a way, that you will receive the invitation to join in the session, just a few minutes before your scheduled session time.
Upon request, other forms of therapy -like in writing or chatting- can be provided if we can agree on the terms and conditions and after we have a clear of enough image of what you hope to achieve

Reimbursement and payment

Online therapy, if its a 1-on-1-meeting online, is partially reimbursed by the complementairy health care insurance. Please check if your insurance covers reimbusement. On the invoice, we will mention you have had an online sessie and the insurance company wishes to know which application we have used, so that will be mentioned on the invoice as well. We have been asked the arrange the payment at the start of the sessions online. You can also make a bank transfer (NL81 KNAB 0257 2212 04) one day ahead of the session if you prefer and not to loose time.

When looking for a therapist, you want to know whether your prospective therapist is qualified and what their qualification signifies. It is not necessary to have credentials in order to adopt the title of therapist.

For this reason, various (legal) methods are employed to clarify the different kinds of therapy for clients. On this page you will find more information regarding those differences.

Sinteze’s Giel Luichjes is a member of the professional association VIT. Giel obtained his qualification as a psychosynthesis therapist at Psychosynthese Studies Nederland. He specialised in integrative adolescent therapy, and completed his three-year psychotherapy programme at the Nederlandse Academie voor Psychotherapie, earning him his European Certificate of Psychotherapy, a qualification that is issued by the European Association for Psychotherapy. In London, Giel has additionally completed the certification programme ‘Gender and Sexual Minorities Therapy’, and has been trained as a supervisor at Re•Vision. He has also earned his qualification as a psychosynthesis trainer at Psychosynthese Studies Nederland in Amsterdam, and at the Psychosynthesis & Education Trust in London. Giel follows the most recent Standards of Care (version 7) of the World Professional Organization for Transgender Health. 

The waiting time for therapy is expected to be four to twelve weeks, with the exception of clients of 18 years or younger, they can start more quickly.

Depending on the flexibility of your schedule, an initial meeting and an intake can generally be planned within four weeks. The actual start of the therapy might take londer depending on how busy the practice is in that moment. Please send a short This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to the practice, explaining what makes you want to apply for therapy. We'll get back to you within a week, including giving you instructions on how to make the first appointment. Waiting times variy, so please write us and we will inform you on the current status.

There are three payment options for consultation, one of which includes partial reimbursement by insurance companies.

We always determine what financial situation applies to you during the initial conversation, so that you have clarity regarding the costs.

Therapy is an investment in yourself. That is why it is important to remember that you can get a lot in return for starting therapy, and that you are choosing to invest resources, time and energy to that end. It is impossible to promise a specific result beforehand; the human psyche is far too complex for that. However, in almost all cases people do report that a therapy programme is a valuable experience that offers concrete help tackling the stumbling blocks that they experience in their lives.

Are you looking for a coach? Someone with whom to discuss work-related questions or situations in a professional setting, for instance?
We offer coaching programmes with Giel or Bas Luichjes. For more information, visit the act value website.

The difference(s)

Some clients ask us about the difference between therapy and coaching. Every coach or therapist has their own approach, which makes it impossible to give a general answer. What we can do is tell you a little about the philosophy applied by Sinteze (and act value). We often use the word coaching to refer to guidance regarding a specific situation or question. Guidance is intentionally limited because it takes place in a limited setting, for instance a workplace.
In that setting, we refrain from discussing potential relationship problems because those are not related to work. This is where the limits of coaching become apparent. Coaching may not be able you to effectively focus on one aspect of your life, or one role, and gain the insight to make choices differently.

Therapy explores every aspect of you as a person, not just one part. It offers a holistic view, with an approach that integrates everything that influences your functioning.

In integrative psychosynthesis, supervision expresses more than just the literal meaning of ‘oversight’. 

The professional has a relationship with the client and experiences their situation along with them, regardless of what that situation may be. How does the process of the client relate to that of the supervisee?

When you choose supervision by Sinteze, you choose to work using the integrative psychosynthesis model. Giel Luichjes has followed a training programme at Re•Vision in London in order to be able to offer this method. The model is grounded in psychosynthesis, and applies a Jungian ideology and an approach that stems from integrative therapy.

Giel Luichjes (MSc ECP) is an integrative (adolescent) therapist and supervisor at sinteze as well as the founder.

‘The beauty in working with people is that it’s always an exciting exploration. What I like about my job is that the clients who come to me for guidance genuinely want to evaluate their lives. This can be challenging, because there is often a part of you that you would rather not face. In such cases, we determine together which steps you are willing and able to take at that moment. It always works out, because the willingness to venture forth is what matters.’

Giel works with both adults and adolescents ranging from the ages of 12 to 23. What makes working with adolescents so special?

‘From puberty until adulthood (at whichever age that may be), there are so many things happening all at once, which can be incredibly intense. A roller coaster ride of highs and lows. I can still vividly remember going through that myself, often experiencing more lows than highs. It’s special to be able to witness this journey and development into an independent individual, and to see them venture out into the world with their own perspective.’

Sinteze uses an online calendar.This is convenient for you as a client, because it allows you to make and manage your appointment on your own.

Making an appointment

How does it work? First, indicate what kind of appointment you would like to make in the calendar. E.g. ‘therapy session’ or ‘adolescent therapy’. Clicking will display a monthly calendar in which you can select a day by clicking on it.
You can then choose an available timeslot on that day. Days that are ‘disabled’ have no available spots. The same applies to the timeslots of the selected day.

When you click on next step ('volgende stap') a second time, you will be asked to fill in some information. Because this information is sent over the internet, you are required to agree to the terms of use. You will then be taken to an overview of the appointment details, which you can confirm. Once you have confirmed the details, a confirmation email will be sent to the address you have provided. You will receive a reminder by email two days prior to the date of your appointment.

Changing your appointment

If you have already made an appointment, you can change it online until 48 hours before it is due. Click on the link in your confirmation email. Alternatively, you can use the code that is provided in this email. To use the code, go to the calendar and choose ‘click here’ above the calendar frame. If you have lost your confirmation email, you can fill in your email address to receive a new email with the link. You can’t go wrong!

Late cancellation

We reserve time for your appointment. Please be on time (not too early; there is no waiting room) so that we can make full use of the hour. If you cancel your appointment too late, we can’t schedule in another appointment. That’s unfortunate for you, for us, and for the other client that we won’t get to see. That is why we charge for the whole session in case of late cancellation.

Where?

Address: Cruquiuskade 113, 1018 AM Amsterdam 

Telephone: 020 - 760 36 96 (monday - friday from 8.30h until 17.30h the secretary will answer the phone)

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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First appointment

To make a first appointment:

1. Please send an amail to the practice with a short explanation what makes you contacting us and what your expectations are. We will get back to you within a few business days.
2. Or: call the office and ask to be called back. We return your call within three business days.

Other appointments (existing clients)

Please use the online calendar to make and change appointments.

Waiting list

For actual information, please see this page.

Cost and reimbursement

Please look at this page.

Absence

In case of absence, you will be informed on this page. The practice will be closed during conferences and holidays. Longer absences will be shown on this page.

Giel will be absent for sessions from July 24th to Augustus 4th 2023 (Summer holidays). In times of trainings, other dates might not show availability.

In weeks 21 and 28, online sessions can be booked during weeks of trainings (mornings only). Please consult Giel to see how we can work out a schedule that meets your needs and can be arranged logistically as well.

First aid in case of absence

Should you want to have a session during one of the periods of absence, please contact Jaap Buijs. Jaap is a psychosynthesis therapist and trainer and works both in Amsterdam and Volendam. To book a session, have a look at his website. Jaap is fluent in Eglish.

Not satisfied?

Since January 2017 a law has been installed to support complaints against malpractice of sinteze practitioners (the so called 'Wkkgz'). This law provides that in the event of a disagreement with the therapist or a complaint, you as a client will first receive the support of a complaints officer. If this support proved to be insufficient, you can contact the Disputes Body (see the website of the SCAG and the registration certificate). SCAG is a professional non-commercial dispute resolution body. Sinteze also subjects to the VIT complaints procedure, which, as required by Article 13 point 2 of the Wkkgz, has been established in accordance with the representative patient/client organisation, namely 'Zorgbelang Nederland'.

Disciplinary law is regulated by the RBCZ.