Treatments
Symptoms
With which concerns can you contact us? Please take a look on the page of your caregiver to see what treatments he or she has to offer. Depending on our availability and specialisation, it is possible that a referral to another colleague or specialised centre may be suggested after the first consultation. Brussels Mental Health Center can be contacted for the following concerns:
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Anxiety, depression, burn-out
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Problems with grief & meaning
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Trauma and PTSD
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Suicidal thoughts
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Obsessive-compulsive symptoms
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Sleeping problems
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Adult ADHD
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Personality problems
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Sexual concerns
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Substance abuse
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Stabilised psychotic and bipolar disorders
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...
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Psychiatrist or psychologist?
Psychiatrists are medical specialists who can prescribe medication, make psychiatric diagnoses and coordinate the treatment of (sometimes complex) mental disorders.
Psychologists, on the other hand, specialise in talk therapy to help patients progress or gain more insight into their complaints.
Depending on the presenting symptoms, a psychiatrist and/or psychologist will be assigned.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy may also be recommended. Depending on the symptoms and personal preference, a referral to a psychotherapist with a specific therapeutic training can be considered. The best-known therapies are psychoanalytic psychotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, client-centred therapy and systemic therapy. Regardless of the therapeutic models used, large-scale research has shown that common factors such as empathy, the therapeutic relationship, expectations of the therapy and the therapist's technique are decisive (Lambert, 2001; Wampold, 2015).
Medication
Your psychiatrist or family doctor may prescribe one or a combination of the following medications. In choosing the appropriate treatment, various factors will be taken into account, such as the effect of medication taken earlier or the side-effect profile. Below, you can find more information on a number of treatments that may be prescribed to you.
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EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, also known as EMDR, is a therapy for people who continue to suffer from the effects of a shocking experience, such as an accident, sexual assault or violent incident. EMDR was first described more than 25 years ago by the American psychologist Francine Shapiro. In the years that followed, this procedure was further elaborated and developed into a fully-fledged and effective therapeutic method. Click here to find out more about EMDR.
Psycho-education
Psycho-education is providing information and education about your mental health symptoms and how you (and/or your family/relatives) can cope with their limitations and consequences. These interventions are a proven effective intervention, including for relieving anxiety symptoms. Feel free to take a look at our Self-Help page for inspiration!
Body focused therapies
This kind of psychotherapy focuses on the connection between the mind and body. It works with the body as well as thoughts and emotions to help shift emotional events and trauma. It combines both talk therapy and attention to the way the body responds.
Duration and intensity of the treatment
The duration of the treatment is difficult to predict in advance and depends on the individual. We try to offer short-term treatment where possible, and long-term treatment where necessary, according to the so-called stepped care principle. In any case, a realistic symptom reduction is aimed for.
