Flemish Professional Associations for Therapists: Overview
BVRGS, VVPT, BFP, ABP, and other Belgian professional associations for body-oriented and somatic therapists.
Dit artikel hoort bij: Building a Practice as a Therapist in Belgium
The Flemish Landscape
Belgian professional associations for psychotherapy and body-oriented work have historically grown around training orientations, not around a single central authority. This means that you choose your membership based on your training background and target group, not based on mandatory recognition.
The Relevant Associations for Somatic Work
- BVRGS (Belgian Association for Relationship and Family Therapy and Systemic Counseling): broad registry for systemic and relational work, including body-oriented methods. Membership approximately 200 euros per year.
- VVPT (Flemish Association for Process-Oriented Psychotherapy): for client-centered and process-oriented work, with an emphasis on experiential techniques. Membership approximately 150 euros per year.
- BFP (Belgian Federation of Psychologists): umbrella organization for recognized psychologists, with a sub-registry for clinical work.
- ABP (Association Belge des Psychologues): French-speaking counterpart of BFP.
- SEI-registry Flanders: registry of certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioners, internationally recognized.
- BVL (Belgian Association for Body-Oriented Psychotherapy): smaller but specifically somatically oriented association.
What Membership Provides
Three concrete benefits. One: clients can only receive reimbursement from their health insurance fund (mutualiteit) if their therapist is a member of a recognized association. Two: you are listed on the association's online directory, which enhances local discoverability. Three: intervision, supervision, and ethical support are built in, which helps with complaints or boundary cases.
How to Choose
Start with your training background: which association accepts your certificates without additional assessment? Then consider your target group: do you primarily work with couples and families (BVRGS), individuals with a process-oriented focus (VVPT), or explicitly body-oriented (BVL or SEI-registry)? Many therapists are members of two associations, one general and one specifically somatic.
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Veelgestelde vragen
Do I have to be a member of a professional association?
Not legally required for somatic work that falls outside the mental health professions law. However, it is practically necessary: without membership, no health insurance reimbursement for your clients, and no listing in directories.
Can I be a member of both a Dutch (NVPA) and a Belgian (BVRGS) association simultaneously?
Yes, that is a common combination for therapists who work in both countries or receive clients from both countries. Keep in mind that you will have two annual contributions.
What is the difference between a member and a recognized member?
Some associations have multiple levels: aspirant member (in training), regular member (graduated), and recognized member or supervisor (with additional experience). For health insurance reimbursement, the regular member level or higher is usually required.
Bronnen en verdieping
- RIZIV: Eerstelijnspsychologische zorgOfficiële RIZIV-informatie over de conventie en deelnemende zorgverleners.
- FOD Volksgezondheid: Erkenning klinisch psycholoogVoorwaarden en procedure voor erkenning als klinisch psycholoog in België.
- BVRGS: Belgische Vereniging voor Relatie- en GezinstherapieBeroepsvereniging met kwaliteitsregister voor systemisch en lichaamsgericht werk.
- VVPT: Vlaamse Vereniging voor Procesgerichte PsychotherapieVereniging met focus op procesgerichte en ervaringsgerichte therapie.