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Coaching or psychological care: what fits your situation?

When you feel stuck, want to change something, or simply aren’t feeling well, the first question is often not “what should I do” but “who should I turn to”. Coaching and psychological care look similar, but differ fundamentally in what they are for, who is allowed to provide them, and what is reimbursed. This page helps you make that distinction, without asking you to choose anything right away.

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The basics

What is the difference between coaching and psychological care

Coaching and psychological care look similar, but differ fundamentally in what they are for, who is allowed to provide them, and what is reimbursed.

Coaching focuses on development: setting goals, recognising patterns, changing behaviour, for people who are fundamentally functioning well but are running into something. “Coach” is not a protected title in the Netherlands. Anyone can call themselves a coach, which means quality and approach differ strongly between coaches.

Psychological care (GGZ, Dutch mental healthcare) focuses on diagnosing and treating psychological complaints or disorders. It falls under the Dutch Health Insurance Act, is provided by professionals registered in the BIG register (gz-psycholoog, psychotherapist, psychiatrist), and is bound by strict quality requirements.¹ “Gz-psycholoog” is a protected title.

The distinction is not always sharp. Someone worried about persistent low mood may benefit from coaching, or may need professional treatment, depending on the severity and duration of the symptoms. If in doubt, your GP is the best starting point.

In practice

Which situation fits whom

No diagnosis, just a first sense of direction. If you recognise your situation below, treat it as an indication, not a verdict.

Your situation	Fits with
You want to take a next step in work or life, but aren’t sure how	Coaching
You’re looking for overview and direction, without any complaints	Coaching
You recognise recurring patterns that hold you back, without a clear diagnosis	Coaching, possibly in consultation with your GP
You have long-term complaints such as low mood, anxiety or panic that limit your daily functioning	Psychological care
You’ve been through something significant (loss, trauma) and can’t work through it alone	Psychological care; coaching can be a later addition
You want to work structurally on lifestyle: nutrition, sleep, movement, stress regulation	Lifestyle coaching
You’re looking for direction in life questions, values or meaning	Coaching with attention to awareness and meaning
You’re part of a team that wants to work together better	Team coaching
You want guided depth work, for example through breathwork or meditation, alongside or separate from ongoing treatment	Awareness work, not a substitute for treatment of an active disorder

Judging quality

How to recognise a good coach

Because “coach” is not a protected title, the responsibility for judging quality lies with you. A few things to look out for:

A recognised training or certification, preferably affiliated with a professional association that has a complaints procedure
A clear way of working: you know in advance what to expect, how many sessions, and what the process is and isn’t meant for
No guarantees or promises about outcome. Change is a process, not a quick fix
Room for a no-obligation introductory conversation before you commit
Specific methods (breathwork, cold training, lifestyle guidance) should be backed by their own separate certification alongside the coaching training, not assumed knowledge
The coach works towards your ownership, not dependence on the coach

The route

What the process looks like if you’re seeking reimbursed care

The route to reimbursed psychological care in the Netherlands always runs through your GP.²

Step 1

GP

You discuss your complaints with your GP (huisarts).

Step 2

Referral

The GP refers you to the POH-GGZ (mental health practice nurse) for short-term support, or directly to Basis-GGZ or Gespecialiseerde GGZ, depending on severity.³

Step 3

Registration

Registration with a GGZ practice or institution, often with a waiting period.

Step 4

Intake

Intake and diagnostic conversation.

Step 5

Treatment plan

Drawing up and discussing a treatment plan.

Step 6

Start of treatment

Start of treatment, with interim evaluation.

Getting acquainted

What to expect from a first conversation

With both coaching and psychological care, the first conversation is a get-to-know-you meeting. It looks at your current situation, your goals or complaints, and what you expect from the process.

With coaching, you’re under no obligation after this conversation. With a GGZ intake, the information is used to determine which treatment and which level of care fits.

Glossary

Key terms explained briefly

Six terms you’ll often come across when looking for help.

Coach

Not a protected title, guides development, change and goals.

Gz-psycholoog

BIG-registered, may diagnose and treat within Basis-GGZ.

Psychotherapist

BIG-registered, specialist treatment for more complex issues.

Psychiatrist

Physician specialised in psychological disorders, can prescribe medication.

POH-GGZ

Mental health practice nurse at the GP’s practice, first point of contact and short-term support.

Basis-GGZ / Gespecialiseerde GGZ

Distinction in intensity and duration of reimbursed treatment, determined after intake.

Exception

Children and young people

For children and young people, the route to help is different: via the GP, the school (youth doctor, care coordinator) or directly via the municipal youth team, depending on the municipality. The coaching described on this page is aimed at adults.

Cost

Reimbursement and the deductible

What is reimbursed depends on the type of care and whether there is a referral.

Type of care	Reimbursed from basic insurance	Deductible applies	Referral required
Coaching	No, pay yourself	No	No
Basis-GGZ	Yes	Yes	Yes, via GP
Gespecialiseerde GGZ	Yes	Yes	Yes, via GP
Self-paid psychologist	No	No	No

The mandatory deductible (eigen risico) is €385 per year (2026 rate).⁴ This amount is set by the Dutch government and can change yearly; check the current amount if in doubt.

Reality

Waiting times

Waiting times in Dutch mental healthcare (GGZ) can be considerable, with regional differences.⁵ Current waiting times per institution can be found via ZorgkaartNederland.⁶ Coaching generally has no meaningful waiting time, but is not a substitute for necessary treatment where that applies.

Searching further yourself

Finding a psychologist: good sources

Independent places to find a recognised psychologist or GGZ institution, not a recommendation for any one specific practice.

ZorgkaartNederland

Overview and reviews of psychologists near you.

Vind een psycholoog

Search function by the NIP for recognised psychologists.

NIP

Dutch Institute of Psychologists, quality register.

Regelhulp

Independent government portal (Rijksoverheid) to find a care provider for psychological complaints.

113

For thoughts of suicide, reachable day and night.

MIND Hulplijn

Free and anonymous help for mental health concerns.

Mondriaan

GGZ institution for specialist treatment, specific to Limburg.

For those close to someone

Worried about someone else

It’s often harder to know what to do when you’re worried about someone else than about yourself. A few starting points: name concretely what you notice, without diagnosing. Ask how they’re really doing, and listen without jumping straight to solutions.

For direct safety concerns: 113 is also reachable for those close to someone.⁷

Still have questions

Frequently asked questions

Can I do coaching and psychological care at the same time?

Yes, that’s possible, and happens regularly. It helps if both practitioners know about each other’s involvement.

Is coaching a substitute for therapy?

No. Coaching is not treatment and is not meant for diagnosing or treating psychological disorders.

What if I don’t know what I need?

That’s a very common starting point. A conversation with your GP, or a no-obligation introductory conversation with a coach, often helps clarify that.

Is everything a psychologist does reimbursed?

No. Reimbursement depends on the type of care (Basis-GGZ or Gespecialiseerde GGZ), the referral and your policy. Self-paid, non-insured routes exist too.

How long does a coaching process usually take?

That varies strongly by goal and approach. Ask the coach directly during the introductory conversation.

Author

Bart Wittkampf

This page was written by Bart Wittkampf, personal, lifestyle and team coach, working from Hoeve Hurpesch in the Zuid-Limburg Heuvelland region. His background: breathwork (including the Wim Hof Method, as a certified Advanced instructor), cold training, lifestyle guidance and awareness work, with attention to Spiral Dynamics in personal and team development.

Looking for a coach? More about his approach and offer at coachingheuvelland.nl. Coaching Heuvelland also offers corporate programmes and team coaching.

Looking for a psychologist? See the sources under “Finding a psychologist: good sources” above: ZorgkaartNederland, the NIP and Regelhulp (Dutch government) for a recognised psychologist near you, Mondriaan for specialist GGZ in Limburg, and 113 or MIND Hulplijn for urgent concerns.

Go to coachingheuvelland.nl

Sources

This page is informative and independently compiled. Where a claim can be traced to a source, a small, clickable source number is added.

None of the links below is a paid placement or a recommendation for one specific practice.