Fees, Process and Therapy Information | Therapy in Rotterdam

I offer therapy in Rotterdam (in-person) and online sessions for international clients.

Fees

  • Initial full session (50 minutes): €85 (reduced rate)

  • Ongoing sessions / single sessions / supportive conversations: €115 / 50 minutes

Fees may be adjusted periodically (typically every 1–2 years) in line with experience and general cost changes.

It is common to feel uncertain about fees. If helpful, we can also take this into account when deciding how to proceed.

Therapy Process

1 | Initial session

The first session is a mutual process of getting a sense of each other:

  • You can experience how I work and whether it feels suitable

  • I will begin to understand your situation and what you are looking for

  • We can explore together whether continuing would be helpful

2 | Initial phase (usually 4–6 sessions)

  • Frequency: usually once per week

  • Fee: €115 / 50 minutes

In this phase, we gradually build an understanding of your situation and develop a direction for the work.

Many people begin to notice some shifts or clarity during this period.

If at any point you feel it is not helpful or not a good fit, you are welcome to say so.

3 | Ongoing therapy

  • Most work is open-ended (no fixed number of sessions)

  • You decide whether to continue or stop

You may also choose:

  • A limited number of sessions

  • Or a single consultation

When ending therapy, it is usually helpful to have 2–3 closing sessions to reflect and bring the process to a close.

When Therapy May Not Be Suitable

Private psychotherapy may not be the most appropriate form of support in the following situations:

1 | Need for immediate or intensive support

For example:

  • Severe and difficult-to-control self-harm behaviours, suicidal thoughts, or suicide attempts within the past two years

  • Ongoing, frequent, and intense self-harm or suicidal ideation, where personal safety cannot be reliably maintained

  • Clear loss of control (e.g. severe dissociation, inability to sleep or eat, extreme panic)

  • Eating disorders that are not yet stabilised, recent hospitalisation, or BMI below 19

  • Lack of a reliable support system in the Netherlands in case of emergency

In these situations, more appropriate support usually includes your GP (huisarts), crisis services, emergency care, or multidisciplinary treatment settings.

Individual private psychotherapy is often not sufficient to provide the level of safety required.

2 | Difficulty committing to ongoing work

For example:

  • Very limited time or emotional capacity

  • Highly unstable life circumstances (frequent travel, relocation)

  • Primary goal is to “get through” rather than explore or change

In such cases, more structured or in-depth therapy may not be suitable at this time.

With clearly defined goals and boundaries, I may offer short-term supportive conversations or listening-based sessions:

  • Providing a safe and respectful space to express current stress and emotional experience

  • Helping to organise thoughts and reduce immediate burden

  • Supporting basic psychological stability and functioning during difficult periods

This is considered short-term, phase-based support, and will be re-evaluated as your situation changes.

3 | Expectation of direct advice or quick answers

For example:

    • Expecting the therapist to tell you directly “what to do” or “which choice is right”

    • Expecting clear conclusions or solutions within a small number of sessions

    My way of working is more oriented toward collaboration, exploration, and understanding, rather than providing ready-made answers.

If you are unsure whether therapy is suitable,

this can be explored together in an initial session.

Not being suitable does not mean “no need for support” —

it may simply mean a different kind of support is needed at this time.

Cancellation Policy

  • Please cancel or reschedule at least 48 hours in advance

  • Late cancellations (within 48 hours) will be charged in full

Insurance

I do not work directly with insurance companies.

Reimbursement depends on your specific insurance policy

(e.g. supplementary or international insurance).

AGB codes:

  • Organisation: 94-068680

  • Personal: 94-117593

Crisis and Emergencies

I do not provide crisis intervention.

In urgent situations, please contact:

  • Your GP (huisarts)

  • Or the out-of-hours GP service (huisartsenpost)

Booking

To schedule an initial session:

  1. Send an email to: zhi.li.work@gmail.com

  2. Complete the intake / consent form

  3. Make the payment

  4. Your appointment is confirmed once payment is received

👉 If you are looking for how to begin, you may also visit:

How to start therapy