Mindfulness-Based Therapy in the Netherlands
Anxiety, self-doubt, and relationship stress get in the way of the life you want to live. It’s easy to feel defeated by these forces, especially if you’ve been struggling with them for some time. But giving over to hopelessness and fear is not a viable path forward.
I'm Ian Sicks, a licensed mental health counselor working with English-speaking international and expat clients virtually in the Netherlands. My work is mindfulness-based and direct, grounded in helping you step out of anxious cycles and back into what matters most to you.
Although I work with clients from all backgrounds, I have extensive experience working with queer clients navigating identity, relationships, and meaning.
About me
I'm originally from New York City, now based in Rotterdam. I've spent years working with people experiencing anxiety, panic, relationship stress, and the existential questions that tend to surface as we age and come in contact with the realities of loss and impermanence.
My training is in counseling, with thousands of hours of supervised clinical work. I help people who feel stuck in their own heads find a steadier, more present way to live.
I came to this work through my own interest in mindfulness, Buddhist philosophy, and existential thought. These traditions have deeply shaped how I work with my clients and live my own life.
I'm a gay man, and I bring that lived experience into therapy, especially with queer clients working through identity, dating, and relationships.
Outside of work, I'm a musician, a runner, and a meditator. I love language learning, pop music, movies, theatre, traveling, trains/trams/bikes etc.
How I work
My approach is mindfulness-based, drawing mainly from Mindfulness Based Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Existential Therapy. In practice, that means:
We’ll always come back to mindful awareness. Mindfulness is the heart of the work we will do together. We will build your capacity to observe difficult thoughts and feelings without taking them all so personally.
Acting on what matters. We will clarify your values and move toward them, even when discomfort shows up. The goal is to stop making decisions based on fear and doubt and start living a life aligned with what you care about.
Sitting with the bigger questions. Not everything is a symptom to fix. Some things are about the bigger questions that come as we face the realities of sickness, age, and death in a scary and uncertain world. I encourage my clients to bring their most existential selves to our sessions and find that some of the best work starts from there.
Who I Work With
I work with adults and couples navigating anxiety, panic, self-doubt, overthinking, relationship stress, life transitions, and questions of meaning and identity. Generally my clients are internationals who find it best to work with a therapist who shares their experience of relocating to the Netherlands. As mentioned before, I also have extensive experience working with LGBTQ+ clients.
I speak conversational Spanish. I don't offer full sessions in Spanish at this time, but if it's your first language, it can be a helpful bridge in our work.
My Training and Credentials
I'm a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) from the United States, with years of clinical training/experience and I’m a member of the NBTP (Nederlandse Beroepsvereniging voor Toegepaste Psychologie), the Dutch Professional Association for Applied Psychology.
My training is up to the rigorous standards required to practice as a therapist in New York State and my credentials have been reviewed and recognized by the Dutch Professional Association for Applied Psychology. These credentials include a masters degree in Mental Health Counseling from Hunter College and cumulatively 3,700 hours of pre-licensure supervised work. I maintain this license in good standing and pursue continuing education as the licensing body requires. My US license number is 014882 and can be verified here.
In addition to this license, I have completed:
-Intensive trainings in REBT/CBT therapies from the Albert Ellis Institute in New York City between 2021 and 2023
-A 300 Hour Mindfulness Facilitator training at MNDFL Meditation Center in New York City in 2019
-Introductory trainings in ACT therapy and trauma informed therapy
-Expert-led supervision in REBT, Existential therapy, ACT, and Person Centered Couples therapy
Outside of my institutional training and supervision as a therapist and mindfulness facilitator, I have extensive experience in meditation practice, including months of intensive silent retreat and study.
Fees and Payment
All sessions are 50 minutes and virtual. Costs start at €125 for individual sessions. I never want cost to be the reason someone doesn't get support, so I hold a number of sliding-scale spots for clients who need them. If the cost of sessions is inaccessible, tell me and we'll find a rate that works.
I don't bill insurance directly, and no GP referral is needed to start.
Practice Information & Complaints
I want you to know exactly what protections apply when you work with me. If anything here is unclear, ask me before we start.
I am not registered in the Dutch BIG system
The BIG register is the Dutch government's register for certain healthcare professions, such as GZ-psycholoog and psychotherapeut. My US license does not give me BIG registration, and I do not use those protected titles. In practice, this means:
-I am not subject to Dutch disciplinary law for BIG professionals (tuchtrecht). Complaints about my work go through the complaints procedure below. My New York license also keeps me accountable to New York State's standards of professional conduct.
-I am not registered with RBCZ, so my sessions are not reimbursed by Dutch health insurance, including supplementary policies, and are not VAT-exempt.
-I do not prescribe medication. If medication or specialist mental health care might help you, I'll discuss this with you and encourage you to see your huisarts (GP).
Not a crisis service
I work by appointment only and cannot respond to emergencies. If you are in immediate danger, call 112. If you're having thoughts of suicide, 113 Zelfmoordpreventie is available 24/7: call 0800-0113 or visit 113.nl.
Age
I work with adults aged 18 and older.
Complaints (Wkkgz)
If you're unhappy with my work, I'd like to hear about it. You can raise it with me directly, and I'll take it seriously.
If you'd rather not, or if we can't resolve it together, you can file a complaint with Zorg voor ZZP, which arranges my complaints procedure under the Dutch Healthcare Quality, Complaints and Disputes Act (Wkkgz). Email info@zorgvoorzzp.nl with my name and a brief description of your complaint. You can do this in English, and it's free. An independent complaints officer will contact you, speak with both of us, and help us look for a solution.
If that doesn't resolve it, you can take the complaint to an independent disputes committee. Its decision is binding. Submitting a dispute costs a one-time fee of €150.
You can read the full complaints procedure here: Complaints Procedure
Records and privacy
I keep client records securely and in line with the GDPR (AVG). Dutch law requires me to keep records for 20 years. You have the right to access your records.