Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in the Netherlands

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in the Netherlands is thriving: the Dutch Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies (DABCT) has become the largest psychotherapy organization in the Netherlands, CBT techniques are first-line interventions in Dutch treatment guidelines for many common and less common clinical problems (Kwaliteitsontwikkeling GGZ, Retrieved from http://www.kwaliteitsontwikkelingggz.nl on October 2, 2018), and training in CBT is part of the curriculum of all government-licensed mental healthcare professionals who work with adults or youth (e.g., Opleidingsinstituut PPO, Retrieved from https://www.ppo-opleidingen.nl/opleidingen/opleiding-gz-psycholoog/opzet on October 2, 2018). After a brief overview of the country, this chapter summarizes the long history of psychotherapy and CBT in the Netherlands. Next, we discuss the Dutch regulatory context of psychotherapy and CBT, as well as the professional organizations, training opportunities and requirements, salient adaptations, and research tradition in the domain of CBT in the Netherlands. Finally, we describe in more detail mental healthcare for a number of special populations, including patients with substance use disorders, traumatized victims of war and organized violence, and patients with diverse ethnic backgrounds.