English


Psychology practice Axis Mundi

My name is Nina Verstand (1986), Axis Mundi is my psychology practice.

After completing my master’s degree in clinical psychology (UvA), I was trained as a gz-psychologist (BIG registration number 79932266725) and senior schema therapist (Dutch Association for Schema Therapy). I have been working in the mental health sector for many years and am familiar with various complaint areas. I have a special interest in giftedness.

A healthy work field with high-quality care starts with good and thorough training. I am committed to this: I am a teacher and assessor of video exams, within the mental health course at RINO Groep Utrecht. I am also available as a substitute ‘praktijkopleider’ and supervisor.

On my LinkedIn page you will find more extensive information about my education and work experience in the mental health sector.

Nina Verstand | LinkedIn


Treatments

Themes

Identity, neurodiversity, finding your place, giftedness, high sensitivity, lifestyle, diversity and inclusiveness.

Settings

Individual therapy. Adults, adolescents, the elderly.

Complaints

Depression, anxiety, panic, emotion regulation problems, indefinable pain, disturbed relationship with food, identity problems, mourning, feeling stuck in your life, interpersonal problems, excessive perfectionism, obsessiveness and compulsion.

Diagnoses

Personality problems, trauma-related disorders, depression, persistent physical complaints including pain symptoms, anxiety disorders, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), ADHD.

Frameworks

Schematherapy, Cognitive behavioural therapy,
Body-oriented interventions (Ogden, Fisher),
ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy),
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

I do not accept clients with actual psychosis, severe impulse or emotion regulation

problems, severe addiction or eating problems, or with severe underweight due to an eating disorder. In case of suicidality, you will be referred to your GP for appropriate care.


My vision on mental health care

As human beings, we can flourish when we find our place in the world, when we can be who we essentially are and express what we really stand for.

I have great faith in human resilience and the resources we have for (re)finding our core, balance and peace.

In my treatments, I start from the coherence and reciprocity of body and mind, within your personal context. Here, meaning, perspective, acceptance and hope play an important role.

I also find it important that in therapy you can (learn to) experience and strengthen a sense of security, physically, mentally and emotionally.

I work from self-acceptance and self-compassion towards finding the connection with yourself and others. As a result, you get to know and understand your own inner and physical world, in the light of your specific circumstances and experiences.

In treatment, you are central as a human being, with your strength and vulnerability both necessary to feel integrated within yourself. I like to work together to increase your curiosity about yourself, to dare to see all aspects of yourself from there. I teach you to take a soft look at your vulnerable and ‘difficult’ sides. It is precisely where there is friction that there is room for discovery and growth; where progress can sometimes mean letting go, accepting, or, on the contrary, going into battle.


Registration

Starting from April 2025, I will be working on Fridays at a new practice location: Maliestraat 3 in Utrecht, and from September 2025 also on Mondays. Online appointments can be scheduled more flexibly by agreement.

Let me know if you have a disability or limitation that I should take into account or if you have any questions. I work with an inherently LGBTQI+ friendly attitude.

The wheelchair accessibility at this new location is still being worked on. Until then, I will gladly work with you to find an appropriate solution so that this doesn’t hinder your mental health treatment in my practice.

Current waiting times at the location (last updated: February 2025)
Intake: 1 week (starting April 2025)
Treatment: 1 week (starting April 2025)

Registering for mental health treatment

You can register for a pre-intake via the contact form. This is a (free) 15-minute phone conversation in which we discuss your need for help.

If I can offer a suitable treatment plan, you will send me the referral letter, and I will contact you to schedule an intake. See below under ‘rates’ for the requirements of the referral letter.

An intake (diagnostics) always lasts 60 minutes. Sometimes a longer intake is necessary, and an additional intake session will be scheduled.

After the intake, I will send you a treatment plan to sign. This will include the estimated number of sessions, methodology, the issue at hand, treatment goals, the no-show policy, and other agreements.

Afterward, we will schedule the treatment session(s) and discuss what is appropriate: 45 minutes or 60 minutes per session.

Rates

I work without contracts with health insurance companies. Mental health care for adults is partially reimbursed by the health insurer. Before starting treatment, please check the conditions of your health insurer and the information in this overview.

After each session, you will receive an invoice by email; the payment term is a maximum of 30 days. If your health insurer reimburses all or part of the treatment from the basic package, you can submit the invoice afterward. For this reimbursement, you need a referral letter with the following details:

  • Date of issue;
  • The AGB code of the referring professional, or if it’s someone else: the name of this contact person, their specialty, and phone number;
    Note: If it’s a temporary replacement, the practice’s AGB code suffices; a personal AGB code is not required
  • That there is a (suspected) DSM-5 disorder; a DSM code is not required, but it can be included;
  • The level to which you are referred: generalist basic mental health care (gb-ggz) or specialized mental health care (sggz);
  • Whether it is a re-referral for mental health care.

The Axis Mundi practice follows the rates from the ‘Standard Price List for Individual Treatment’ of the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa Rates 2025), as established by the government (see table for NZa Rates for GZ psychologist in ambulatory setting section II 2025).

Performance codePerformanceMinutesRate
CO0432
CO0562
CO0497
CO0627
Diagnostics
Diagnostics
Treatment
Treatment
45
60
45
60
€166,04
€190,88
€142,29
€168,94

NB:
Check with your insurer in advance how much they reimburse for treatment by a ‘non-contracted BIG-registered GZ psychologist’ to avoid surprises.

Health insurers may reimburse (a percentage of) the ‘market-conform rate’ or the ‘average contracted rate’. This may be less than the NZa rate. Therefore, ask your insurer for the exact amount or percentage of NZa rates they reimburse.

Canceling an appointment and no-show

You can cancel a session free of charge up to 48 hours before the session via email. Changing an on-site appointment to an online session is free of charge up to 10 minutes before the session. If you cancel within 48 hours or do not show up, I will charge €60 as partial compensation for the treatment time; you cannot claim this cost from your health insurer.


‘Kwaliteitsstatuut’, privacy statement, complaints

I am registered as a gz-psychologist in the BIG register under registration number 59921023825). More information about the BIG Act can be found on the NIP website. Home – NIP (psynip.nl)

Privacy statement

Since 25 May 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (AVG) applies. In that context, I have prepared a privacy statement.


Kwaliteitsstatuut

As of 1 January 2017, all providers of ‘medical mental health care’, i.e. mental health care within the Zorgverzekeringswet, are obliged to publish a quality statute, a ‘kwaliteitsstatuut’ in Dutch. The kwaliteitsstatuut describes how the healthcare provider ensures that the right help is provided in the right place and by the right healthcare provider, within a professional and high-quality network. You can find my quality statute below.


Complaints

Have a complaint about the treatment? Through the LVVP I’m a member of the complaints procedure. More information here: https://lvvp.info/voor-clienten/wat-als-ik-ontevreden-ben-de-behandeling/.


About me

Out of personal conviction, I am a member of ‘Humanistisch Verbond’, which strive for a meaningful and dignified life for everyone.

In my spare time, I enjoy diving into creativity, both in making things (tufting, drawing, writing, clay) and reading science fiction books*. In addition, yoga, meditation and connection with friends are essential ingredients for my own well-being.

*`The truth lies in the imagination´ – Ursula K. Le Guin
Imagination does not alter a fact, but it uses the fact to create new ideas. An idea which is created in the mind can be executed in the real world and may become a real thing.


Contact

Please use the contact form found here.

Information for referrers and colleagues

  • As soon as I can receive clients at my own practice location, I will mention it on this website.
  • Do you need a substitute ´praktijkopleider´ or supervisor? Please contact me for the possibilities.