Lycia Van Roy

1. First Steps: Whom to Contact

In Belgium, there are two main routes to get psychological help for children:

Via your General Practitioner (GP / “médecin généraliste” / “huisarts”)

Your GP is often the first point of contact.

They can listen to your concerns, give a first opinion, and refer you to a child psychologist, child psychiatrist, or specialized center.

This referral may be important if you want costs (partially) reimbursed through your mutualité/mutualiteit (health insurance fund).

Directly to a (child) psychologist or specialized center

In Belgium, i...t is possible to book directly with a licensed child psychologist (“psychologue pour enfants” / “kinderpsycholoog”).

However, reimbursement rules vary depending on your insurance and whether the psychologist is part of the official federal reimbursement program (conventioned psychologist).

2. Reimbursement & Insurance Coverage

Since 2019–2022, Belgium has been gradually expanding reimbursement for psychological care through the Public Health Insurance (INAMI/RIZIV system).

Children under 18 years old are eligible for partially reimbursed sessions with psychologists who are recognized and conventioned.

Typically, you pay around 11–22 EUR per session (instead of the full 60–70 EUR).

Sessions must be with a psychologist who collaborates with a recognized network (“réseau de santé mentale” / “netwerk geestelijke gezondheidszorg”).

Private insurance (“hospitalisation” or additional insurance) sometimes covers more, but this depends on your policy.

3. The Assessment Process for a Child (Age 4–5)

A child psychological assessment in Belgium usually involves:

Intake session with parents – to gather history, development, and recent concerns.

Observation & play-based sessions with the child – to evaluate emotional regulation, social skills, and behavior.

Collaboration with the school – teachers often provide structured input.

Feedback session with parents – the psychologist shares results and proposes an intervention plan.

This may include parent guidance, individual therapy/play therapy for the child, or referral to speech therapy/occupational therapy if needed.

4. Practical Path for You

Step 1: Register with a local GP in Belgium (if you haven’t already).

Step 2: Discuss your son’s difficulties; ask for a referral to a child psychologist under the INAMI/RIZIV program.

Step 3: Contact your mutualité/mutualiteit (CM, Partena, Helan, etc.) to confirm coverage and lists of conventioned psychologists.

Step 4: The child psychologist will guide you on whether additional assessments (e.g., developmental, speech-language, occupational therapy) are needed.

👉 In summary:
It is best to start with your GP, since this creates a medical pathway that both clarifies reimbursement and ensures you are referred to recognized specialists. From there, you can see a child psychologist for assessment. Read more

Hello,

Thank you for submitting your question and message. If you'd like more help by a therapist, we can have a first meeting, to see what I can do for you in your process.

You can also book directly with me online via the link; ainuinfo.com/book-online.

It sounds like your anxiety and stress are reaching a level where they’re affecting both your mind and body. That can feel overwhelming, but there are ways to regain a sense of control. Here’s a structured approach:

1. Grounding and Breathwork

When anxiety becomes intense, the body often reacts before the mind can catch up. Techniques like deep, slow breathing or grounding exercises can help your nervous system settle:

Try inhaling for 4 counts, holding for 4, exhaling for 6. Repeat several times.

Focus on your senses: notice 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you ...can smell, 1 thing you can taste.

2. Body Awareness

Since you notice physical symptoms like stomach issues, start tracking bodily sensations alongside your anxiety. Journaling where and when these sensations occur can help you detect triggers and patterns.

3. Routine and Movement

Physical activity—even gentle movement like walking, stretching, or yoga—can regulate both stress hormones and digestion. Consistent sleep and meals are equally important.

4. Cognitive Tools

Identify specific thoughts that trigger anxiety, and gently challenge them: “Is this thought true? Is it helpful? What evidence do I have?”

Break problems into small, manageable steps rather than letting your mind spiral to everything at once.

5. Mindfulness & Acceptance

Mindfulness practice—simply noticing thoughts and bodily sensations without judgment—can reduce the “fight or flight” response. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) principles can be helpful: noticing anxiety without trying to push it away often reduces its intensity.

6. Professional Support

Because anxiety is already affecting your body physically, consulting a therapist, counselor, or physician can help. They can offer tailored strategies and rule out any medical issues related to your stomach symptoms.

I also provide some free yoga sessions that can help with these symptoms on my channel 'ainuinfo' via Youtube.

For more info and bookings visit: ainuinfo.com Read more