Psychological care

Having endometriosis usually means a change in the picture of the future. Illness affects one’s self-image, autonomy and identity, but it can also change contact and relationships with the people around one. Common emotions faced by endometriosis sufferers include feelings of powerlessness (feeling of loss of control), disregard, loneliness, sadness, insecurity, frustration, and anger. Other psychological complaints can also arise, such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks or trauma-related complaints.

Illness, a major experience or a physical complaint requires processing. Every person has developed his/her own way of processing. At a certain point this mechanism can no longer be sufficiently effective or leads to problems or psychological complaints. At such a time, professional help can be useful or appropriate. For this reason, Endometriose in Balans not only pays attention to the medical treatment of endometriosis, but also to the psychological care of the patient and his environment.

A medical psychologist is present at the Endometriose in Balans centre. She is a GZ psychologist and psychotherapist and specialises in counselling for the emotional and social consequences of endometriosis.

Various psychological complaints can be a reason to call in professional help, especially if this causes obstacles to daily functioning.

• Psychological complaints as a result of the adaptation and/or processing process (dealing with endometriosis)
• When help is needed with the decision-making process about the treatment options to be followed (e.g. about surgery, whether or not to remove a uterus)
• Pain-related problems and complaints
• Psychological complaints in connection with fertility problems, (unfulfilled) desire to have children, miscarriages
• Negative hospital experiences
• Depressive complaints
• Anxiety complaints, panic attacks
• Worrying excessively
• Trauma-related complaints
• Sexual problems
• Self-image problems and Identity problems
• Problems in communication with doctors and care providers
• Other psychological complaints that arise as a result of the endometriosis or its treatment.

Treatment options

Advisory consultation
This consultation is aimed at learning to cope with illness, strengthening the capacity, help with the decision making process about the treatment program to be followed (e.g. whether or not an operation)

Short-term treatment
The treatment of psychological complaints in connection with endometriosis by means of,  among other things, short-term insightful/psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive behaviour therapy, EMDR. The aim of the treatment is to reduce the complaint or to increase insight into personal functioning in order to optimise the quality of life.

Partner relationship conversations
These conversations focus on tensions and/or problems that arise within the relationship as a result of the endometriosis.

Group meetings
If one’s complaints require longer-term treatment, or if one’s complaints lie outside the scope of the medical psychologist, one will be advised to start treatment outside the hospital. The medical psychologist can advise on this.

Practical information

Procedure
Referral to a medical psychologist always goes through the gynaecologist of the Endometriose in Balans centre After an initial intake interview, it will be discussed whether and what the treatment options are.

After an intake interview, a short summary can be placed in one’s medical file, so that one’s attending gynaecologist is informed whether one has had a consultation and whether one is receiveing psychological support during the treatment of endometriosis. It will be discussed with one what is reported in one’s medical file.

Privacy and Medical record
The medical psychologist (psychotherapist) must adhere to the Professional Code for Psychotherapists, which has been drawn up by the Dutch Association for Psychotherapy (NVP). This professional code can be downloaded from the website of the NVP.

Confidentiality is an important part of the professional code. This means that everything one discusses with the psychologist will be treated in strict confidence. This means that information is only given to third parties with one’s written consent. This duty of confidentiality is also regulated in the Medical Treatment Contracts Act (WGBO) and the Clients Care Sector Complaints Act (WKCZ). One will be asked to fill in a consent form to indicate whether or not one consents to include a summary of the intake interview in the medical file and/or provide information to one’s GP.

Questionnaires
Throughout the illness and treatment process, the EIB medical team will keep an eye on how you are doing. In that context, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire at the start, in the interim and/or at the end of the treatment to measure the effect of the medical treatment and/or psychological care. The results are anonymised and can be used for scientific research. You may also be asked to fill in questionnaires for the purpose of diagnosing your complaints.

Accessibility
The psychologist can be reached via the general number of the Endometriose in Balans outpatient clinic or one may send an email to eib@haaglandenmc.nl The psychologist is usually present at the clinic 2 to 3 days a week.

Cobie Lutters
GZ-Psychologist | Psychotherapist | Medical Psychologist
Cognitive BehaviourTherapist® | EMDR therapist

BIG registration numbers
Mental health psychologist            59910933225
Psychotherapist                                79910933216