Become a member

Do you want to join the ACCESS Counselling Service Network (CSN)?

The ACCESS Counselling Service Network is open to receiving new members on a need basis. First check the list below to determine if you meet the required qualifications. If you do, we invite you to read further on how the application process works and what steps you need to take to apply.

In order to be considered, applicants must:

• Be in possession of a Masters Degree in a relevant field (psychology, counselling, social work)
• Have 2,000 hours of clinical practice along with 50 hours of supervision (which can be individual or in a group). Supporting documentation is required. Please note: The 2000 hours is equivalent to seeing 15-20 clients a week for at least a 2 year period of time. Client hours can be accrued over many years of practice as can the supervision hours.
• Be a registered member of a professional association that has a complaint procedure
• Be a member of KVK (Dutch Chamber of Commerce)
• Have access to a place to practice
• Have near-native language fluency in English
• Possess appropriate/relevant skills and experience with regard to the international/expatriate character of the group and its referral base
• Be able to be on-call at least once a year for a one month period (this can vary depending on numbers within the CSN)
• Be prepared to make an annual contribution of €150 to ACCESS, to be invoiced annually
• Disclose any, previous or current, professional/legal/ethical charges or convictions
• Abide by the ACCESS CSN Policies (available upon request)

To apply to the CSN

Applicants should submit a copy of their degree, course transcripts and CV, together with a letter explaining why you should be considered. Please include details of professional experience; how many years you have practiced, documentation of 2000 hours of post graduate supervision (a letter or email from your supervisor), disclosure of any, previous or current, professional/legal/ethical charges or convictions, what population(s) you work with, list of relevant languages, areas of specialization and regional location (CSN requires greater representation outside The Hague/Amsterdam area). In summary, give us a picture of what you have to offer the CSN!

Send this information to the CSN Coordinator (an ACCESS Volunteer). Your details will be forwarded to a sub-committee of the CSN who will review your application and contact you with the result of either (1) you are deemed eligible and are invited for an interview (date to be determined at that time), and invited to a volunteer information morning to find out more about ACCESS, or (2) thank you for your interest and application but, with regret, you do not meet the required qualifications.

If the interview is successful, the sub-committee will present suitable candidates to the CSN for final approval. The candidate will be contacted again by the sub-committee with the final decision. If the result is positive, you will be contacted by the CSN Coordinator and given information about membership payment, on-call sign up and quarterly meeting schedules. All Counsellors are then given an ACCESS logo for their websites so that everyone will know they are ‘Helping ACCESS help you…’

Supervision for students and/or post graduates

Some members of the CSN are able to provide supervision. Please have a look at our ‘Meet the Counsellors‘, read their biography and then send the CSN Coordinator your top three preferences along with some background information of your study, experience and goals.

Supervision creates an element of liability and that is not something that ACCESS or the CSN can provide on an individual basis. If you enter into a supervisor-supervisee relation with one of our Counsellors, that relationship is outside of ACCESS and the CSN network, and you and your chosen supervisor are solely responsible for obtaining the appropriate insurances. Fees for supervision are determined individually by the independent Counsellor.

Internships

Unfortunately, the CSN is unable to provide internships for those specifically seeking counselling experience under any capacity as a joint decision of the network. Our Counsellors are practitioners and/or professors and focus on their private practice(s).

We would refer you back to your educational institution in the hope that they have links with appropriate organisations in your community to help you fulfil your goals (counselling hour requirements).

If you are looking for a non-counselling internship please look at our information mornings page to find out about opportunities to volunteer with ACCESS.