English-Speaking Therapy in Amsterdam
Individual and couples therapy for expats and internationals in Amsterdam — in person at a quiet practice space on Sarphatistraat, or online. No referral, no waiting list.
The particular pressure of building a life here
Amsterdam is one of the easiest cities in Europe to move to and one of the harder ones to settle into. The practical parts are unusually smooth — the job, the English, the bureaucracy that mostly works. It is the rest that tends to take people by surprise.
Friendships form quickly and then dissolve when contracts end. The housing situation keeps a lot of people provisional for years longer than they planned. And there is a particular flatness that can arrive around the second or third year, once the novelty has worn off and the question of whether you are actually building something here becomes harder to postpone.
None of that is a crisis, which is part of what makes it difficult to talk about. It rarely looks like anything from the outside, and the people who would normally notice are in a different time zone.
What relocation quietly does
Relocation rarely arrives as a sudden crisis. It usually surfaces as a quiet exhaustion, or the feeling that while everything on paper is working, you are still living between two worlds.
About Eva Virc
I am a logotherapist and mental health practitioner working with expats, international couples, and professionals navigating life in the Netherlands. Because I relocated to the Netherlands myself, I understand firsthand the disorientation that comes with building a life far from where you started.
The work is grounded in logotherapy, the meaning-centred approach founded by Viktor Frankl. Rather than reducing your distress to clinical labels, we explore what genuinely matters to you: your core values and questions of purpose in this chapter of life.
- Certified Logotherapist: Viktor Frankl Institute Vienna — View Official Certificate (PDF)
- Degree in Psychotherapy Science: Sigmund Freud University Ljubljana (BA)
- Clinical & Supervised Practice: 800+ hours of direct client therapy under supervision, 800 hours of psychosocial practice across institutions, and approx. 300 hours of clinical practice at two psychiatric institutions
- Academic Background: MA in Philosophy (clinical focus); PhD Candidate researching the phenomenology of psychotherapy
- Personal Therapy: 400+ hours of personal therapeutic self-experience
- Amsterdam Workshop Leader: Presenter on therapeutic mechanisms and phenomenological practice
- Private Practice: Outside the Dutch BIG/GGZ system — no GP referral (verwijsbrief) required, complete confidentiality, and no waiting list
Ways of working together in Amsterdam
Four ways of working are available, in person or online. They overlap more than the labels suggest, and it is common to begin with one and find the work moves toward another. All of them are set out in one place on the therapy services page.
- Individual therapy: one-to-one sessions for anxiety, burnout, grief, identity questions, and periods of transition.
- Couples therapy: longer sessions for partners under relationship strain, or carrying the pressure of a shared life abroad at different speeds.
- Expat therapy: work focused specifically on relocation — culture shock, loneliness, and the slow erosion of a familiar sense of self.
- Online therapy: secure video sessions across the Netherlands and Europe, and the primary format for this practice.
From Google reviews of the practice
“From the moment I walked in, the environment felt welcoming, calm, and professional. Eva is thoughtful, attentive, and genuinely invested in helping me grow.”
— Jerry, Google review
“Eva creates a safe and non-judgmental space where it's easy to open up, even about difficult topics. Her approach to therapy is both professional and compassionate.”
— Nika G., Google review
“The therapist is really professional, knows what she's doing and can guide you without being intrusive. At the same time, she creates such a relaxed atmosphere that you can really open up.”
— Leila B., Google review (translated)
Finding the practice space
In-person sessions in Amsterdam are held at Sarphatistraat 14, 1017 WS, near Frederiksplein — close to the centre without being in the middle of it, on a street that stays reasonably quiet once you are off the main crossing.
By metro: Weesperplein is a few minutes' walk, with direct connections on lines 51, 53, and 54 from Amsterdam Centraal and Amstel.
By tram: The Frederiksplein and Weesperplein stops (lines 1, 7, and 19) are close by, and the Amstel river is a short walk away if you prefer arriving on foot with quiet time before your session.
By bike: Dedicated street parking for bicycles is available directly outside on Sarphatistraat. From Oost, De Pijp, or the canal ring, it is a ten to fifteen minute ride.
Directions and entry instructions are sent once your session is confirmed, so there is nothing to work out on the day.
In person, online, or a flexible mix
The Amsterdam studio on Sarphatistraat is the primary location for in-person therapy at Ontara Therapy. You can choose to meet entirely in person at the studio, entirely online via secure video, or combine the two.
Many international professionals in Amsterdam prefer a hybrid arrangement — meeting at Sarphatistraat when in town, and connecting online when travelling or working from home. Switching between formats does not interrupt the rhythm of our work, and the cost is identical either way.
Sessions are also available at my second practice space in Leiden for clients based in the Randstad South area.
Practical details
- Address: Sarphatistraat 14, 1017 WS Amsterdam (Main studio)
- Individual sessions: 50 minutes, €125
- Couples sessions: 75 minutes at €165, or 90 minutes at €195
- Introductory call: 15 minutes, free, no obligation
- Languages: English and Slovene
- Format: In person at our main Amsterdam studio, or online
- Nearest metro: Weesperplein, a few minutes on foot
- Referral: Not required. Sessions are private-pay and not reimbursed by Dutch health insurance
Also available in Leiden.
Common questions about therapy in Amsterdam
Where in Amsterdam are sessions held?
At a quiet practice space on Sarphatistraat 14, 1017 WS, near Frederiksplein and a few minutes' walk from Weesperplein metro. Directions and entry instructions are sent once your session is confirmed.
Do I need a GP referral?
No. This is a private practice, so you can book directly without a referral, a diagnosis, or an intake through your huisarts. Sessions are not reimbursed by Dutch health insurance — which is why there is no referral requirement and no waiting list.
How often can we meet in person in Amsterdam?
Sessions can take place weekly or bi-weekly at the Amsterdam studio on Sarphatistraat 14, which is the main location for Ontara Therapy. We will agree on a consistent schedule during your free introductory call based on what fits your rhythm.
Are sessions available in English?
Yes — sessions are held in English or Slovene. Most of the people I work with in Amsterdam are internationals who would rather not work in Dutch, particularly when the subject is identity and belonging. The vocabulary you think in tends to be the one you need.
What does it cost?
Individual sessions are 50 minutes at €125. Couples sessions are 75 minutes at €165 or 90 minutes at €195. In-person and online sessions cost the same, and every first step is a free 15-minute introductory call with no obligation to continue.
Can I mix in-person and online sessions?
Yes. Many clients here choose a flexible blend of in-person sessions at Sarphatistraat and secure video sessions when travelling or working remotely. Switching formats does not interrupt our therapeutic work.
Do you offer therapy for expats in Amsterdam?
Yes. My work with expats in Amsterdam includes relocation, loneliness, belonging and identity. I see individuals and couples in English or Slovene, either online or in person at Sarphatistraat 14.
Book a session in Amsterdam
The first step is a free 15-minute introductory call — no preparation needed, and no obligation to continue. We will talk about what brings you to therapy, answer your questions, and arrange a time that suits you in person or online.
Book a Free 15-Minute Introductory Call