Questions and answers
Short answers to the questions people ask most often before they book: languages, countries, cost, time zones and privacy.
Is there a Persian-speaking psychologist offering online therapy in the Netherlands?
Yes. Ala Sharifi is a psychologist based in the Netherlands who works online, in Persian and English. Sessions are held by video call and last 50 minutes, and a session can move between the two languages whenever that helps.
Can I have sessions in Farsi if I live in Germany, Belgium or Sweden?
Yes. Clients can currently join sessions from Germany, Belgium and Sweden, and also from the Netherlands, Canada, France, Spain, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. Sessions can be in Persian (Farsi), in English, or in both. The list of countries is still being confirmed.
How much does a session cost?
A 50-minute session costs €95, and 4 prepaid sessions cost €340. The introductory call is free. You pay when you book, and the price shown is the price you pay. These prices are not final yet.
Do you work with adults only?
Individual therapy is for adults. Parent consultation and parent training are for parents, and are held without the child present. There is also support for adolescents, arranged together with a parent or carer. Who the practice works with is still being confirmed.
Is the first call free?
Yes. The 15-minute introductory call is free, and no payment details are needed to book it. It is a short conversation to see whether the work is a good fit; it is not a therapy session.
What happens with time zones?
Appointment times are shown in your own time zone, which you choose when you book, and the zone is always named beside the time. The practice keeps its calendar on Central European Time, and every time is checked against that calendar before it is offered to you.
Where is my data held?
Your account information — your contact details, appointments, payments and messages — is held within the European Union. The account does not hold clinical notes or session recordings. Card details go to the payment provider and are never held by the practice.
Can we switch between Persian and English during a session?
Yes. Sessions can move between Persian and English whenever that helps, including within a single session. You do not need to choose a language in advance; it is worth saying in the first session which feels easier for which subjects.
Which video service is used for sessions?
Sessions are held online by video call (currently Google Meet), and you join from your account. A Join button appears in your account shortly before the session starts. The video provider is not yet confirmed.
How do I book a session?
Choose a service and a time at alasharifi.com/book, enter your details and pay; the appointment is confirmed once the payment succeeds. Booking also creates your account, where your appointments, receipts and messages are kept. If you are not sure yet, you can start with the free 15-minute introductory call.
What if I need to cancel or move a session?
You can cancel or reschedule from your account up to 24 hours before the session starts; after that, it can no longer be changed online. A session cancelled in time is kept as a credit for another booking, and you can ask for it to be refunded instead. These rules are not final yet.
Will I get a receipt?
Yes. A receipt is available in your account as soon as payment succeeds. Every payment has its own receipt, which you can keep for your own records or submit to an insurer yourself.
Can I claim the cost on my health insurance?
No insurance claims are handled by the practice, because it is a private practice. You receive a receipt for every payment, and you can submit it to your insurer yourself where your policy allows it.
What do people come to therapy for?
People come with many different things, for example anxiety and panic, low mood, ADHD symptoms, self-criticism, perfectionism and burnout, adjustment and migration, and relationships. These describe the kind of work, not a diagnosis, and you do not need to choose one before you book.