Not satisfied with your therapist? Here's what you can do.
If you are not satisfied with your therapist, there can be various causes: the treatment itself, the way you are treated, the fee or a bill, your file or privacy, or possibly inappropriate behavior. The guide above helps you determine, through a few questions, which route best suits your situation.
Step 1: Discuss it with your therapist
In the vast majority of cases, a conversation with your therapist will resolve the complaint. If you are unsure whether this is advisable, for example in the case of boundary-crossing behavior, this does not always have to be the first step.
Step 2: contact the NFG secretariat or the National Healthcare Reporting Center.
If you cannot resolve the issue with your therapist, please contact the NFG secretariat via the contact form, or with the National Healthcare Reporting Center. Both will think along with you for free about the next steps to take if you are not satisfied with your therapist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to talk to my therapist first before filing a complaint? In most cases, this is advisable, but not mandatory. If you feel unsafe, you can also choose to contact the NFG secretariat or the National Healthcare Reporting Centre directly.
Is this guide legal advice? No, this guide is a tool and not legal advice. If you are unsure about your situation, please contact us so that you can receive personal advice.
What if my complaint is about money or a bill? You can also contact your therapist regarding complaints about rates, bills, or a charged cancellation, and the NFG secretariat if you are unable to resolve the matter together.
Why a complaints route is important
The NFG considers it important that clients know what they can do if they are dissatisfied with their therapist. A clear complaints procedure ensures that problems are resolved as quickly as possible and contributes to trust in NFG-registered therapists in general. Therefore, the NFG offers an independent right of complaints to all its members.
What happens after filing a complaint?
After submitting a complaint, it is carefully reviewed, taking into account both your side of the story and that of your therapist. Depending on the nature of the complaint, this may lead to mediation, a formal process, or advice on next steps. Also read the frequently asked questions from clients for more background.
Do not wait too long to raise a complaint: the sooner you take action, the easier it is often to resolve a situation, both for you and your therapist.
Print or save the outcome of the roadmap as a PDF so that you can reread it or discuss it with someone close to you before taking the next step.
You are not alone if you are dissatisfied with your therapist: both the NFG and the National Healthcare Complaints Centre are happy to help you find a solution.
This way, even if you are not satisfied with your therapist, you can still take the next step with confidence, knowing that there are various parties that can support you in doing so.
This information is intended to supplement, and not replace, personalized, tailored advice.
So please feel free to contact us if you are unsure about the route to follow, even if you do not yet know exactly how you want to formulate your complaint.
Every report is taken seriously.
This way, the threshold for reporting something remains as low as possible for anyone who is dissatisfied with their therapist.
Thank you for reading this information.
Good luck with the process.
Kind regards, the NFG.
Finally: whatever the nature of your complaint, the NFG would like to hear about it, because only in this way can the quality of care within the register be further improved for all clients and therapists together.
Are you dissatisfied with your therapist? Here's how to handle it.
If you are not satisfied with your therapist, it is advisable to discuss this directly with them first; an open conversation often resolves many issues. If you remain dissatisfied with your therapist, you can make use of the independent complaints procedure of the NFG.
What can I do if I remain dissatisfied with your therapist, even after a session?
Then file a formal complaint with the NFG so that an independent complaints officer can assess your situation.
Many clients who are dissatisfied with your therapist appreciate the opportunity to first have an informal discussion with the secretariat before filing an official complaint.
