we listen
Group discussions and individual counselling
The individual counselling provided by Choices is a collaborative process. It involves drawing up a care plan, with your agreed goals and results, between you and the psychologist. We are the coaches who help you on your way to the agreed-upon solutions. If necessary, we help you find the best mental health or drug treatment services based on your personal needs. Individual counselling is available at our office, and online. We also meet with our members who live in the Amsterdam AZC. We understand that not everyone has a laptop or computer or the money to travel to us every week.
Our weekly support group with cooking class is designed to build a new social network of like-minded people who can support each other in making new lifestyle changes. The social support group is about meeting others who, like you, have the power to integrate healthier choices into your daily activities. Each week we focus on new themes. Sometimes with guest speakers. Each 12-week group cycle also has a cooking class. That's right a cooking class to learn how to cook healthy meals on a limited budget. We know how difficult it can be to manage a budget and eat well. Our cooking class led by a nutritionist will show you how! To make it even more interesting, you can bring your partner or best friend to support you
Sign up using the form below
Personal assistance
When life gets tough and you can't take it anymore, we can help. We understand that many people use drugs or do other things to cope with the pressures of life. However, using drugs or alcohol to cope with the pressure can cause other problems, and can have a negative impact on your personal goals and well-being. Not many people feel the need for treatment and only want support with a plan to minimise or resolve the problems associated with drug use. At Choices, we work together to create a plan that works best for you. In practice, we see that people stop quickly when they decide to start treatment and do not know whether they need treatment or perhaps they are not yet ready for treatment.
Choices @ AZC
In the past year, many organisations, including Choices, have started online counselling and group services. However, what many organisations forgot is that not everyone has a laptop or a computer. Nor does everyone have the financial means to travel from the AZC to the centre of Amsterdam every week.
That is why Choices comes directly to you in the AZC and offers you the support that you need. Every Monday our psychologist will meet with you in the AZC Amsterdam. For others who live outside Amsterdam and would like to participate in our services, and do not own a computer or laptop, we offer metro assistance to travel to our office.
Social support group
Now is a perfect time to get to know your interests, beliefs and yourself better. With museums, restaurants, theaters, bars and clubs open, now is the perfect time to meet new people. Our social support group helps you develop a positive social network around you and get help integrating into the queer community and Dutch society. Each week you can stay involved in activities you feel comfortable with. Choices social support and building skills group offers you a wonderful opportunity to express your feelings, voice your opinions and learn about the many things available to you. There are no boundaries for you and everyone accepts you as you are.
Sign up here
Sign up here for our group or individual sessions at our office or online. Registration is without obligation and FREE.
After registering to join our groups, you will receive a confirmation email. Once you have registered to attend the online groups you will receive a zoom meeting link in your confirmation email.
Please note that due to COVID-19 regulations, the groups at our office have a limited capacity of 5 people so that the 1.5m social distacing is ensured. Once 5 people have signed up, subsequent registrants will receive a zoom meeting link in order to participate online.
However, we will do everything we can to accommodate everyone. For questions you can always call or email us.
We are happy to share the best choices
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Been there, Done that, Should have known
Jason told inspiring stories about his vision and own experiences, as Americans often do, but also repeatedly asked me the critical question why I wrote my book VERNEUKT! I think we can help more people faster if the subject of chems and sex becomes a more accessible topic of conversation and the persistent secrecy and stigmas are broken. The most important starting point of the personal counselling and discussion groups at Choices is to surround yourself (again) with a network of people who support you in taking healthier decisions. It is precisely this social aspect that is healing for many users and former users, but at the same time the emptiness, fear and insecurity that you feel when you leave the world that you used to trust, but which is rotten, is so paralysing that you sink even further into your isolation or.... relapse. Been there, done that. -
Participant lunchtime session
I would like to thank Choices for everything they have done for me. I found my first evening in particular very special. Before I came to you I spoke to Hans on the telephone. Due to coronagraphs I was unable to come to the location, but Hans made it possible with great effort that I could. I really appreciate that, because due to my private circumstances I really needed personal contact. When I arrived, Hans was waiting for me at the front door. He introduced himself and introduced me to Thomas. There were a few other people present online. In the session, open stories were told and people listened to each other. Many good questions were asked, which made me look at the situation in a different way. The hour flew by and it helped me a lot in a difficult time.
Choose a better lifestyle!
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