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 English and Persian. 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, the UK, the US or another country?
Yes. Sessions are online, so you can join from Germany, the UK, the US or other countries. Sessions can be in English, in Persian (Farsi), or in both.
How much does a session cost?
The Pricing page sets out every price, per session. The introductory call is free. You pay when you book, and the price shown is the price you pay.
Is there a student rate?
Yes. If you are a student, you can ask for the student rate from your account, with a short note if you like. Ala looks at each request herself, and once she approves it, the student rate applies to the sessions you book or buy from then on. A fixed weekly session already running keeps the price it started with.
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.
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 English and Persian during a session?
Yes. Sessions can move between English and Persian whenever that helps, including within a single session. You don't have to decide in advance, as there will be flexibility within each session.
Which video service is used for sessions?
Sessions take place on Google Meet. All you need is a Google (Gmail) account. The session opens in your browser, and the Join button in your account becomes active 10 minutes before the start time.
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 moved, and cancelling it uses the session. A session cancelled in time is kept as a stored session for another booking, valid for 6 months, and you can ask for it to be refunded instead; for a week of a fixed weekly session cancelled at least 24 hours in advance, the session fee will be deducted from next month’s payment, not kept as a stored session.
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 ADHD symptoms, anxiety and panic, depression, relationships with others, coping with life changes, low mood, self-criticism, perfectionism and burnout, adjustment and migration, fear of abandonment, and attachment difficulties. These describe the kind of work, not a diagnosis, and you do not need to choose one before you book.
I’ve noticed some signs of ADHD in myself. How can you help?
In our sessions, we can start by talking about what you are experiencing and how it affects your daily life, work, studies, or relationships. If helpful, I can carry out an ADHD screening to explore whether these difficulties may be related to ADHD. If the screening suggests that a fuller assessment would be useful, I can refer you to an appropriate specialist for a formal diagnosis. Whatever the outcome, we can work together to better understand the patterns causing difficulty and find practical ways to manage them.
I feel exhausted, overwhelmed, and unable to switch off. Could this be burnout, and how can you help?
Burnout often builds gradually. It can leave you feeling constantly drained, irritable, emotionally distant, or unable to manage things that once felt simple. In our sessions, we explore what has been wearing you down and how it is affecting your work, relationships, and daily life. Together, we work on reducing the pressure, rebuilding your energy, setting healthier boundaries, and finding a more sustainable way forward. You do not have to wait until everything falls apart before asking for support.