Are you interested in how healthcare is delivered in Belgium? Or are you a health professional who has heard of Evidence-Based Practice but never really understood what it means? Then this article is for you!
Have you ever come across the term EBP? It stands for Evidence-Based Practice. If we translate it literally, it means “practice based on evidence”. Here’s how the Belgian Federal Public Service of Health defines it:
“The conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of the best recent scientific evidence when making decisions about the care of individual patients.”
In short, it’s about using the best available scientific research when offering a treatment. The goal of EBP is to improve the quality of care and avoid wasting the patient’s time, energy, or money with ineffective treatments—or worse, treatments that could worsen their symptoms or condition.
Today in Belgium, care is increasingly becoming personalised: professionals consider each person’s story, values, desires, and expectations. Care is also becoming more collaborative: patients are no longer passive recipients but active partners. They express their preferences, participate in decisions, and choose what suits them best. Finally, treatments are no longer based only on intuition or habits, but on strong scientific evidence—offering care that is both human and effective.
EBP is supported by three main pillars:
These three elements are like the three legs of a stool: if one is missing, everything becomes unbalanced. They are equally important and work together to build something strong and stable.
When we talk about evidence-based care, we often highlight those three core components—scientific research, professional experience, and patient preferences. But there is a fourth crucial element that is sometimes forgotten: the context. That is, the real-world environment in which care is delivered. Each country, region, or health service has its own constraints, resources, and practical realities.
Health professionals don’t work in an ideal world—they must navigate what is realistically possible.
For instance:
So, EBP is not a rigid protocol—it is a flexible approach that aims to offer the safest and most effective care, based on scientific evidence, while also adapting to each individual and their context.
Now that we’ve defined EBP, let’s look at its place in Belgian healthcare.
Since the early 2000s, the Belgian government has been working to integrate Evidence-Based Practice into the heart of its healthcare system. A major turning point came with the creation of the Evikey Network in 2018. This project was funded by the Belgian Federal Public Service of Health and the NIHDI (National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance).
The Evikey Network brings together professionals and experts with one mission: ensuring that healthcare across Belgium is based on solid scientific evidence. Their goal is to help caregivers—doctors, psychologists, nurses, etc.—provide high-quality, effective, patient-centred care.
How do they do it?
Now that we’ve explored what EBP is and how it applies in Belgium, let’s talk about group-based approaches in mental health—namely, group therapy and peer support groups. Are these approaches considered Evidence-Based? In other words, do scientific studies support their effectiveness?
First, let’s clarify the difference between group therapy and support groups.
Group therapy is led by a trained mental health professional, such as a psychologist. It follows a clear structure and aims to help participants understand the roots of their challenges, emotions, and behaviours. The therapist may guide discussions or offer exercises to help participants move forward.
Support groups, on the other hand, are often more informal and peer-led. They are typically facilitated by people who have experienced the same issue. These groups offer a safe space for sharing, listening, and mutual support. While they don’t follow a structured therapeutic framework, the power of peer support plays an essential role.
These two approaches are different, but they can be complementary. A support group can help people feel understood, while group therapy allows for deeper therapeutic work.
Many people wonder if simply talking in a group with others who share their experiences can truly help. The answer is yes—and it’s not just a feeling. Science backs it up.
For example, an international study by Zhang, Li, and Hu published in Patient Education and Counseling in 2022 reviewed 17 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving cancer support groups. This type of study is called a meta-analysis, which means it combines data from multiple high-quality studies to get a broad overview.
The findings? Participants who took part in support groups reported feeling less lonely, less anxious, less sad, and had a better quality of life than those who did not participate in such groups.
DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2022.07.008
Another meta-analysis and systematic review led by Natasha Lyons and colleagues (2021, BMC Psychiatry) examined the impact of peer support groups for people with mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. The review included 2,131 participants across multiple RCTs. It found that peer-led support groups had modest but positive effects on participants’ sense of personal recovery—including hope, self-esteem, and a feeling of agency in their lives.
However, the same review did not find strong evidence for symptom reduction (like lessening anxiety or depression directly). The authors concluded that peer support groups show promising effects but that more high-quality research is needed to make definitive recommendations. Still, they are considered a meaningful option—especially when well-structured and supervised.
In short: support groups do not replace medical treatment or therapy, but they can be a valuable part of someone’s care journey, providing emotional relief, connection, and encouragement.
For a long time, individual therapy was seen as the gold standard—but today, group therapies are well-studied and widely recognised as effective.
Take for example a large meta-analysis by Schwartze and colleagues (2020, Journal of Society for Psychotherapy Research), which examined 57 RCTs involving 3,656 participants with anxiety disorders.
Their findings showed that group therapy significantly reduced anxiety symptoms compared to no treatment—and was just as effective as individual therapy.
Link to study
Another study from 2019 by Schwartze, Barkowski, and others looked at group therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They analysed 20 RCTs involving 2,244 participants. The conclusion was clear: group therapy significantly reduced PTSD symptoms and was just as effective as other individual treatments.
Link to study
So yes—group therapies can absolutely be considered an evidence-based treatment for a wide range of psychological issues. Meta-analyses show that they are generally more effective than no treatment and as effective as individual therapy for many conditions. Like all therapies, their effectiveness varies depending on individual needs, the group setting, and the quality of facilitation.
Now you know a bit more about what Evidence-Based Practice means. It’s an approach to care that considers the best scientific evidence, the clinical expertise of providers, the preferences and values of patients, and the real-world context in which care happens.
And here’s one key takeaway: group therapy is indeed validated by research. Large scientific studies involving thousands of participants have shown that therapeutic groups can be just as effective as individual therapy—for treating anxiety, trauma, and many other mental health conditions.
Support groups also show positive outcomes. They may not be a substitute for clinical treatment, but they offer real emotional relief, break isolation, and help people feel supported during hard times.
So getting support in a group setting is not a second-best option. It’s a real, human, evidence-backed therapeutic approach—and often a very powerful one.
If you’re looking for a support group or therapy group that fits your needs, check out our directory of active groups in Belgium and online. You’ll find spaces tailored to different needs, topics, and languages.
