In a statement that was sent on November 18th 2025 to the board members of BFP (Belgian Federation of Psychologists; https://www.bfp-fbp.be/ ), VVKP (Vlaamse Vereniging voor Klinisch Psychologen) communicated its decision to vote for the dissolvement of BFP at the upcoming general assembly of December 15th 2025. With this letter, BAPS (Belgian Association for Psychological Sciences; https://www.baps.be/ ), as a member of the BFP, wishes to respond to a number of issues that were raised or not addressed in the statement.

First, the VVKP statement incorrectly implies that BFP still builds on the traditional four sectors in psychology, one of which is said to be experimental psychology. This ignores the fact that BAPS is an organization for the whole of psychological science, including research that is not based on the experimental method. This is reflected in the current BFP statutes in which the four traditional sectors are not listed.

Second, BAPS is surprised by the fact that psychological science is not even mentioned in the section of the VVKP position on the evolution of the landscape of psychology in Belgium. BAPS views psychological science as a core shared interest for all professional psychologists in Belgium who aim to act on a scientific basis (e.g., evidence-based clinical practice requires scientific research). From this perspective, BAPS is also surprised that VVKP considers school psychology to be predominantly a part of clinical psychology whereas work and organization psychology is considered to be so different from clinical psychology that there is barely any joint professional content or shared interest. In addition to a shared basis in psychological science, BAPS sees much overlap between different psychological professions in terms of goals (e.g., improving health and well-being of individuals) and methods (e.g., measurement of psychological traits) while recognizing that there are differences in the context in which these professions operate. Downplaying these communalities will damage psychology, including clinical psychology.

Third, BAPS is surprised by the lack of discussion of the landscape of psychology in Europe. Psychology in Belgium needs to be part of the development of the field and its regulations at the European level, especially in these volatile times in which science and science-based professions are under threat. This is currently achieved via BFP by representing Belgian psychologists within EFPA (i.e., European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations; https://www.efpa.eu/ ). This representation needs to continue, and needs to include BAPS (as well as the other associations which are part of BFP).

Fourth, in the VVKP statement, BFP is referred to as a structure that absorbs means and energy. BAPS wishes to point out that during the past five years, its representatives have carried much of the workload in terms of the daily governance of BFP. As we informed the BFP board in an email sent on November 18th 2025 some hours before VVKP sent its statement, BAPS remains committed to supporting BFP as a lightweight organization and has identified a potential new president for BFP. Although further streamlining is possible, BAPS considers BFP to be a cost-efficient organization in which operational costs (about 1500 euro) and administrative burden (e.g., only 4 board meetings per year) have already been minimized.

Finally, BAPS shares with VVKP a positive outlook on the future in which strong, independent professional organizations in psychology collaborate. BAPS sees BFP as a platform to facilitate this collaboration and to jointly represent these organizations at the international level.

The BAPS Executive Committee, November 26th 2025