About me

I am a psychology consultant, graduated magna cum laude from the NTI Hogeschool in Leiden, Netherlands. I am a big fan of Nick Seluk’s “Heart and Brain” cartoons. To me, it is essential to make both Heart and Brain my strong side in therapy.

On the side of the heart, I make empathy and acceptance my number one in everything I do. Many clients tell me that they have finally found a place where they can share their story without fear of being judged. I take pride in being that therapist who really listens. I do not listen to give advice; instead, I listen to deeply understand you and where you come from. My attention is not only on your words, but also on how you say them. This way, together, we can listen in, and found out what things really mean to you.

Some psychologists can let you talk on and on, without getting to the core of the issue. They focus on what you think or how you should act. I try to have an integrative approach and learn not only how you think and act, but also how you feel. When we can have a conversation with your feeling and sensations, we can make a deeper impact on mind, heart, and body.

On the brain side of things, I have done my internship at an internationally acclaimed neuropsychology practice in Spain. There, I got acquainted with integrative techniques such as EMDR and neurofeedback. This fed my passion for neuroscience and psychotherapy. This experience made that I earned several extra certificates in existential counselling, medical neuroscience, QEEG and neurofeedback, among others. At the moment, I am earning my Master’s in clinical neuropsychology and a European postgraduate in integrative humanistic psychotherapy. At the same time, I am clinical director of two neurofeedback clinics and have my own psychology practice.

In neurofeedback as well as in psychotherapy, I have specialised in trauma-sensitive approaches. This means I work a lot with issues such as chronic stress, anxiety, depression, and I help people find their path towards personal growth. To read more about how I work, make sure to read my values below.

“The curious paradox is when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.” – Carl Rogers

 

Empathy and acceptance are number one in everything I do. The first thing I want to provide for my clients is a safe space where they can express their feelings. Accepting and validating the client’s feelings will help the client accept them as well. An accepting approach can reduce shame and guilt, increase confidence, and train self-compassion. It allows for the emotional pain to be explored, processed and resolved.  For me, unconditional warmth and acceptance are not only my attitude towards my clients. They are also a way of living. I believe that consistently searching for the best in yourself and in others can make for more meaningful relationships and ultimately a happier, more peaceful world. Once my clients integrate this empathy and acceptance for themselves, they can become their own therapist, and they don’t need me anymore.

 

Non-directive

 

“It is the client who knows what hurts, what direction to go, what problems are crucial, what experiences have been deeply buried.” – Carl Rogers

 

Being focused on empathy and acceptance has taught me to see every individual’s uniqueness. Being genuinely empathetic and accepting, means I can see my client as a unique person with a unique story.  As I see my client with an open mind, as I really listen to them, I cannot fit them in a box, and I see them only as themselves. Accepting the uniqueness of my client means there is no “one size fits all” treatment for them. I refrain from giving advice, as what is true for me or what works for someone else may not be true for you. Instead, we will try and listen in, explore existing options together, and discover what feels best to you alone. Non-directiveness means you are the expert about yourself, I am just here to bring you in touch with the expert and help you listen.

 

Personal growth

 

“Knowing others is intelligence. Knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power” – Lao Tzu

 

Just like you cannot pull on a plant’s leaves to make it grow, personal growth cannot be forced. However, we can investigate which setting will make sure to keep you motivated. A plant needs the right soil and care. Maybe you need specific circumstances, a good plan, the right mindset, and people around you to achieve your goals. Even though it cannot be forced, personal growth is an essential aspect of well-being in our Western civilization. When physical and social needs are met, people feel an intense craving for achieving higher goals and becoming their best selves. In this process, I will be my client’s assistant in exploring which needs they have, and which dreams they want to make come true.

 

Based on evidence & neuroscience

 

“Evidence-based practice refers to the use of outcome research about the effectiveness of different techniques to select therapeutic interventions.”

 

For me, working evidence-based is paramount. I see it as my responsibility to guide my client towards the approach that is going to be most efficient for him or her. In this exploration, I keep many things in mind, such as the client’s preference and personality, but also their history and symptoms. Next to client factors, we need to find the best match in terms of cost efficiency but also long-term results. Great tools for those decisions are academic literature and neuroscientific research. Theoretical neuroscience means I can offer excellent psychoeducation, based on the latest information on how your brain works. Applied neuroscience means I can offer psychophysiological reporting to my clients. For example, I can use QEEG to investigate how your brain in particular responds to stress and which type of intervention would suit you best. Besides, client-centred therapy is recognised as an evidence-based approach.

Privacy

 

Finally, a key area in psychology is your privacy. Whatever is said in the therapy room stays between us. As a therapist, I make a priority of protecting my client’s sensitive data. I am fully compliant with the strictest rules of the new GDPR law. For example, online therapy sessions are conducted through heavily encrypted platforms. Next to that, I feel that protecting your privacy is very closely related to my values of empathy and respect. If you need me to share any data with a doctor or family member, I will only do so with your written permission. Between my psychotherapy and neuroscience activities, I have consulted with renowned GDPR specialists to always guarantee your privacy.