Question 1

Do I need therapy?

Accepted Answer

Perhaps. Let's explore that possibility together.

Do you feel you could benefit from another person truly hearing you and validating your emotions?
Would you like someone to help you find solutions or resolutions for life patterns you are experiencing that just can't seem to stop?
Do you need someone in your life that is skilled at listening without bias or judgment? Who can help you navigate life's twists and turns and heal from its scars?

If you said yes to any of these questions, then yes, I do believe you would benefit from having a therapist in your corner that will work with you as an advocate, soundboard, cheerleader, and collaborator.

Question 2

What areas of struggle / symptoms / topics can you help with?

Accepted Answer

Clients I work with, and have trained to work with, experience or have experienced:

Depression, loneliness and being 'the other' or the odd one out
Anxiety in all its forms
Relationship difficulties (platonic, familial and romantic relationships of any description and size)
Low self-esteem, low self-worth, low self-love
Stress and the quest for finding balance
Connecting with yourself intimately, connecting with others, and exploring sexual desire whether it is new, not working or never known
Gender identity, presentation and rebellion against the gender boxes
Trauma and abuse
School expectations and work struggles: finding motivation, finding meaning
Developing emotional regulation skills and intelligence

Question 3

How and where will therapy sessions take place?

Accepted Answer

I can offer three options for sessions:

In-person sessions at my private practice located in Utrecht, the Netherlands
Digital sessions via your preferred video platform in any time zone
A flexible mix of in-person and digital sessions to fit into your changing agenda

Question 4

What are your rates? Do you accept insurance?

Accepted Answer

No, I do not work with insurance. I work with clients who pay out-of-pocket. To offer accessible services, I work with an income based sliding scale. See the Services and Rates page for more details.

But the main takeaway about how I have set up my rates? Every client and I discuss and agree upon a rate that fits for the frequency of sessions per month based on one's income. If income goes up or down, we change the rate. If frequency needs to go up or down, we change the rate. Accessibility first, money later.

Question 5

How many therapy sessions do I need / can you offer?

Accepted Answer

Honestly, it depends on what we want to work on and how fast we want to get there.

Some clients seek solutions and strategies, and that could take anywhere from 10-15 sessions. Other clients desire a slower, more contemplative therapeutic path so we could potentially work together for years. This is known as maintenance therapy.

I offer routine weekly sessions, bi-monthly sessions or ad-hoc sessions when needed. I am flexible to fit to your needs and speed.

Sessions are 60 minutes. If you'd prefer to work without the time pressure, 90 minute sessions are also possible. Any sessions with more than one person will be 90 minutes.

Question 6

What are your qualifications and accreditations?

Accepted Answer

Professional Accreditations
I am a registered and active member of the Netherlands Institute of Psychology (NIP; #227012). I am a graduate member of the British Psychological Society (#466577) where I attend courses and trainings to develop and broaden my professional skills.

Education
I hold two master’s degrees: one in Counseling Psychology from Webster University in Leiden, the Netherlands. The other is in Public Health from Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. I also have two bachelor’s degrees: Psychology and Community Health Education.

Work Experience
In addition to my private practice, I have worked a handful of years in Human Resources Management and as a Job Coach for several Dutch and international organizations. From 2016 to 2023, I held the position of Health and Well-Being Counselor for American study abroad students to aid in their cultural adaptation. I have also worked as an HIV and Sexual Health Counselor in the Netherlands and as a Sexual Assault Counselor in the United States.

Training in Therapeutic Techniques
I am trained and proficient in the following therapeutic interventions:
Person-Centered Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Schema Therapy (link is a video)
Narrative Therapy
EMDR

Yearly, I enroll in trainings and courses to deepen my knowledge of existing and new therapeutic techniques and advancements in the scientific field.

Lastly, I work with a clinical supervisor who routinely guides me in my work as a counseling psychologist. I also am an active member of an international therapist intervision group.

Question 7

What is your approach to therapy?

Accepted Answer

Click on the About Me page. You can scroll down and read about a therapeutic lens I use and the five core pillars I have built the structure of my practice on. It's also how I choose to position myself in the professional field (and business) of counseling psychology.

Illuminating our scars in gold