I am an Integrative Counselor, Social and Cultural Anthropologist and Life Coach in Amsterdam. Because I am registered with the Nederlandse Federatie Gezondheidszorg (NFG) and Register Beroepsbeoefenaren Complementaire Zorg (RBCZ) it is possible to get reimbursements from your additional health insurance. I speak Dutch and English.
Having received my license in Integrative Counseling at De Nederlandse Academie voor Psychotherapie in 2018, I have been working as a Life Coach much longer. I have been fascinated by (and working with) people’s narratives, identities and resilience since my studies. In 2009, I graduated at the University of Amsterdam on Resilience among New Orleanians after hurricane Katrina, for which I lived in Louisiana USA for several months. In 2014, I started working as a coach for people with mental health issues in the Netherlands, and in 2015 for people who Acquired Brain Injury specifically. My own practice, for people with a range of mental health issues opened in 2016. Among others, I have seen people who suffered from depression, anxiety, trauma, low self-image, identity problems, coping with severe changes in life, ABI, phase of life problems, and relationship problems.
Among the many courses I followed through the years, are certifications in Positive Psychology, Solution Focused Interviewing, Loss and Bereavement and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
I will listen carefully. There is room for you to ground, feel at ease and I will make sure to understand you well. Whether you feel stuck, disbalanced, anxious, uncomfortable, sad or numb. So that you can tackle your theme, change from within, and achieve continued growth.
My methods derive from the integrative approach, which means that therapy consists of a combination of scientifically proven methods. I will try to connect and provide a positive therapeutic working alliance which is the best predictor of successful treatment and real change. Within therapy, there is not just focus on cognition and behavior as in CBT, but on all life domains, or complex, which includes your emotions or deeper feelings, physical experience, personal meaning and social interaction. We will focus on both your inner world, selves/roles, feelings, dysfunctional inner beliefs and your outer world, practical steps to be taken and lifestyle. There is room to process past events, but even more so look forward. Typical to our sessions are working with images, visualizations to empower your goals or imaginations to integrate past selves. Treatment trajectories are short-term, and consist of 5 to 15 sessions. A session takes one hour.
Clients describe me/my sessions as calm, honest, reliable, realistic, clear inner analyses, listen carefully, understanding, without judging.
I am openminded, have an inquisitive nature, love to travel across the continents and meet all kinds of people. When I was younger, I used to mountaineer. I still love nature and like to take a walk outside for a good conversation, to set my mind at ease or come to new insights. Other roles I fulfill are as portrait photographer, arts/design lover and family woman.
Culturally sensitive, judge free, positive and integrative therapy for Dutch and English-speaking clients online and in practice in Amsterdam.
Overall
Hilke has been my therapist for almost 3 years now. I can barely recognise my life before I started working with her to now - a huge burden is lifted, I have so much more understanding, and my life is so much richer, happier, calmer. You should work with her. She is understanding, highly qualified, intuitive.
Overall
I have been under stress and pressure and Hilke has been a light that I follow for reassurance. She is patient and kind and understanding. Her support is priceless and I am extremely lucky and grateful.
