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I was born and raised in the Netherlands. I feel that the continuing theme in my life is that I keep looking for inner and outer freedom. Going back to my childhood, I remember being 12 years old and laying out the plans for my life. (I still remember where I sat, the promises I made to myself.) I decided that I didn't want to be confined in one job, one village etc. I wanted to be free to explore the world and myself. And that is what happened. In 1995, after years of extensive travel and sailing (South America, the Pacific Ocean, Europe) and study (culture, journalism, nursing and healing) and working as a professional in these various fields, I settled in California. Studying the Shadow side in ourselves was a logical next step for me because of my continuing 'search for freedom'. The question is: how do we free ourselves from the inner blocks and limitations that keep us stuck in having a certain life, acting out certain habits, meeting a certain kind of people over and over again? I have come to believe and understand that freedom is being and loving who we truly are and working with that. No beating up on ourselves anymore! No condemning ourselves, labeling ourselves as wrong or inept. Or as Carl Jung said: "We cannot change anything unless we accept it. Condemnation does not liberate, it oppresses. Acceptance of oneself is the essence of the problem and the acid test on one's whole outlook on life." It is after the acceptance that we can make another choice. A choice in the way we think, in our perceptions, in our habits of reacting. I found these ideas reflected in the training I received at the Debbie Ford Institute at JFK University in California, and I see their importance for all human beings. Thus, I became a Master in the Integrative Coaching. I do realize that it takes courage and devotion to look at ourselves, and that it isn't always easy, especially when we are in the middle of a transformational process that leads us to our true potential. Therefore, I honestly feel honored when coaching-- to be with people who want to connect with their authenticity, who want to own more of who they truly are! And, the 'reward' is so big.That we feel that we are living a fullfilled life, firmly and lovingly connected to ourselves and our own inner wisdom. That can have a tremendous effect on our life and on the lives of the people around us. It certainly has on mine. I love this work, getting to your own inner wisdom and making empowering choices, so much so that I became a Divorce Coach as well. (An Integrative Coach in the Spiritual Divorce.)Assisting people who want to get through the pain of a divorce, or a separation, who need to heal after a loss or a death. We can use this loss to heal our wounds. We can reclaim power and joy and freedom! It is amazing to uncover the stories we use to fit into a partnership, into the society and to see how we operate based on fundamental beliefs that are hidden in our subconscious (who would know?) It is wonderful to feel ourselves shift from the victim in any way or form into an empowered person. It is so liberating to look at all that we hide from the world and ourselves, and to carefully explore it with a trusted coach so we may only use it when we need it! The effect of this work on our children, our loved ones and our communities is visible. Everybody is happier. That moves me. I used to think that if I did inner work, I would be done after a while and my life would be perfect. I don't think that way anymore. Resistence and blocks are part of living. Really, they are the doorways to more understanding and more freedom or more love. So instead of being annoyed with them, denying them, distracting myself from them, I now welcome them. I find the courage to deal with the feelings over and over again. I never get tired of challenging myself. I am willing to change, grow, and learn rather than holding on my established beliefs and practices. Now, I know what to do with blocks and with myself:Shadow work, Integrative Coaching has taught me the tools. And I will show them to you, too. And seeing what I run into (in my own life my fear is never far away..) I am truly full of admiration and compassion for anyone willing to look at themselves. Therefore, I always strive to make these coaching sessions as safe as possible. Why not contact me? Coaching is available in English and Dutch.
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