This is an excerpt from a poem that my Grandmother shared with me as a young girl. It made a great impression on me but at the same time I never really understood it. Now, as a mother, these words often come to my mind. In happy and in struggling times they make me aware of the gratefulness I feel for being part of the life of my three children.

For me parenting is an ongoing learning path. As a mother of three kids I have faced many different situations for which I had to find solutions. And books did not always have the straight-forward answer for my specific situation. I felt a need to talk to someone who could listen and coach me to find the right-fit solution for my family.

While working in a Children’s Psychiatric Institution I became aware of the impact parents really have on the development and happiness of their children. As much as I tried to help children deal with certain problems, if their parents were not supportive and collaborating, there was unfortunately little progress visible. This realization, in combination with my own path into motherhood, motivated me to focus on parenting. I want to help parents become the best parents they can be, so that children will optimally thrive and parents are able to enjoy the parenting journey!

Coaching Expertise

As a PCI Certified Parent Coach I have had an extensive one-year graduate-level training after which I have been coaching parents since 2012. My own experience as a mother, dealing with learning difficulties, sibling rivalry, with cultural change and adjustment through living abroad has made me into an experienced Parent Coach and Educator. I have taught many Parenting Classes over the past years, incorporating the Positive Discipline approach and How to Talk to Kids method into my parenting philosophy. On top of that I have done extensive research on Screen Technology and searched how to find the best balance with screens and devices at home.

Coaching Approach

As a coach I am genuinely devoted to make a difference in people’s lives. I want to make a meaningful connection with the people I coach. With a combination of warmth and challenge I ask a lot of questions. Co-actively, I will work together with you, helping you to find new strategies that fit your family and your children. You are the expert of your family while I have my expertise in Parenting, Psychology and Parent Coaching. My goal is to make you aware of what your dreams are, and to empower you in how you can achieve these. 

Qualifications

My foundation is a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Utrecht in The Netherlands. I have a graduate degree in PCI Parent Coaching through the Parent Coaching Institute and Seattle University, with a focus on Appreciative Inquiry, the concept of self-care, the Living Systems Principle and influence of Technology (our external parent). On top of that I have a Positive Discipline Educator Certification, an MBTI and FIRO Certification and I am a ‘How to Talk to Kids’ facilitator. 

Personal Background

My family consists of my husband, our 3 children, ages 14, 12 and 9 and our dog. I have the Dutch nationality and have lived in France, Sweden, and the USA (Denver and Chicago). Last summer we moved back to the Netherlands after having lived in Chicago for 3 years. I speak fluent Dutch and English.

Testimonials