Reviews
Zoi (33)
I was struggling with health-related symptoms of burn-out. I felt an irregular heartbeat, couldn’t sleep or eat properly and felt frustrated, anxious, chaotic, and not able to concentrate or make decisions. I felt desperate that I wouldn’t be able to deal with my struggles.
Yet, I overcame my problems with Carolien: I felt better and recovering from my health problems by the 3rd session. I started finding myself again. I got unlocked and I saw a light at the end of the tunnel, which made me feel stronger and stronger.
I experienced Carolien really positively. She could recognize my needs and struggles each time. I got encouraged a lot. She has a calm and decisive tone of voice. She guided me to focus on one thing at the time, keeps me grounded and has the knowledge. She gave me practical tools to calm myself down when feeling stressed or anxious.
I’m taking care of myself more. I’ve learned that my feelings and body reactions are real signs. I feel more confident to express my thoughts and feelings, think in a more positive perspective and look for solutions. Since our sessions, I also stepped out of my comfort zone and travelled solo for the first time!
The fact that Carolien knows the working culture in the Netherlands better than me, helped me. She could relate with me through her own personal past experiences, which made me feel safe to open up, to talk and express my emotions.
Javier (27)
I’m a Spanish (self-proclaimed) digital nomad, so I can work while I travel. I’ve thought about getting a therapist or coach for a long time, but never had the courage to do it. Despite my constant skepticism, I still see improvement during and after my 6 sessions with Carolien.
I suffered from brain fog, both in business and social situations. I therefore wanted to become mentally sharp again and regain my self-confidence. During and since the sessions I actually feel like I have more control and as if I have taken a big step forward towards better communication. Carolien suggested that I could use an anchor as a reminder to help me focus.
To my own surprise, I see that this works for me. Through Carolien’s coaching I have learned that word choice, our mental willpower and willingness to solve a problem matter a lot. Carolien did a good job of laying a foundation that I felt comfortable with her and didn’t feel like I talked too much or was boring. She took my input seriously and picked up on details I gave through little comments.
Laura (Canada)
“The first Dutch person I’ve met that I feel that really is kind, understanding and willing to help me. I just arrived in the Netherlands. This gives me hope”
Agnieszka (Poland)
“Carolien is doing a very good job as a mental coach. I don’t feel judged, which makes me feel very comfortable. She’s giving me the words I’m looking for to describe my problems and open up”
Melati (Malaysia)
“I felt really understood and listened to by Carolien. It’s good to get a reality check from a professional to be more gentle with myself, as I set the bar high”
Reinaldo (Portugal)
“It was my first time talking to a professional about my problems, such as social anxiety that I experience in general, which also shows since I arrived in the Netherlands. It’s very nice to know she has so much international experience.”
Raquel (Brazil)
“It’s nice to know and feel that Carolien really cares about us expats in the Netherlands”
Shūfēn (Taiwan)
“I’ve seen two Dutch psychologists. This is the best intake I’ve had so far. Carolien really understands.”
Lara (Germany)
“I aimed to be able to work more consciously and proactively on my thesis and other work that needed to be done. Through this process I learned that I can change my behavior, that it is okay to get distracted and take a break every now and then, but also how to get back on track.
I learned to look at the moments when my concentration decreases and when I start to get distracted. I also learned to look at things more positively, instead of focusing on what went wrong. I now also look at the things that are going well.
I have come closer to my goals. It did not always go perfectly, but I was able to recognize where my difficulties lay. I noticed more where I could still improve and where things were already going well. With a more positive outlook it was easier and I was more motivated to work on my goals.
The sessions with Carolien were a positive experience. She was always friendly and encouraging. I felt heard and comfortable sharing my problems and successes with her. I felt that she was very committed to helping me, which made me feel safe to talk to her. She was always on time and the agreements we made were clear. I felt treated equally by her, we could talk freely.
She made sure and made it clear that I am the one who can change my situation and encouraged me to be proactive. Carolien did not answer my questions, but asked me questions, which made me more aware and checked my own way of thinking with myself. This allowed me to reformulate my questions in such a way that I could answer them myself. By reformulating my own thoughts I was able to think more critically about my own behavior.”
Stijnar (26)
This was my first coaching trajectory. I had moved to a new city and was struggling with social contacts. During the trajectory with Carolien, I experienced that it works well for me to talk about things that I am struggling with.
I now discuss my problems with my family more quickly and I now know that I can take time to figure things out for myself. I have learned to go from thinking too much to feeling, doing and showing initiative more. And if something makes me feel good, I just have to take the step. It feels good to no longer stand still, but to take steps.
I have now registered with a rugby club and have more contact with new and old friends.
Carolien focuses on how to achieve things. She lets me choose my own path, both during our conversations and outside of them. She adopts a neutral attitude and asks a lot about my feelings, instead of assuming what my head is stuck on. This worked very well for me.
Tatiana (Russia)
“Carolien says it’s okay and normal what I’m struggling with, she can help you on a personal level, which also makes you thrive more professionally at work”
