I help people who frequently stand in the spotlights, to resourcefully address their difficulties
Discrete and expert coaching and therapy
The things you do mean a lot to others. But when you’re overwhelmed, who do you turn to?
I help you rise above your problems. Together we’ll strengthen your resilience.
Public life can be quite demanding. It brings its own challenges. It seems like everybody wants a piece of you. You have to deal with a lot of dirt on social media. You are experiencing pushiness, impertinence. How do you deal with it all?
And apart from that, just like anybody else, you can face personal issues. But you don’t want them writ large in the tabloids. So, you keep them to yourself. Until you reach a breaking point.
Here you’ll find a space where you can address all of this quietly and discreetly, accompanied by an experienced professional.
People from all sorts of backgrounds are seeking help.
They have one thing in common:
The desire to change
You are spotlighted
in Business
You lead a company. You are the firm’s face. You radiate confidence.
Deep down inside you feel it’s getting to you. You’re tired, lifeless, insecure. What others see is just a façade. You are no longer that energetic, entrepreneurial, confident person.
Imagine what it would feel like to be able to manage your doubts; to really be able to feel confident and competent. To have faith in your decisions. To regain your energy.
in the Arts
Your name is familiar. Quite often you’re recognized on the streets. People come up to you, even when you don’t really feel like it.
Your creativity is your capital. Sometimes you’re worried that the stream of ideas might dry out. Sometimes the environment you’re working in is too demanding, too toxic.
I help people like you do what they like to do again.
in the Media
Over time you have become a familiar face. You frequently appear in the media. People expect you to have an opinion on everything.
You are getting reactions on a scale you hadn’t encountered before. You feel less safe, less anonymous than before. You notice your sleep is worsening, your eating pattern is changing, you’re tense.
Together we’ll find a way through tumultuous times.
in Creation
You’re familiar with deadlines, assignments, seasons. How to deal with the stress of success, you learned by trial and error.
You’re wondering whether you can still be excited by the projects you’re undertaking. You fear you might have lost yourself.
I use my expertise to help you get through this challenging period of your life.
You’re a CEO, renowned entrepreneur, successful investor, high-level civil servant...
You have an exciting and demanding job. And sometimes you feel overwhelmed.
You’re a person of many skills, you possess a multitude of talents. Your perseverance brought you to where you are now. Achieving results has always motivated you. But now it’s different…
You could still try to push through, ignore the signs. The difficulties sleeping, the high blood pressure, that feeling of exhaustion, “one last drink”, the irascible reactions
You start to question yourself. You don’t recognize that person in the mirror anymore. You feel as if you’re losing control. You seem agitated a lot. It’s hard to concentrate. You often feel tension throughout your body.
You notice the people around you start to worry about you. Sometimes the word “depression” is mentioned.
But your surly behavior drives them away. You see them retreating from you. And you feel even more isolated.
Is this burn-out, you wonder.
Wouldn’t it make you and your beloved ones feel much better if you started addressing your issues now?
That’s why you want to work with someone who understands what you’re talking about. Someone who has the necessary expertise to work through this phase with you.
For more than twenty years I have been helping people like you to do what they like, to live the life they want to live, without losing themselves.
You’re a journalist, spokesperson, politician, sportsperson, model, …
You stand in front of a camera a lot. You’re a regular appearance in the press. Everybody knows your face. Everybody looks up to you. Your name has become renowned.
Life as a public figure brings many challenges. Of course, fame may be pleasant. But lately, you have too many worries to enjoy that part of it.
Maybe it weighs on you that you’re getting recognized everywhere, that you and your loved ones are finding it harder and harder to be undisturbed; you feel like hunted game. Maybe this stress is becoming too much.
Maybe the deluge of negativity in the press and on social media is getting to you.
Maybe those impossible hours are alienating you from your family, your friends. You’re feeling lonely, even though you’re surrounded by people all the time.
Maybe you have developed a difficult relation towards food, because of the emphasis on your appearance. Maybe somebody in your environment dropped the words “eating disorder.”
For more than twenty years I have been guiding people like you to be able to do what you love to do again, to live the life you want to live without collapsing
You’re a visual artist, a painter, a sculptor, photographer…
Staying true to your creative path requires passion, discipline and persistence. You need self-confidence to translate your ideas and vision into a form that feels right. You need faith that your work will also find an audience. You need courage to show your inner world to strangers.
If all this coincides, you are on a creative flow. This is what you live for.
To create you make contact with your inner world, still, concentrated. After that you have to sell your work, negotiate, do interviews. You must constantly navigate between these two worlds that require opposite skills.
And that is exhausting.
Of course you realise there are bad days. Creativity knows ebb and flow; you’re aware of that.
However, now you notice that you haven’t been well for quite some time. You are moody, tethered. You have no energy left. You drink more, you sleep worse. In short, your body’s crying out: this has to change!
For more than twenty years I have been guiding people like you to be able to do what you love doing again, to live the life you want to without collapsing
You’re an actor, a stage artist, musician, dancer,…
You went looking for the most authentic parts of yourself. You hauled from vulnerable memories. You evoked strong feelings. That’s how you wrote your strongest lyrics, you presented your most poignant performance.
Sometimes this leaves you feeling too raw, too fragile, too exposed to criticism. And you wonder how to deal with that.
You’re working in an uncertain environment. You depend on social media, the press, the right contacts,… to be noticed and remain relevant. You have to keep on networking, even though it feels phony, because you fear you won’t be booked otherwise. This pressure generates a lot of tension. You worry a lot; it wears you down.
You understand that you can’t deal with this alone anymore. And finally finding help will feel like a relief.
For more than twenty years I have been guiding people like you to be able to do what you love to do again, to live the life you want to live without collapsing.
You’re a director, choreographer, showrunner, writer, fashion designer, …
You know the drill. You are accustomed to the assignments, the deadlines, the seasons,…
You’ve learned how to deal with the stress of success through trial and error. Now you’re trying to manage expectations, delegate wherever possible, find your inspiration outside off the roads well-traveled.
Until recently you were able to handle all of that. Maybe there were tell-tale signs, but you were able to ignore them. Now you feel you can’t shoulder it anymore.
You wonder whether you strayed too much from what’s essential to you. Is what you’re doing still relevant? Haven’t you lost yourself? Can you still feel meaningful?
Maybe you’re well aware of the origins of your unease. Maybe it overtook you by surprise. Whichever way, you know that finding help feels like a relief.
You need someone that truly understands what you’re talking about. Someone with the necessary expertise to help you navigate these difficult times.
For more than twenty years I have been assisting people like you to be able to do what you love to do again, to live the life you want to live without collapsing
I have a busy schedule
I travel a lot
Can we work together nevertheless?
In short, “yes”
Online or offline, whatever suits you best
We can have our sessions online through a safe videolink or face-to-face in my practice. I complement those sessions with specialized online treatment programs, whenever needed. This will enable you to work on your issues, at your own leisure.
Treatment programs deal with:
Depression
Anxiety
Stress and burn-out
Eating disorders
Mild substance abuse
Issues with self image
And more
Who will you be talking to?
My experience
People who are often in the spotlights have a lot in common. Dealing with stress, impostor syndrome, worrying about the future, the pressure of (social) media, fear of stalking, managing the expectations of shareholders or the public, irregular working hours.
Of course, there are also difficulties that are independent from the public role: relationship difficulties, negative self-image, lack of self-confidence, depression, anxiety, dealing with trauma.
If I have learned one thing through my conversations, it is this: the greater the ability to deal with difficulties, the further you can develop in your profession, in your passion.
I have been working with people from different domains of public life for over twenty years. Together we find concrete solutions to better deal with your troubles.
Education
You want to be sure that you work with an expert with a thorough education.
• Master of Psychology (K.U.Leuven)
• Postgraduate in Client-centered-experiential Psychotherapy (K.U.Leuven)
• Psychotraumatologist (Belgian Institute for Psychotraumatology and EMDR)
• EMDR Practitioner i.t. (Integrativa)
Professional organisations
I am a member of several professional organisations. This ensures you that I continue to train and develop my expertise on the one hand, and that I adhere to the relevant deontological codes on the other.
• Member of the Belgian Federation of Psychologists (BFP)
• Member of the Flemish Association of Clinical Psychologists (VVKP)
• Senior member of the Flemish Association for Client-centered and Experiential Psychotherapy (VVCEPC)
• Member of the World Association for Person-Centered & Experiential Psychotherapy & Counseling (WAPCEPC)
• Member of EMDR Belgium
Intervision
Intervision groups are groups in which I come together with colleagues to reflect on our work. This is an essential form of quality guarantee for you.
• Member of an intervision group of client-centered psychotherapists
• Member of a multidisciplinary peer group regarding eating disorders
• Member of an intervision group with regard to EMDR
• Coordinator of an intervision group on psychotrauma
• Coordinator of an intervision group of client-centered supervisors
Supervision
Because of my many years of expertise, I have been mentoring starting psychologists and psychotherapists for a long time.
• Supervisor, recognized by the Flemish Association for Client-centered and Experiential Psychotherapy (VVCEPC)
• Supervisor, recognized by the Flemish Association of Clinical Psychologists (VVKP)
Practicalities
First acquaintance
You call me for a short telephone meeting. This way we can immediately assess whether I am the right match for you.
First Meeting
In an initial introductory meeting, we explore in depth your request for help, issues and strengths. In this intake session there is also room to answer your questions regarding coaching or therapy. An introductory meeting takes an hour and a half (rate: 120 EUR) and can take place either online or in my practice.
Sessions
Sessions take place on a weekly basis and last fifty minutes (rate: 85 EUR). Sessions are always during the day and by appointment. The practice is closed during holidays and weekends.
Termination
It is difficult to predict how long a coaching or therapy process will take. This depends on the nature of your need for help, on your complaints and on your own coping skills.