Stefania

Counsellor

Available for new clients
Multicultural clinical psychologist offering trauma-informed, expressive, and holistic therapy. I help clients reclaim their voice, body, and story in a safe, stigma-free space for growth and healing.

I specialise in:

At a glance
Amsterdam, NetherlandsAvailable in-person and online
Offers free 30 minute introductory callThis provider offers a free introductory call
Your story is important.Feel free to contact me here if you feel that we could be a good fit.
Illustration of a smiling sun peeking over a cloud, symbolizing warmth and positivity for connecting with the therapist.
Usually responds after 24 hours

About me

With roots in Venezuela and a childhood shaped by the rich cultural tapestry of Curaçao, I bring a deeply international and inclusive lens to my work. Now based in the Netherlands, my personal and professional journey across continents allows me to connect authentically with clients from diverse cultural, racial, and spiritual backgrounds.

In addition to my clinical work, I am also a university lecturer, teaching psychology with a focus on cross-cultural, environmental, and decolonial frameworks. This academic role keeps me grounded in research and constantly refining how psychological theory can meet real-life complexity with nuance and care.

My clinical practice integrates psychology, expressive arts, and somatic awareness to meet each client where they are. I work with individuals, couples, and groups—supporting clients through anxiety, trauma, identity development, life transitions, and relational healing.

Certified as a yoga therapist and trained in trauma-sensitive yoga, I incorporate body-based practices such as mindfulness, breathwork, and movement alongside traditional therapeutic frameworks. My approach blends psychodynamic insight, behavioral tools, and person-centered presence with expressive modalities including art therapy, narrative therapy, psychodrama, and writing.

I’m deeply committed to lifelong learning and ethical growth. I participate in ongoing supervision with a senior psychologist and engage in an active peer group for professional reflection. I regularly attend trainings, conferences, and workshops to stay aligned with evolving research and best practices.

One of the milestones of my career has been designing a trauma-informed yoga intervention for women survivors of sexual exploitation and trafficking—a project that has shaped both my clinical perspective and advocacy work. I’ve since shared this work at international conferences and contributed to emerging conversations on integrative PTSD treatment.

I speak:

EnglishSpanish

Location:

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Media Gallery

Approach

Treatment Approaches
Holistic approachRecommended for those who want to address their mental health through a balanced focus on mind, body, and spirit.
Psychodynamic therapyRecommended for those looking to explore their emotions deeply and understand how past experiences shape their present life.
Trauma Informed CareRecommended for those who have experienced trauma and need a safe, supportive space to heal at their own pace.
I believe every person is inherently complex, layered, and constantly evolving. True healing happens when we honor all aspects of who you are—your thoughts, emotions, body, relationships, history, and culture. My approach to therapy is collaborative, integrative, and holistic. Rather than reducing you to a diagnosis or set of symptoms, I aim to support you as a whole human being.

I work extensively with trauma—including developmental, relational, and intergenerational trauma—and approach this work with care, safety, and a strong understanding of the nervous system. I also support clients navigating identity shifts, burnout, migration stress, and the emotional impact of systemic or cross-cultural challenges.

Many of the individuals I work with are exploring questions of belonging, self-worth, and connection. Whether you're working through attachment wounds, relationship dynamics, or a desire for more authenticity, our work will explore how past patterns shape the present—and how to shift them with compassion and intention.

Depending on your unique needs, I draw from a wide range of therapeutic modalities, including:
– Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
– Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
– Schema Therapy
– Narrative Therapy
– Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
– Psychodynamic Therapy
– Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
– Person-Centered Therapy

In addition to these evidence-based approaches, I incorporate mind-body practices and expressive therapies—such as breathwork, guided meditation, trauma-sensitive yoga, art, creative writing, and psychodrama—into sessions when helpful. These offer powerful, embodied tools for emotional regulation, self-expression, and integration.

I also welcome clients who are navigating existential or spiritual questions. If desired, our sessions can include reflective or symbolic work that helps you reconnect with your values, intuition, or sense of meaning. My work is deeply affirming of neurodivergent, LGBTQIA+, and multicultural identities, and I strive to create a space where all parts of you are welcome.

Therapy with me is a co-created process. You bring your lived experience and self-knowledge, and I bring my training, presence, and curiosity. You can expect warmth, empathy, cultural sensitivity, and a deep respect for your inner world. Humor, creativity, and honest dialogue are all welcome in our sessions.

My goal is that you leave therapy feeling more grounded, more yourself, and more equipped to navigate life with presence and self-trust.

All services are offered in both English and Spanish, ensuring language is never a barrier to your healing journey.

Experience

Work Experience

Founder & Clinical Psychologist, SHG Therapy (2022–Present)
Private practice in Amsterdam offering trauma-informed, expressive, and holistic therapy for individuals, couples, and groups. Specializes in complex trauma, identity, and cross-cultural issues using CBT, ACT, psychodynamic therapy, and yoga therapy.

University Lecturer, CIEE Amsterdam & Webster University (2023–Present)
Teach psychology with a focus on cross-cultural, somatic, and decolonial frameworks. Courses include Environmental and Cross-Cultural Psychology.

Publication
Healing Trauma through Yoga, in Legacies of Slavery and Contemporary Resistance (Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2023)

Speaking Engagements
t’s Complicated Conference, Berlin – Panelist on Somatic & Compassionate Inquiry in Therapy (2025)
– Healing Trauma through Yoga, University of Amsterdam – Urban Changemakers Program (2024)
– Understanding Human Trafficking, International School of Haarlem – Social Justice Week (2023)

Education

– MSc in Clinical Psychology, IcDW, Netherlands
– MA in Psychology (Counseling Emphasis), Webster University, Leiden
– BA in Psychology, Webster University, Leiden
– BA in Media Communications & Fine Arts, Webster University, Leiden
– 200hr Yoga Teacher Certification (Mindfulness, Holistic Ashtanga, Hatha & Yoga Therapy), Yoga Alliance International – Siem Reap, Cambodia

Services

Intro Call

Free 30 min Online & In-person

Individual Session

€120 1 hr Online & In-person

Individual Session

Sliding scale
€85 1 hr Online & In-person

Couples Session

€150 1 hr 30 min Online & In-person

Group Session

€90 1 hr 30 min Online & In-person

Yoga Therapy

€140 1 hr 30 min Online & In-person

Insurances

Private PayPrivate Insurance
At a glance
Amsterdam, NetherlandsAvailable in-person and online
Offers free 30 minute introductory callThis provider offers a free introductory call
Your story is important.Feel free to contact me here if you feel that we could be a good fit.
Illustration of a smiling sun peeking over a cloud, symbolizing warmth and positivity for connecting with the therapist.
Usually responds after 24 hours
Usually responds after 24 hours