Ricardo Lieuw-On
Psychologist
Verified by It's Complicated
Available for new clients
You’re exhausted by your anxiety. It crowds out your feelings, your body, your sense of self. You feel disconnected. I help you reconnect with your inner life, with yourself and with others.
I specialise in:
At a glance
€80 per session
Amsterdam, NetherlandsAvailable online onlyLast active
Offers free 20 minute introductory callThis provider offers a free introductory call
Usually responds within 2 hours
About me
I am an English and Dutch speaking psychologist based in Amsterdam with a lifelong curiosity about what it means to be human and a genuine drive to help others explore that question for themselves.
I grew up between Suriname, California, and the Netherlands. Moving between continents, cultures, and languages taught me firsthand what it means to puzzle together the pieces of your being and belonging; the constant tension between adapting to the world and staying true to yourself. I have also experienced how this can lead to losing touch with your feelings, your sense of direction, and your connection to others. That experience is at the heart of why I do this work. I am driven to help people navigate the delicate balance of authentic self-expression and meaningful connection to the world around them.
I believe that under the surface, we all carry suffering. But I also believe we can transcend that suffering by making it meaningful through personal growth, authentic self-expression, and warm, truthful connection. Therapy, to me, is a sacred task. I aim to truly see you, so that you can see yourself more fully.
What others say about me:
"He listens attentively, is warm and comes across as calm and grounded. Ricardo immediately gave me a sense of ease and trust. The way he works radiates genuine engagement and professionalism. As a coach and therapist myself, I am selective in my choice of professionals, but with Ricardo I had a very good feeling straight away."
I grew up between Suriname, California, and the Netherlands. Moving between continents, cultures, and languages taught me firsthand what it means to puzzle together the pieces of your being and belonging; the constant tension between adapting to the world and staying true to yourself. I have also experienced how this can lead to losing touch with your feelings, your sense of direction, and your connection to others. That experience is at the heart of why I do this work. I am driven to help people navigate the delicate balance of authentic self-expression and meaningful connection to the world around them.
I believe that under the surface, we all carry suffering. But I also believe we can transcend that suffering by making it meaningful through personal growth, authentic self-expression, and warm, truthful connection. Therapy, to me, is a sacred task. I aim to truly see you, so that you can see yourself more fully.
What others say about me:
"He listens attentively, is warm and comes across as calm and grounded. Ricardo immediately gave me a sense of ease and trust. The way he works radiates genuine engagement and professionalism. As a coach and therapist myself, I am selective in my choice of professionals, but with Ricardo I had a very good feeling straight away."
I speak:
EnglishDutch
Location:
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Media Gallery
Approach
Treatment Approaches
CBT: Cognitive behavioral therapyRecommended for those looking for practical support and accountability to change unhelpful thinking and behaviors.
EFT: Emotionally focused therapyRecommended for couples or individuals who want to strengthen emotional connections in relationships by exploring feelings and attachment.
Psychodynamic therapyRecommended for those looking to explore their emotions deeply and understand how past experiences shape their present life.
Warmth, openness, and attunement are the foundation of how I work. I aim to create a space where you feel genuinely seen, heard, and safe. Together, we explore what you are thinking, feeling, and struggling with, and begin to understand the patterns that keep you stuck.
In our sessions, I will actively invite you to explore your thoughts, feelings, motivations, and needs. Together, we look at how you relate to yourself and others through a process of guided self-discovery. We don't just talk, I will encourage you to experiment with new ways of thinking, behaving, expressing, and relating, so you can work toward being more authentically yourself in your relationships, your work, and your life.
It is also important to pay attention to the positive. We will intentionally emphasize what is going well and celebrate both your big and small victories along the way.
My work is grounded in clinical psychology, psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, and emotion-focused approaches, developed across two Amsterdam practices and a hospital psychiatry internship. Having spent ten years as a university psychology teacher and a coach and trainer, I also have a real understanding of how the analytical mind works and how to move through meaningful change.
In our work together, I also pay close attention to how stress and emotion show up in the body. Years of experience with movement, martial arts, dance, and meditation have shaped how I understand psychological change: not just as something we think about, but something we also feel and express.
In sessions, we we track how patterns live in your body, tension, shutdown, restlessness, numbness and work with these experiences directly. Over time, this helps you reconnect with yourself in a more embodied and integrated way.
If this resonates, feel free to reach out. A simple first step is a free 20-minute introductory call. It's a chance to connect, see how it feels to talk, and decide together if we’re a good fit.
In our sessions, I will actively invite you to explore your thoughts, feelings, motivations, and needs. Together, we look at how you relate to yourself and others through a process of guided self-discovery. We don't just talk, I will encourage you to experiment with new ways of thinking, behaving, expressing, and relating, so you can work toward being more authentically yourself in your relationships, your work, and your life.
It is also important to pay attention to the positive. We will intentionally emphasize what is going well and celebrate both your big and small victories along the way.
My work is grounded in clinical psychology, psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, and emotion-focused approaches, developed across two Amsterdam practices and a hospital psychiatry internship. Having spent ten years as a university psychology teacher and a coach and trainer, I also have a real understanding of how the analytical mind works and how to move through meaningful change.
In our work together, I also pay close attention to how stress and emotion show up in the body. Years of experience with movement, martial arts, dance, and meditation have shaped how I understand psychological change: not just as something we think about, but something we also feel and express.
In sessions, we we track how patterns live in your body, tension, shutdown, restlessness, numbness and work with these experiences directly. Over time, this helps you reconnect with yourself in a more embodied and integrated way.
If this resonates, feel free to reach out. A simple first step is a free 20-minute introductory call. It's a chance to connect, see how it feels to talk, and decide together if we’re a good fit.
Experience
2026 - Current // Psychologist at BBAZ (Behandelings & Begeleidingscentrum Amsterdam Zuidoost)
2026 - Current // Mental Health and Social Work Support - Astare
2025 (8 months) // Psychology Internship at Zaans Medical Center, Psychiatry Department, Psyche & Soma
2023 - 2025 // Trainer & Coach for students facing difficulties with learning (motivation, stress, skills) at Neurostudent
2022 - 2025 // Psychology Teacher and mentor and Education Consultant at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
2021 - 2022 // Clinical Psychology Teacher at the University of Amsterdam
2019 - 2022 // Psychology teacher and mentor - University of Amsterdam
2017 // Psychology internship at Dutch Psychoanalytic Institute, learning psychodynamic group psychotherapy for personality problems
2015 - 2018 // Coach & Trainer Personal development and the art of learning - Remind Learning
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Volunteerwork and additional experience:
2024 // Guiding refugees with integration, social activities and learning Dutch.
2020 - 2021 // Living in Costa Rica and learning Spanish
2014 - 2015 // Research internship patient satisfaction, Amsterdam Medical Center
2015 // Supporting children with educational and developmental delays, Stichting Kennis and Sociale Cohesie
2009 - 2010 // Living and Working in California
2026 - Current // Mental Health and Social Work Support - Astare
2025 (8 months) // Psychology Internship at Zaans Medical Center, Psychiatry Department, Psyche & Soma
2023 - 2025 // Trainer & Coach for students facing difficulties with learning (motivation, stress, skills) at Neurostudent
2022 - 2025 // Psychology Teacher and mentor and Education Consultant at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
2021 - 2022 // Clinical Psychology Teacher at the University of Amsterdam
2019 - 2022 // Psychology teacher and mentor - University of Amsterdam
2017 // Psychology internship at Dutch Psychoanalytic Institute, learning psychodynamic group psychotherapy for personality problems
2015 - 2018 // Coach & Trainer Personal development and the art of learning - Remind Learning
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Volunteerwork and additional experience:
2024 // Guiding refugees with integration, social activities and learning Dutch.
2020 - 2021 // Living in Costa Rica and learning Spanish
2014 - 2015 // Research internship patient satisfaction, Amsterdam Medical Center
2015 // Supporting children with educational and developmental delays, Stichting Kennis and Sociale Cohesie
2009 - 2010 // Living and Working in California
Education
2026 // Msc. Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam
2012 - 2016 // Bsc. Clinical Psychology and Clinical Neuropsychology with honours program, University of Amsterdam
2011 - 2012 // Propedeutic of Law, Hogeschool van Amsterdam
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2026 - Current // Bridging the Gap - Integrative Counselling Training Program including supervision
2025 // University Teaching Qualification - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
2015 - 2016 // Remind Learning Trainers Academy ( self-reflection, storytelling, presentation, the process of learning and growing, etc.)
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10+ years of movement practice (embodied practice focused on; internal and meditative work, dance, fighting, acrobatics, athletics, physical preparedness and partner work)
10+ years of martial arts training (Karate, Tsuriaido)
5+ years musical training (guitar and singing)
2+ years of salsa dance
Storytelling training - Mezrab. This training was focussed on exploring and expressing deep personal stories.
Vipassana meditation retreat (10 day) - Intensive 10 day silent retreat with 11+ hours per day of meditation
2012 - 2016 // Bsc. Clinical Psychology and Clinical Neuropsychology with honours program, University of Amsterdam
2011 - 2012 // Propedeutic of Law, Hogeschool van Amsterdam
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2026 - Current // Bridging the Gap - Integrative Counselling Training Program including supervision
2025 // University Teaching Qualification - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
2015 - 2016 // Remind Learning Trainers Academy ( self-reflection, storytelling, presentation, the process of learning and growing, etc.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10+ years of movement practice (embodied practice focused on; internal and meditative work, dance, fighting, acrobatics, athletics, physical preparedness and partner work)
10+ years of martial arts training (Karate, Tsuriaido)
5+ years musical training (guitar and singing)
2+ years of salsa dance
Storytelling training - Mezrab. This training was focussed on exploring and expressing deep personal stories.
Vipassana meditation retreat (10 day) - Intensive 10 day silent retreat with 11+ hours per day of meditation
Services
Intro Call
Free • 20 min • Online
Individual Session
€80 • 50 min • Online
Insurances
Private Pay
At a glance
€80 per session
Amsterdam, NetherlandsAvailable online onlyLast active
Offers free 20 minute introductory callThis provider offers a free introductory call
Usually responds within 2 hours
Explore more
My offerings
Course
The Art of Learning
My publications
Horizontal eye movements foster approach to negative pictures but do not change emotional valence: A dopaminergic regulation hypothesisNew Ideas in Psychology
Latest podcast
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Next available: Jun 16