Zeynep Bilbay
Psychologist & Somatic Coach
You may feel anxious, overwhelmed, disconnected or stuck - even when you know why. I combine clinical psychology with somatic therapy for healing and transformation by engaging body, heart and mind. English & Turkish.
I specialise in:
About me
I’m Zeynep, a body-oriented psychologist and movement facilitator based in Amsterdam. I work with adults experiencing anxiety, burnout, trauma, attachment and relationship patterns, psychosomatic symptoms, and periods of transition or disconnection.
My background is in clinical psychology and the Dutch mental healthcare system. Over time, both my clinical work and my own relationship with movement and dance led me towards body-oriented therapy. I came to see that understanding our story is important, yet deeper change often also asks us to include the emotions, sensations, and protective responses expressed through the body.
I’m originally from Istanbul and have lived in the Netherlands for the past eight years. Having built my own life between cultures, I understand both the richness and difficulty of migration, adaptation, and belonging. I offer sessions in English and Turkish, and warmly welcome Dutch clients who prefer to work in English.
I speak:
Location:
Media Gallery
Approach
My approach is gentle, relational, and trauma-informed. I draw mainly from Integral Somatic Psychology and Somatic Experiencing, alongside psychological approaches such as ACT, CBT, and schema therapy when helpful. Rather than following one fixed method, I adapt the work to your needs and way of experiencing the world.
During our first sessions, we explore what brings you to therapy, how your difficulties affect your daily life and relationships, and what you are longing to change. Together, we develop an understanding of what you need and how I can best support you.
In somatic therapy, talking remains an important part of the work. Alongside the story, we slow down and notice what is happening in the body—the sensations, emotions, associations, images, or impulses arising in the present moment. We also identify and strengthen resources, both within you and around you, that support grounding, safety, and regulation. This allows difficult emotions and unfinished experiences to be approached gradually, without overwhelming the nervous system. We work at a pace that feels right for you.
The therapeutic relationship is central to my work. I aim to create a space where you do not need to perform, solve everything, or become someone different. Through presence, curiosity, and attunement, we explore what needs attention and create space for new ways of feeling, relating, and responding to emerge.
Experience
I have worked in Dutch mental healthcare and primary-care settings with adults from diverse cultural backgrounds. My experience includes supporting people with anxiety, depression, burnout, trauma, grief, emotional-regulation difficulties, psychosomatic symptoms, relationship patterns, and life transitions.
Working with international clients and people living between cultures has shaped a culturally sensitive approach to therapy, with particular attention to migration, adaptation, identity, and belonging.
Education
MSc Clinical Psychology – Utrecht University
BSc Psychology – Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Integral Somatic Psychology (ISP) - Certified
Somatic, trauma-informed approach integrating awareness, emotions, and the body.
Somatic Experiencing – Ongoing training
Trauma resolution approach focused on nervous system regulation and completing unfinished survival responses.
Non-Linear Movement Method - Certified
Embodiment and movement-based practice supporting emotional & nervous system processing and self-connection.
Contact Beyond Contact - Level 2 Facilitator
Movement-based practice integrating embodiment, connection, and relational exploration.
Services
Intro Call
Individual Session
Individual Session
Insurances
