Annabelle van Nieuwkoop-Read

Neuro and queer-affirming Therapist & Trainer | Creating neuro-affirming spaces where being divergent is beautiful | Helping Neurodivergent people feel truly seen and heard. At Nurturing Neurodiversity, I offer an integrative, complementary (outside mainstream mental health), trauma-informed, intersectional-informed therapeutic experience grounded in my training as an Arts Therapist, Psychosocial Therapist, ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) specialist, and Autism specialist. Finding a professional who understands the neurodivergent experience can be an important step toward getting the right help. You are welcome at Nurturing Neurodiversity Netherlands, whatever your neuro-type is, and wherever you are in your journey. You may come to therapy with stories of grief, pain and suffering. Neuro-affirming therapy means you do not have to educate the therapist on what you need in therapy in order to be able to bring your life story. You bring your life story, and I will attune to your needs as a whole person. I am deeply passionate about neuro and queer-affirming care, therapy, training, and support. I also embrace a social activist role outside the therapeutic room, actively writing about neuro-affirming practices, consulting, and leading workshops. For me, meeting and connecting with new people is the heart of my work. Being trusted with your life story and walking alongside you on your journey is a privilege I never take for granted.

2022- current: Private practice Nurturing Neurodiversity Netherlands 2013-2023: School Counsellor and Wellbeing Co-ordinator International School of The Hague 2005-2017: Private practice 2006-2008: Therapist with refugees and their children, Centrum 45 2000-2006: Multiple roles as a Therapist in social care and education.

2004: MA Arts Therapy (Drama) 2016: MEd Autism 2025: Post Grad- Psychosocial Therapy-Specialism Acceptance and Commitment Therapy