Hi, my name is Colette. What's your story? That is how I like to start my session with a new client. My work is centered around existential questions & analysis (meaning, purpose, belonging), self discovery & understanding (emotions, unconscious patterns, dream interpretation) and finding clarity & managing voluntary & involuntary changes (self reflection, coping strategies, selfcare).
Change has been a constant theme in my life, with my first one being moving from my birth country (the Netherlands) to Germany as a young child. Changing my career path was another profound change: After working 10 years in the tourism and creative industry I quit my management position and embarked on a solo-backpacking adventure around the world in search for more meaning in my professional and private life. This journey eventually led me back to uni to become an art therapist. I spent a significant amount of my adult life abroad, obtaining qualifications in counselling, career coaching and dream analysis. Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam and Cambodia are some of the countries where I gained insights into life as an expat. I now work as a registered art therapist both in-person (in a psychiatry) & online (mentoring & counselling).
My overall approach is person-centered and integrative, with a high emphasis on meaning-centered and value-based approaches. Active listening, thoughtful questions and cultural sensitivity are important pillars of my work. I bring a lighthearted, encouraging, compassionate and (if appropriate) humourous mindset to my sessions. Creating a space where my clients feel welcome, heard, understood and empowered is important to me, and I take on English-speaking, German-speaking & Dutch-speaking clients.
I embrace a minimalistic and sustainable, yet fun and not-taking-everything-too-seriously lifestyle. My passions include writing, photography, philosophy, learning, music and the outdoors.
Learn more about me & my work: www.exploreyourlifestory.com
My counselling and mentoring is for anyone seeking profound and personal support stretched over multiple weeks or months. I am there to support you every step of your way, providing encouragement and celebrating every small and big accomplishment with you. Depending on your situation and needs I recommend weekly, bi-weekly or monthly sessions. If you need one-off-help or first like to get an impression of me and my work you can book a single session. When you decide on a package (6x60 or 12x60 minutes) this first session is free, and the hourly rate is lower.
My specialisations:
Narrative Therapy: Create empowering stories, cultivate narratives that boost your self esteem and reframe experiences.
Art Therapy: Explore thoughts and feelings through art, photography, writing, music. Non-esoteric yet deep, realistic yet creative, practical yet fun, relaxing yet challenging.
Logotherapy: Discover ways to find and integrate more meaning into your life and enrich the quality of your life, even in moments of despair and pain.
Choose your focus:
Counselling: Life can get tough. I am here to help you navigate through challenging life experiences and process difficult memories. If words are too hard, we switch to art therapy activities.
Life Story Mentoring: Reflect on, reframe and change your life stories. Identify those stories that keep you stuck and address limiting beliefs that hold you back.
Clarity Mentoring: The world can be overwhelming. Let’s distill what is important and significant to you. Highly recommended for highly sensitive people and anyone prone to self doubt.
Change Mentoring: Learn creative ways to deal with changes outside your control, work and push through phases of lack of motivation and tackle procrastination.
Writing Mentoring: Rich lives make rich stories. Writing down your experiences positively impacts your mental well-being. Expect a mix of creative and therapeutic writing prompts, biographical reflection and creative inspiration.