Question 1

Do I need a coach? Is this therapy? Are we going back to my childhood and all that?

Accepted Answer

Are you human and breathing? Then you’re already reflecting on yourself. Consciously or unconsciously. That’s simply how we live and grow.Reflecting with someone who has experience and training in this can speed up and deepen that process.
All your behaviour, thoughts and feelings come from your own experiences, upbringing, beliefs, values, family life, strengths, limitations, relationships, jobs, friendships and the bumps you’ve taken along the way. So even though we’ll mainly talk about your future, yes — your past will come up too.
Is that uncomfortable sometimes?Sometimes.
Useful?
Always.Refreshing and even fun?
With me, yes.It can also be confronting. But I promise you’ll come out of it feeling better, stronger and more balanced.Maybe even a slightly different person.

Question 2

What's the difference between coaching and therapy?

Accepted Answer

Therapy usually focuses on treating psychological complaints or processing issues from the past.Coaching is more future-oriented. We look at where you are now, where you want to go, and what may be holding you back from getting there.That doesn’t mean the past never comes up. Your behaviour, beliefs and patterns come from somewhere. But the focus remains on how you can make choices today that fit better with who you are now.Coaching is therefore not a treatment, but guidance aimed at growth, change and direction.

Question 3

Do I have to know exactly what my question is?

Accepted Answer

No.“Sometimes something just doesn’t feel right, but I don’t know what it is” is a perfectly good place to start.Read more about my method.

Question 4

My question is about my career / relationship / past / losing weight / spiritual development. Wouldn’t I be better off seeing a career coach, relationship therapist, psychologist, dietitian or going on a holistic retreat?

Accepted Answer

That can certainly exist alongside this.In my experience, the questions you encounter in your career, relationships, past, or personal development are often connected. You are one whole person. And all your behaviour, thoughts and feelings come from your own experiences, upbringing, relationships, beliefs, values, family life, strengths, limitations, jobs, friendships, decisions you’ve made and the bumps you’ve encountered along the way.Will I find you a new job, partner, cure, body or nirvana? No. Only you can do that. I help guide you there. Because you’ll come to know and understand yourself better — and from there you can take your next step.

Question 5

How do I know if coaching is something for me?

Accepted Answer

If you appreciate honesty, directness and no unnecessary fuss, this will probably suit you.If you prefer talking in metaphors about your inner flowers — probably not.And that’s perfectly fine.

Question 6

How does online coaching work and is it as effective as in-person coaching?

Accepted Answer

Online coaching often works surprisingly well.Sessions take place when it suits you best, in your own familiar environment — without travel time or having to ‘arrive’ somewhere before the conversation begins. Because of that, conversations often go straight to the core.Over the years I’ve developed and adapted several techniques so they work just as effectively through a screen as they do in person. And when we use those techniques, we also use the space around you — we’re not just talking to each other through a screen the whole time.The most important thing remains the same: a good conversation in which you get to understand yourself better and take steps that truly make a difference.Read more about online coaching.

Question 7

How many sessions do I need?

Accepted Answer

Every session brings growth.
Some clients feel satisfied after four or five sessions. Others prefer a weekly rhythm for about ten sessions. And some like me to walk alongside them for a longer period — a few months or even up to a year — with clear goals for the months ahead.
So ultimately, it’s up to you.

Question 8

I moved abroad but still feel restless. What’s wrong with me?

Accepted Answer

Probably nothing.
Many people think that moving abroad will automatically bring peace, clarity or a fresh start. And sometimes it does. But quite often we simply bring ourselves along to the new country.
Many expats discover that themes like identity, work, relationships, boundaries and meaning quietly move with them. You change your environment, but your patterns, beliefs and expectations don’t automatically change with it.
There’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, it’s often the moment when there is finally space to look at yourself a little more honestly.
And that’s usually where coaching begins. Not with “What should I do?”, but with questions like:Who am I now?What still fits me?What do I want in this new phase of my life?
In my coaching for expats — online or in Denia — we work with exactly those questions. So that you don’t just choose a new country, but also make choices that truly fit who you are.Read more about coaching for expats.

Question 9

Is coaching also for Dutch people living abroad?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Many of my clients live abroad. Some have recently moved, others have been living outside the Netherlands (or their home country) for years. Online coaching makes it possible to work together in Dutch or with the Dutch no-nonsense mentality, wherever you live.

Question 10

Can coaching help if I feel stuck but don’t really know why?

Accepted Answer

Yes.Many people start coaching with exactly that feeling: something doesn’t quite feel right, but it’s not yet clear what it is.That’s a perfectly good starting point. During our conversations, patterns, beliefs and underlying questions usually become clearer on their own.And from there, space for change begins to open up.

Frequently Asked Questions