Lifestyle & Runningtherapist
I grew up in a small village in the countryside of the province of Groningen. After my study of Social Work I lived and worked abroad for several years. I now live on a farm in the countryside of Friesland, where I’m fortunate to take care of many animals. In addition, I love running or cycling and I experience firsthand how much sport gives me. I wanted to help others (re)discover the benefits of movement in an accessible way that suits them and that is why I trained to become a running therapist.
Runningtherapy is an accessible way to use walking or slow jogging as a complementary form of treatment for people who are experiencing problems with their mental health. It focuses on enjoyment, relaxation, and the pleasure of being outside in a green environment. You don’t need any experience with walking or running; everything is done at your own pace and without performance pressure. During running therapy, you learn to move calmly, using breathing techniques, relaxation, and mindfulness exercises. Games are sometimes used to help you get out of your head and connect more with your body.
In addition, I’m also trained as a lifestyle coach. About 95% of our behavior is driven by unconscious choices, while we live in an environment filled with increasingly unhealthy temptations.
Lifestyle coaching is a form of guidance aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle, with behavioral change at its core. It covers themes such as nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress & relaxation, and time management. The goal is to achieve sustainable changes in behavior. The foundation is positive health: focusing on self-direction, resilience, and what makes life meaningful to you.
Lifestyle coaching as a support alongside psychotherapy can be a valuable addition, as physical and mental health are closely connected; a healthy lifestyle can contribute to better results in psychotherapy and increase the chances of faster and long-lasting recovery.