Are you looking for an English-speaking therapist in Haarlem? Perhaps you're dealing with anxiety, stress, difficult experiences or feelings you find hard to understand. Or you may feel stuck in familiar patterns, even though you have spent a lot of time trying to understand and change them.
I'm Liesbeth de Wit, a biodynamic and body-oriented therapist based in Haarlem. I offer individual therapy in English, both at my practice and online.
My approach goes beyond talking about your problems. I also invite you to explore what you feel and experience in your body. Together, we can look at what is happening in your life, what may be holding you back and how you can develop a deeper connection with yourself.
How can I help you?
People come to therapy for many different reasons. Sometimes there is a specific experience or difficulty they want to work through. At other times, they simply feel that something is not quite right, without knowing exactly why.
I offer support with a range of emotional and personal concerns.
Body-oriented and biodynamic therapy
You may understand your difficulties very well on an intellectual level, yet find that this understanding doesn't necessarily change how you feel or react.
In body-oriented therapy, we pay attention to both your thoughts and your physical and emotional experiences.
Perhaps you notice tension when you try to express your needs, or feel anxious even when you know there is no immediate danger.
By gently exploring these experiences, you may begin to recognise patterns and discover different ways of relating to yourself.
My approach includes therapeutic conversations, body awareness, focusing and, where appropriate, biodynamic massage during in-person sessions.
An unfulfilled wish for a child and fertility difficulties
One of my particular areas of experience is supporting people who are struggling with an unfulfilled wish for a child.
I know from my own life how painful it can be when becoming a parent is not as straightforward as you had hoped, or when you come to realise that you may remain childless.
Perhaps you are undergoing IVF or another fertility treatment, facing repeated disappointments or trying to make difficult decisions about the future.
You may be experiencing grief, uncertainty, anger, jealousy or feelings that are difficult to share with the people around you.
I offer a place where you can talk openly about these experiences, without pressure to feel differently or to find a positive side to everything.
You are welcome to come individually or, for support around fertility and childlessness, together with your partner.
Trauma, attachment and early experiences
Experiences from childhood or other difficult periods in life can continue to influence how you feel about yourself and connect with others.
You may find it difficult to trust people, express your needs, set boundaries or feel comfortable being yourself.
An important influence on my work is NARM (NeuroAffective Relational Model), an approach that focuses on attachment and developmental trauma.
Rather than concentrating only on what happened in the past, we explore how earlier experiences may still affect you in the present.
I aim to offer a supportive environment in which we can approach these patterns with curiosity, compassion and respect for your own pace.
Anxiety, panic and hyperventilation
Anxiety can affect both your thoughts and your body. You may experience panic attacks, rapid breathing, physical tension or fear of situations that previously felt manageable.
Sometimes the fear of becoming anxious again becomes just as difficult as the original experience.
In our sessions, we explore how anxiety affects you and how you respond when uncomfortable feelings arise.
My approach is not simply about trying to get rid of anxiety. It is also about developing a more compassionate relationship with yourself and gradually becoming more comfortable with your feelings and bodily sensations.
Stress, burnout and physical tension
Do you often feel exhausted, overwhelmed or unable to relax?
Perhaps you're used to putting other people's needs first, pushing yourself to achieve more or ignoring the signs that you need a break.
Stress may also show up physically, through muscle tension, restlessness, fatigue or difficulty sleeping.
In therapy, we can explore what is draining your energy, how you experience stress in your body and what makes it difficult to slow down or set boundaries.
Together, we look for ways to create more space for your own needs and wellbeing.
Grief, loss and difficult life changes
Losing someone important to you can change the way you experience your entire life.
You may feel sadness, anger, loneliness or a mixture of emotions that are difficult to explain.
Loss can also take other forms, such as the end of a relationship, changes in your health or having to let go of a future you had imagined.
I believe there is no single correct way to grieve and no timetable you should have to follow.
In our sessions, there is room for your story, your feelings and the meaning of your loss.
Self-esteem, boundaries and personal development
Perhaps you often doubt yourself, find it hard to say no or feel that you're living according to other people's expectations.
You may be very understanding towards others while being extremely critical of yourself.
I can help you explore these patterns, become more aware of your own feelings and needs, and develop greater self-compassion.
Therapy can also be a place to reflect on your direction in life, what matters to you and what you would like to change.
My approach: connecting thoughts, feelings and the body
I believe that understanding a problem is not always the same as experiencing change.
Sometimes you know exactly why you behave in a certain way, but your feelings and physical reactions seem to tell a different story.
In my work, I combine thoughtful conversations with body-oriented and experiential approaches, including focusing, mindfulness, self-compassion and insights from NARM.
I don't follow a fixed programme. Instead, we start with what matters to you and pay attention to what emerges during our sessions.
I value openness, acceptance and a sense of safety. There is room for difficult feelings, but also for humour, lightness and the things that bring you joy.
Therapy in Haarlem or online
You are welcome at my practice in Haarlem, where I offer individual therapy in English.
If you live elsewhere in the Netherlands, have a busy schedule or simply feel more comfortable talking from home, online therapy is also available.
During video sessions, we can combine therapeutic conversations with attention to your feelings and bodily experiences. Hands-on methods such as biodynamic massage are only available in person.
We can discuss which form of therapy would best suit your needs.
Taking the next step
You don't need to have everything figured out before starting therapy.
Perhaps you already know what you would like to work on. Or maybe you simply feel that something in your life needs attention.
I would be happy to listen to your story and explore with you what might help you move forward, at a pace that feels right for you.
If you would like more information or wish to make an appointment, please get in touch.
Liesbeth
Biodynamic and body-oriented therapist
Member of VIT | Registered with RBCZ
