In addition, I have followed various training courses including Secure Base Coaching in Transition, Intuitive Development, Dealing with High Sensitivity, Loss Science, Intervision Guidance, Meditation, Chi Qung and Tai Chi Chu'an.

I regularly follow refresher courses, follow supervision and do intervision. The most important education is life itself. Through everything I experience in my own life, I can better assist others in their transitions.

 

Work experience

For more than 20 years I have been working in a corporate business environment as a consultant, trainer, manager and confidant. Since 2008 my focus has been on psychological counseling around work and life changes. I do this in particular in reorganisations where I make training programs, train employees, coach and assist them in the uncertainty of (possible) job loss. But I also provide support with other life changes. You can think of guidance from partners of transgender people, burnout and mourning. I specialize in working with symptoms of these life transitions, such as psychosomatic complaints, processing for example anger and sadness, stress, uncertainty and giving meaning.

 

Running a marathon

The process of training and running a marathon is a process that can be used as a metaphor for things that you want to achieve in your life. When I started running myself, during a workshop I was made aware of the ease with which I could run a marathon. I myself was not so convinced of that and a lot of incentive was needed for the registration of my first marathon. It was the Rotterdam marathon of 2007 where the temperature was around 27 degrees Celsius. I was able to complete the marathon, but felt that this was not a "real" marathon. The following year I participated again. This marathon was so much smoother and running was so much easier. I now also knew what it was like to run a marathon. This was followed by the Amsterdam marathon in October 2008 where, to my surprise, I became the first Dutch woman. In April 2009 I ran the Rotterdam marathon in 3 hours and 11 minutes, which is also my fastest time on the marathon. This puts me in 36th place in the marathon ranking of Runner's World.

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I experienced the structure of training for a marathon as very pleasant. Running can be very meditative and it is good to think things through. It also helped me to give a place to the sadness of a number of deaths and all daily problems. In between, I did some shorter runs, but I think the marathon is the best distance. I always did the training myself because I didn't have time to become a member of an association.

 

In 2015 I experienced what it is like that something that you really enjoy, is no longer possible. How it is a big challenge to detach yourself from this and find something else to connect to.

 

Below you will find an overview of my running competitions.

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Sponsoring Marathon Rotterdam 2008 and 2009

Both in 2008 and 2009, I ran the Rotterdam marathon for the project Tasuru Entito e Maa (TEMA) or Save a Masaai Girl from the Maji Maendeleo Africa Foundation. Thanks to the generous sponsorship contributions, amounts of more than € 1,000.00 have been raised that have been fully spent on the Foundation.

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