Integrative Psychotherapy: A Personalized Approach to Healing

Therapy That Fits You

When you come to therapy, you're bringing everything with you: your thoughts, feelings, body, relationships, past experiences, and hopes for the future. Integrative psychotherapy focuses on you as a whole person. I don’t apply the same methods to every client because what helps one person might not work for someone else. This approach pulls from various methods—psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, body-based work, and relational therapy. I tailor my approach to what makes sense for you and your unique situation.

You're Not The Only One Going Through This

Maybe anxiety has taken over your life, making even small decisions feel impossible. You lie awake at night, replaying conversations in your head, worrying about what others think. Your heart races, and you don’t even know why. Perhaps your relationships feel painful. You find yourself stuck in the same patterns, having the same fights, and feeling misunderstood or disconnected.

You might be completely burned out from giving everything to everyone else until there's nothing left for you. You struggle to say no and constantly try to make others happy. Nothing you do feels good enough. Maybe you’ve experienced something traumatic, and it still affects you in ways you can’t control. Or perhaps you’re navigating a significant life change and feel lost.

If any of this resonates with you, here’s what I want you to know: what you're going through makes sense. It doesn’t mean you’re broken. Many of these struggles are old coping mechanisms that helped you survive tough times before. They just aren’t working for you anymore.

How I Actually Work With These Issues

If Anxiety is Running Your Life

We’ll use cognitive techniques to help you identify and challenge those anxious thoughts that feel so real. We’ll also incorporate body-based work to help calm your nervous system, allowing you to feel safe in your own skin. Together, we’ll explore the roots of your anxiety, and I’ll provide practical tools you can use when anxiety strikes. You’ll learn that you don’t have to simply endure it.

If Your Relationships Keep Hurting

We’ll examine what you learned early on about relationships and what you believe you deserve. Through our work together, you’ll experience something different—being truly heard and valued. We’ll focus on communication, setting boundaries without guilt, and building healthier connections. You deserve relationships that uplift you, not ones that drain your energy.

If You're Burned Out

I know you’ve been pushing yourself too hard for too long. We’ll uncover what drives your exhaustion. Often, it’s not just your job or others' demands; it’s tied to your beliefs about your own worth. We’ll explore techniques to help you be kinder to yourself and challenge that inner voice that insists you’re never doing enough.

If People-Pleasing is Taking Over

I see what’s happening. You’re terrified of disappointing anyone. You say yes when you want to say no, ignoring your own needs to keep others happy. We’ll discuss where this behavior stems from and why prioritizing yourself feels so daunting.

If Perfectionism is Exhausting You

We’ll delve into what you’re truly afraid of. Perhaps you fear you’re not good enough or worry about rejection. Maybe you believe everything will fall apart if you’re not perfect. We’ll work on separating your identity from your achievements, helping you understand that you can make mistakes and still be a valuable person.

If Trauma is Still Controlling Your Life

Healing is possible. You don’t have to relive everything or push yourself before you’re ready. I approach trauma in a way that respects your current state. We’ll build your resources and sense of safety first. When you’re ready, we’ll navigate what happened in a supportive manner, avoiding retraumatization. You don’t have to face this alone.

If You're Going Through a Big Life Change

If you’re feeling all over the place, we’ll process all the emotions involved—the grief, fear, uncertainty, and also the possibilities ahead. We’ll reflect on how you’ve handled transitions in the past and how that influences your current experience. Together, we’ll develop new coping strategies to help you navigate this change.

What Makes This Approach Work

I adapt my methods based on your needs. Sometimes, we’ll draw from person-centered therapy, trusting that you already possess the wisdom needed for healing. Other times, we’ll engage in psychodynamic work, examining patterns you may not have noticed and how your past influences your present. We might use cognitive behavioral techniques to address specific thoughts and behaviors that complicate your life. Additionally, we’ll pay attention to your body, recognizing that much of our emotional experience resides there, not just in our minds.

Is This Right For You?

This approach may resonate with you if previous therapy felt too rigid or impersonal. If you seek a deeper understanding of yourself, rather than just a temporary fix for symptoms, this could be a good fit. If the relationship with your therapist matters to you, and you want someone who truly understands you, I’m here for you.

If you’re grappling with anxiety, relationship challenges, burnout, people-pleasing, perfectionism, trauma, or major life transitions, I have supported many individuals facing these issues. I can walk alongside you on this journey.

You're Already Doing Something Important

The fact that you’re here, reading this, is significant. It takes courage to acknowledge your struggles and seek help. You don’t have to carry this burden alone.

Change is possible. Your healing is within reach. Not because I’m going to fix you, but because you already possess what you need inside. I’m here to help you access that, provide tools and support, and remain steady and present as you navigate this journey.

If this resonates with you, please reach out. We can schedule an initial free call to see if we work well together, answer your questions, and explore what your path forward might look like. I offer therapy sessions online and in Groningen, with flexible rates based on your circumstances.

References

Horvath, A. O., Del Re, A. C., Flückiger, C., & Symonds, D. (2011). Alliance in individual psychotherapy. Psychotherapy, 48(1), 9-16. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022186

Wampold, B. E., & Imel, Z. E. (2015). The great psychotherapy debate: The evidence for what makes psychotherapy work. Routledge.

Zarbo, C., Tasca, G. A., Cattafi, F., & Compare, A. (2016). Integrative psychotherapy works. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 2021. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.02021