Sheila | Gestalttherapist and Coach

Therapy & Couples therapy Amsterdam

I am Sheila, Gestalt therapist an Coach in Amsterdam.

I have been together with my partner since 1984 and we are parents of two adult children. Combining work with running a household together, raising children and also making time for our personal hobbies and friends is not easy. By trial and error, and in particular by continuing to communicate, we have a great life together. 

I was one year old when I came to the Netherlands with my parents in 1958. Indonesia and biculturality have played a major role in my life. It was not always easy to grow up as an Indonesian girl in a predominantly white environment. I learned that being ‘different’ can evoke both positive and negative reactions. Growing up, I gradually learned how to better deal with the bias and judgement I was confronted with. 

As a therapist, I aim to support people who have trouble being themselves. People who experience pressure from their environment as a burden when trying to live their own authentic life. My key life lesson is that I don’t have to ‘do it alone’.

I learned so much from family, teachers, coaches, therapists, trainers and mostly from friends. My life has been enriched and my world has expanded because others were willing to share their world with me. 

As a coach and confidential counsellor for the municipality of Amsterdam I have a lot of practical experience in working in a large organisation with a hierarchical administrative structure.I have been working for the City of Amsterdam as a youth policy advisor since 1999 and a confidential counsellor

In this administrative environment with almost 13,000 colleagues, I have personally experienced that it can be difficult to maintain your job satisfaction.

High work pressure, inexperienced managers, an endless series of reorganisations and relocations/renovations of my work environment are a continuous challenge to feeling happy when going to work. Additionally, every four years after the municipal elections, the political colour and direction of my policy assignment Youth changes. Nevertheless, I still enjoy going to work after 20 years.

In addition to my substantive work as a policy advisor, I get a lot of satisfaction and pleasure from coaching and supervising colleagues as a mentor, trainer and confidential counsellor.

My practice has a central location in Amsterdam Nieuw-West, between Slotervaart and Badhoevedorp.

 
Would you like to know more or make an appointment, feel free to contact me via the Send a message - button.

Sheila