Psychology Alumni Opens New Practice
By Carolyn Cain
03 September 2021
Stefanie Kooijman graduated from Webster Leiden in 2012 with her bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She now uses her skill set to help communities in the Netherlands.
“I think one of the great things about being a therapist is that you continue to learn.”
Kooijman and her colleauges at Therapy Now
Therapy Now is a new psychology practice in the Netherlands offering services for international adults and adolescents. Kooijman, a Webster Leiden alumni and a founder of Therapy Now, is a psychologist who specializes in helping expats. While she has always lived in Holland, she feels connected to expat communities. “My studies were in the German school, then Webster, then the international stream in Leiden, so I’m always kind of in that bubble,” she says.
A trailblazer of sorts, Kooijman was one of the first Webster students to attend Leiden University for the Clinical Psychology master's program. While earning her degree at Leiden University, Kooijman started an internship at PsyQ, a major psychology practice in the Netherlands, where she focused on depression and light therapy before joining the expat department, where she worked for seven and a half years. When the expat department had to cease operation, Kooijman and her colleagues saw an opportunity to help the growing expat community in the Hague with a practice of their own, Therapy Now. Within their practice, Kooijman and her colleagues offer unique therapy services to fit specific needs of expat, repat (people moving back to the Netherlands), and international clients.
“You don't have to put people in a certain box, you have to listen to their own individual story, and then make an individual treatment plan.”
Kooijman specializes in Cognitive Behavioral therapy and Schema therapy which she employs to address a wide array of issues for adults and adolescents including depression, anxiety, ADHD, personality disorders, and more. Her approach is holistic and experiential. She seeks to get at the heart of what a client is facing in order to find treatment that meets individual needs.
When it comes to advice for current Psychology students at Webster, Kooijman has this to say:
“I think it's best for you to be thrown into the deep end. Honestly. That sounds very mean, but don't keep observing. Just do it, because there will never be a right time. There will never be a situation where you think ‘okay, now I'm a really good therapist and now I know it all’ because that never happens.” Kooijman also says to follow your gut feeling and to not be afraid to make mistakes.
When looking back at her time at Webster and how being a student here helped shape the path to where she is today, Kooijman appreciates the diversity she found on campus. She took courses with students in different programs from different countries and cultures. “I think the main thing is, in that particular setting, your background doesn't really matter, and at the same time, it brings so much more to the discussion.” Experiencing different points of view and perspectives early in her academic career was helpful in her path to working with expats. She also enjoyed the unique courses offered at Webster that would not be found in the Dutch bachelor system, such as Cultural Psychology and Psychology of Religion.
Follow the link below to connect with Stefanie and Therapy Now.