“I’ve discarded all of my blogs, all of my programmes, all of my workshops, all of my papers – in fact, everything.”

The past 15 years (from 2007 to 2023), I held a professional role as a Behavioural Trainer/Coach. First as an employee and since 2009 years as an entrepreneur with my company HeartPepper. During these years I provided – with ups & downs and twists & turns – Training & Coaching services to approximately 1200 caregivers, conscious entrepreneurs, teachers, employees in companies, massage therapists, CEO’s, psychologists, entrepreneurs and therapists on both national and international levels. My primary focus over those years was to help Professional Practical Idealists becoming more autonomous, self-conscious and radically honest human beings through the use of Emotional Bodywork, Systemic Work and Transactional Analysis. Throughout those years, I pursued a multitude of education to enhance my professional skills, as we are indeed our own instruments in this line of work.

In 2023, I wanted to investigate why I lost my interest in my work as a Behavioural Trainer/Coach, or so I thought. I didn’t get it, after having been passionate about human behaviour for so long! But then it dawned on me. It wasn’t my work. It was the marketing I was tired of. The world has undergone transformation and being a trainer/coach in 2007 or being a trainer/coach in 2023 are two entirely distinct matters. After having completed all marketing courses I could think of, I strongly sensed that the equilibrium between the effort I was putting into it and my personal benefits I was receiving, was no longer proportionate. 

I am stepping into freedom

So, what was next? Discard all of my work? Sell my company? Find someone else to do it? I investigated it all. I’ve discarded all of my blogs, all of my programmes, all of my workshops, all of my papers – in fact, everything. Yet, it hasn’t disappeared; it’s all woven into the fabric of my entire life and in everything I undertake. I since then work as a freelance Professional Caretaker, Pedagogue at BSO’s (after school care) and massage-therapist. I love taking care of others. My passion is ignited by helping people and animals in vulnerable situations: my drive is to eliminate injustice in the world. I like to be a voice for the weak and stand up for them. I’m an empathetic, smart and emotionally involved caregiver. What I bring along: a wealth of work experience, even more life experience, humor, oversight, and intelligence. I work with people of all ages. I provide long-term individual support to one client with a spinal cord injury, one non-verbal man with multiple disabilities in a wheelchair, and one non-verbal boy with autism.

I have experience working with clients who have:

– Spinal cord injuries, Duchenne, MS, and other wheelchair-bound conditions
– Neurodivergence (ADHD/ASS/ADD)
– Parkinson’s
– Multiple disabilities

I work within the frameworks of the WMO (Social Support Act), WLZ (Long-term Care Act), ZvW (Health Insurance Act), and the Youth Act. Somewhat by accident, I’ve gained significant experience working with people with muscular diseases who are wheelchair-bound.

Body Skills/Knowledge

– Air stacking
– Setting up bladder irrigation
– Wound care
– Washing/showering in a chair
– Manual bowel evacuation (for clients with muscular diseases)
– Stretching muscles
– Assisting with toilet use
– Dressing people with spinal cord injuries or muscular diseases
– Putting on compression stockings
– Using a hoist
– Preparing/serving meals
– ADL (Activities of Daily Living)
– Admin and letter writing

MIND Skills/Knowledge

– Care, upbringing, helping with homework (I’m a qualified secondary school teacher)
– Providing entertainment through walks (with a dog, if needed), playing games
– Helping with organizing and structuring thoughts and emotions

I’m a member of Solopartners, FNV-ZZP, and SUREBusiness to ensure we can collaborate as carefully as possible. This means that, at the start of a care assignment, I also send my own Assignment Agreement with the terms we’ve agreed on. This clearly outlines my rights, duties, and responsibilities, as well as yours.