How Do I Work?

In my practice, I take a humanistic approach — I see you as a whole person, not a diagnosis or a list of symptoms. You're complex, and you may carry many different, even conflicting parts of yourself, and that's completely okay. Rather than focusing on what's "wrong," I aim to create a safe, compassionate space where you can explore your experiences without judgment.

My work is attachment-based and trauma-informed, grounded primarily in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). This approach is especially effective for addressing trauma, attachment wounds, anxiety, and depression. I also draw lightly on other evidence-based techniques when they serve your particular needs, but EFIT is the core lens through which we'll work.

Together, we'll uncover the roots of your struggles, work through shame, and cultivate self-compassion — while also recognizing your strengths and potential for growth. In our intake session, we'll talk through your goals and desires, and from there we'll shape our work together to fit what you need.

Therapy symbolized by puzzle pieces being put together, representing an integrative approach to healing and personal growth.
Learn more about me

What Clients Are Saying

  • "In my first session with Julia, I came in scattered, with issues that felt small and unclear. After a year of sessions with her, my life has significantly changed. With her warm, grounded and open presence, she created a space where I felt safe to open up, express my emotions, while also being gently challenged when I needed it. How she attuned and paced the sessions, as well as her ability to see connections and reflect them back in a way that made me feel genuinely seen, was especially helpful when navigating complex trauma. I also appriciate how she brings lightness and humor into the sessions, and an authenticity that made the process feel more genuine and meaningful. Therapy with Julia has helped me name and feel my emotions, build self-trust, feel secure in my relationships, regulate my nervous system and overall feeling connected to myself and others. I feel grateful to have found a therapist like Julia. If this is something you are looking for, I can strongly recommend Julia :)"

    Hanne

  • "I started my therapy journey with Julia at a complicated time in my life, when I realized I needed some extra support. Even though I was nervous, from the first session I felt heard, in an environment where I could be myself without feeling judged. I especially appreciated how attentive she was to my needs. As this was my first experience, we were able to figure out together what worked best for me. On top of that, it was great to talk with someone who is young and open-minded, with whom I felt comfortable discussing a wide range of topics, including gender identity and sexuality. At the end of this journey, I feel more grounded and empowered, better equipped to deal with my emotions (and truly take the time to feel them), as well as triggering situations. I also know that if I ever need that extra support again, I can return to the safe space we created. If this resonates with you, I would definitely recommend reaching out to Julia!"

    Chiara

  • "Wat een geluk dat ik Julia heb gevonden. Tijdens onze sessies van het afgelopen jaar hielp ze me stap voor stap alle lagen af te pellen. Ze weet precies de juiste snaar te raken en biedt therapie die echt bij je past (bijvoorbeeld wel/geen huiswerk, oefeningen tijdens de sessies). Naast de professionele begeleiding was de sfeer ontspannen genoeg om ook samen te kunnen lachen, iets wat voor mij onmisbaar is om me veilig te voelen. Julia heeft me enorm geholpen; voor nu zijn de sessies klaar, maar het is een geruststellende gedachte dat ik in de toekomst altijd weer bij haar terechtkan. Ik kan Julia aan iedereen aanraden die op zoek is naar begeleiding die écht het verschil maakt."

    Eveliene

  • "Julia’s calm and soft energy was exactly what I needed for my first experience with a psychologist. Her questioning and observations helped me to change the perspective of my issues and clarify a lot of the messy thoughts and feelings I had about traditional love relationship, myself and others… Was not always easy to be vulnerable and honest with myself but with Julia’s guidance and support I could finally let go of a lot of inner pressure which allowed me to understand better the validity of my needs and emotions."

    Pedro

  • “Julia provided me with the connection, resources, and clarity I needed to get through a difficult point in my life. She allowed me to slow down and really digest the moment, allowing me to see what I valued most. She was always professional yet every appointment felt like I was meeting with a friend. I cannot recommend someone better than Julia!”

    Alex

  • "I started my therapy with Julia after multiple unsuccessful attempts to find a way to work on my mental well-being and the challenges holding me back from living my life to its full potential. I worked with her on anxiety, negative thoughts, and the cultural differences of being an expat living in the Netherlands. Her workspace is warm and supportive. You feel safe immediately, which makes opening up and talking about your challenges easier and easier as you progress through therapy. I really liked her approach. You can expect a step-by-step method that helps you expand your comfort zone so that scary things become easier to handle. She actively seeks feedback from her clients, consults with you, and adapts her methods if needed. I also appreciated getting "homework" to do between sessions. These small external pushes really helped with my self-reflection and growth. I now understand much better where my thoughts and negative feelings come from. I can recognize them faster and take steps to address them. My journey with her has just ended. Thanks to Julia, I have reached a point where I can face and handle mental turbulences on my own, using what I learned and practiced with her during our sessions. If I ever feel there is a challenging topic where I need external help again, I will definitely reach out to her. I am incredibly happy that I found her website, and I hope my review encourages you to reach out to her, too. I highly recommend her, especially—but not exclusively—if you are an expat living in the Netherlands who prefers to do therapy in English."

    András

  • “My therapy experience with Julia was really positive. She has always made me feel safe to express my emotions and thoughts, especially when we talked about topics that are deemed as societal 'taboos'. Our sessions were valuable time spent in a non-judgmental space that allowed me to discover my internalized beliefs, assumptions and questions I have.”

    C.

  • “Julia is a very insightful therapist and has helped me to strengthen my sense of self.”

    A.

  • “Julia has been an incredible support in my mental health journey. She’s equipped me with practical techniques to manage my anxiety and has also guided me in pursuing an ADHD diagnosis, something I had been unsure about for a long time. What stands out most is the safe and welcoming space she creates. I’ve always felt comfortable opening up to her, no matter the topic. Her approach is warm, supportive, and professional, and I value the progress I’ve made through our sessions!”

    Maria

  • "Julia has great exceptional listening skills with strong empathy, she is also good at linking dots together to identify the deep feelings/trauma that need healing. With Julia’s help, I feel things are getting better day by day. "

    S.

  • “Highly recommended! The therapy journey with Julia was very helpful and she was able to guide me in a way that felt very personal. As a queer person I really appreciated how parts of my identity were understood and not questioned. Thank you!”

    Sofia

  • "I had therapy with Julia, and she helped me in a moment in my life in which I needed support. I really feelt heard and understood, I would definitely recommend Connected Hearts practice!"

    Alejandra

  • "The past one and a half years of being in therapy with Julia has made an indescribable positive impact on my life. During difficult sessions covering trauma that I had not spoken about before, Julia created a safe space and made me feel incredibly supported. Starting therapy having immense difficulty talking about things I’ve gone through, Julia helped me overcome milestones that felt too high to reach. Her patience throughout the process, yet ability to push me when needed, allowed me to slowly process and understand the things that have happened to me, and myself better. Additionally, Julia challenged me to build upon my trust in the people around, slowly building a support system that I can rely on in tough times. If you are someone that has difficulty opening up to people or feeling like your struggles do not have space. Taking the step to start therapy with someone as warm and empathetic as Julia is the right choice. I feel so incredibly lucky to have my first experience in therapy be so positive and I have Julia to thank for that. Thank you for everything."

    Emilia

  • "Julia has a niche specialisation and excels at it - I found her unusually relatable, understanding and reassuring, and at the same time keeping me accountable towards my goal of reflecting more deeply on certain feelings, thoughts and actions."

    Karthik