Annelies De Zaeytijd

Annelies has 19 years of experience as a clinical psychologist. She is trained as a psychodynamic therapist and mindfulness trainer. She holds Masters degrees in Clinical Psychology, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, and Comparative Cultural Sciences from the University of Gent in Belgium. Her areas of expertise include individual counselling, e-learning and blended care, group therapies, team leadership, people management, policy, HR support, training employees in care, and postgraduate teaching.

Other fields that Annelies is trained in are self-compassion training, acceptance and commitment therapy, narrative therapy, the Theory U method, polyvagal theory, positive neuroplasticity, and various mindfulness-based treatments. She is also certified in the ‘Focusing on Emotions’ method and ‘Feeding Your Demons’ Tibetan Buddhist meditation process.

Annelies is a keen student of Theravada and Vajrayana Buddhism and has maintained a mindfulness practice for the past 27 years. Crucial to her coaching work is respect for every individual’s inner strengths and the strength of the differences in interdisciplinary approaches. She works to create safe spaces in teams as thriving growing environments, where people can safely access and develop their talents.

Annelies enjoys connecting with people and offering a safe holding space for individuals to truly relax, come home to themselves, reconnect with their inner resources, and rediscover their full potential. She is passionate about seeing the people she works with grow into meaningful lives, free from past habitual patterns.

Her personal strengths are her spontaneous and authentic human-centred presence, enthusiasm, humour, ability to think outside of the box, creativity, and innovation. In addition to her personal interests in human resource management and the Human-Centred Organisation, western and eastern psychology, Buddhism, anthropology, dramatic arts, and climate change, Annelies loves laughing, dancing, cooking Asian food, and gardening. 

Training and Qualifications:

Master of Clinical Psychology – University of Ghent, Belgium

Master of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy: Freudo-Lacanian Psychoanalysis – University of Ghent, Belgium

Master of Comparative Cultural Sciences – University of Ghent, Belgium

Commission of Psychologists Licence Number (Belgium): 772109481

Visum Number for the Profession of Clinical Psychologist (Belgium): 263080

Mindfulness Trainer – Arteveldehogeschool, Ghent, Belgium

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Training – ACT Academie, Belgium

Embodied Focusing on Emotions Training with Chris Van De Veire – Focusing Vlaanderen, Belgium

Narrative Therapy Workshops with Johan Vandeputte  – Ghent, Belgium

Sustainable Human Resources Management Course – Arteveldehogeschool, Ghent, Belgium

Certified Feeding Your Demons Therapist – Tara Mandala, Colorado, USA

Self-Compassion Training Online Course with Chris Germer and Kristin Neff

Certified in Theory U and Leading from the Emerging Future Online Course with Otto Sharmer

Positive Neuroplasticity Training Online Course with Rick Hanson

Polyvagal Informed Therapy Online Course with Deb Dana and Life Intervision Groups – Polyvagal Institute, Ghent, Belgium

Volunteer Work:

Person of Trust and Guide, Tibetan Institute Huy (1998 – 2022)

Volunteer, New Life Thailand (2015)

Docent Insight Timer (2016 – present)

Co-creator, Health 4.0 at the Global Community HUB Online Community (2016 – 2019)

Involved in selection process and organisation of activities and weekends at AFS Intercultural Exchange Programs (1996 – 1999)