​Welcome to Breathing Space

This website is under construction – in the coming weeks I will be adding to it, please check back soon for additions.
Meanwhile, if you have question or want to get in touch, please contact me on [email protected]

Welcome to the Breathing Space website, the online home of Marjolein. This is the place where all my work comes together: play therapy, counselling young people and adults, supervision, mindfulness, and support for professionals.

A bit about me: my background is in youth work, I was a specialist youth worker for many years, mainly working in sexual health, drugs and alcohol and mental health. I trained as a counsellor, initially to support my youth work but realised that I really enjoyed it so carried on and qualified in 2004. I worked with young people in various settings and then moved to work in a primary school as a school project worker, supporting the whole school community, supervising and carrying out clinical work. I am also a qualified mindfulness teacher.  You can read more about me

Why ‘Breathing Space’

When I was  thinking about setting up my own practice, I struggled to find a name: the work I carry out is quite diverse but what it all has in common is that I aim to provide a breathing space for those who need it; a space to reflect, to catch your breath, to work through or to just be. To create a breathing space, I will work to make you feel safe and understood, by offering empathy, boundaries, compassion and clarity. Every breathing space is a unique co-creation between the person or group I’m working with and me.

What I offer:

• Counselling: these are sessions where you are in charge, there is no agenda apart from trying to really understand you and your needs. I work with young people and adults.
  
• Play therapy: working in a creative and playful way is particularly suited for children and young people but of course, adults are welcome to find their playful side as well.
  
• Support for families: when working with children, I will work with their parents or carers as well. Sometimes this might only be in the assessment stage before starting working with the child, sometimes is the main focus of the work.
  
• Mindfulness: these are sessions where you can learn about mindfulness and start trying out practices to see what works for you. Although the sessions are tailor-made to suit your needs, I will guide you for some of the time.
  
• Reflective spaces: these are for practitioners who need a space to reflect on their practice, which can be anything from personal development, relationships at work or project management. I specialise in those working with children and young people.
  
• Clinical supervision: for counsellors and therapists, ‘classic’ supervision to help your personal development, practice and wellbeing.
  

Where I work

I have a spacious room in the historic Via Gellia Mill in the heart of the Derbyshire Dales.

I also work on Teams if travel is not an option.