Hi, I’m Sophie- a Humanistic psychotherapist turned English teacher.
Think of me as a kind of supervisor… but one specifically focused on English language skills.
Having worked as a psychotherapist, I know how it feels to cultivate profound awareness, openness and presence in service of another person’s growth. More importantly, I know what it’s like to do it in my non-native language too (Spanish).
Suddenly, it’s not as easy to be fully centred. You question the words you use, unsure if you’re capturing and conveying your patient’s experience properly. You’re afraid your mind could just go blank and you’ll fall into an uncomfortable silence…or you might have to nod and smile while thinking dear-God-I-have-no-clue-what-that-word-means.
The truth is that offering therapy in another language involves more than using the right words at the right time. It’s also about cultivating enough trust in your language skills to bring most of your attention back to where it truly matters : the therapeutic encounter.
So I don’t just teach you the specific language you need to work with English-speaking patients.
I also listen, support and guide you through the ups and downs of helping patients in your second language…until you feel ready to continue the journey on your own.
This is a safe space to experiment, hesitate..? make mistakes, and discover your unique style as an English-speaking therapist.
We’ll form a strong working alliance if you also believe…
English is for everybody, everywhere.
20% of the world’s population speaks English- mostly as a second language. It’s time to take off the rigid “speak like a native” mask and communicate with courage and congruence.
Therapists and patients are equals. And in this space, so are students and teachers.
Both of us are experts in our own right and we have much to learn from each other. At the same time, neither of us have all the answers, and we both make mistakes.
Learning another language means having a second soul.
I’ll be honest- I didn’t come up with that. Charlemagne did. But I agree - this space is also a chance to uncover parts of yourself you didn’t know existed.
Why am I so obsessed with languages, cultures and identity?
Like other third-culture kids, I’ve always found the question “Where are you from?” difficult to answer.
The short answer? Belgium. But my family is….unusual. I’ve lived in six different countries, speaking English and French fluently my whole life.
Another tough question was “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
I had no clue. I just wanted to understand how people around the world speak, feel and think.
I thought going to university might help. So I studied English and Spanish literature and linguistics… and realized I had some deeper questions. I went back to study Psychology and Education Sciences… but then missed languages, and wanted some practical work experience.
So I trained as a language teacher and taught English to support myself while doing a Master’s in Humanistic and Emotion-Focused psychotherapy.
The problem? As soon as I started teaching, I realised this was exactly what I was meant to do.
But clinical work was incredibly fulfilling too. I didn’t want to let go of that either.
When I combined both my passions, everything clicked into place. I knew then that I had to give other therapists the knowledge and support they needed to overcome their self-doubt and provide therapy in English.
🌍 My perfect international country would have…
🇱🇧 Lebanese food (which is much more than just hummus, by the way)
🇻🇪 The Venezuelan pa’lante attitude of overcoming difficulties to do great things… with style.
🇰🇷 Korean cinema (like Past Lives or Parasite- I’ll give Squid Game a pass)
🇲🇦 Moroccan alleyways, riads, palaces and gardens.
🇨🇺 Cuban son, jazz, rumba and salsa.
🇵🇭 Manila’s endless traffic jams… just kidding!
I’ve had private AND group classes with Sophie and I’ve enjoyed both experiences very much. Sophie is a warm, professional teacher. She prepares the classes very carefully and adapts them to each person’s goals. That has allowed me to learn at my own pace and keep attending classes without feeling overwhelmed. The vocabulary and expressions we learn in the classroom are very practical and useful for my work as a clinical psychologist specialized in EMDR and trauma. I have recommended her classes to another therapist, who is also very happy with her services. Thank you so much, Sophie!
