Anna Kalksma

My way of working

After studying psychology, I have done the study as psychotherapist after several years of working as a psychologist. I was originally trained in various psychotherapeutic settingss, psychoanalytic, behavioral therapeutic, group therapy and system therapy (couples and families). As a therapist, authenticity and genuine curiosity in contact are one of the most important pillars for me.

Over the past 18 years, I have mainly focused on treatments that improve mentalization. Aimed at learning to bear difficult feelings, to think about feeling and to feel about thinking. I continue to find it special to enter into a process together with a client in which I can help people to progress in their (emotional) development, so that their capacity, resilience, self-confidence and self-image increase and other problems such as depression and anxiety are reduced. The basis is always contact. Together we investigate how things come in, reflect on them and connect with yourself and others, where being allowed to be vulnerable and learning to bear the discomfort is paramount.

Professional background and experience

I am a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist. After studying psychology in Amsterdam, I completed the four-year psychotherapy training (2000) with the psychotherapeutic settings of system, cognitive behavioral, and psychoanalytic psychotherapy. I completed this in 2004.

I soon started working mainly with people with a serious personality disorder and complex trauma. From there I started working more and more with Mentalization Based Treatment (MBT). I have also been involved in group therapy. To this end, I participated for some time on the training committee of the association of group therapy. MBT has a great influence on my way of working and actually guides all my therapies. As described above. The basis is always authenticity.

In addition to psychotherapy and diagnostics, I have also been involved in training colleagues. To this end, I am (have been) a practical trainer for both psychotherapists in training and GZ psychologists in training. I also provide courses at the training institution for mental health professionals (RINO). In the past I have also given courses for non-mental health professionals (ranging from craniosacral therapists to haptotherapists) to introduce this growing group of professionals to personality development, ego strength, what to do and what not to do to ensure that treatment is carried out carefully and when it is important to refer a client to a psychologist/psychotherapist.

BIG registration Anna Kalksma: 19062899125 (GZ psychologist & clinical psychologist) and
39062899116 (psychotherapist).