Aileen

Aileen Kennedy

Education and training

I studied Clinical Psychology at the University of Amsterdam. During the years I have also followed a Shiatsu course and a Thai Massage course (In Thailand) and an Ayuverdic massage course in India. For a couple of years, I co-created a coaching company with three other therapists. After my travels, I worked for a year offering therapy focused on MBCT (mindfulness based Cognitive Therapy). Hereafter I worked for 6 years at a clinic as a psychologist mainly working with Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT). During these 6 years I also graduated from a post-doc study called the GZ-opleiding, the ‘next level’ training in the Netherlands to work in the healthcare system. During my first pregnancy I became a Mindfulness Trainer (See True) which I also offered at my work to clients. After the birth of my first daughter I came in touch with Mindfulness Based Childbirth and Parenting Program (MBCP), a Mindfulness training designed by Nancy Bardacke for expectant couples. MBCP made so much sense to me I fell in love with it. I’m a certified Doula.

You can see the full range of services I offer at: www.aileenkennedy.nl

Registrations:

  • Masters in Clinical Psychology (University of Amsterdam)
  • GZ-Psycholoog (Big-registration)
  • Certification as Mindfulness instructor (See true)
  • Registered at the VVM (Vereniging voor mindfulness
  • Certificate in Mindfulness Based Childbirth and Parenting Program.
  • Doula (JJ Doula)
  • Training in course Baringspijn (coping with labor pain, by Ben van Cranenburgh and Irena Veringa)
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How I came to this ..? I have come to realize that some elements I work with have been presented to me at a young age by my parents. My mother gave Lamaze courses in our home when I was a child. Pregnant bellies and the beautiful charts she made depicting the pregnant female body fascinated me. Massage was always present in our home growing up. Later in adolescence my father got into yoga and meditation. I read many of his books on yoga, Buddhism and meditation. I found much wisdom there and during a minor depression he advised me to start meditating, and I did. I found some peace in those moments and the seed was planted for this way of cultivating awareness. For over a decade I have practiced yoga.

It was after my first daughter’s birth that I realized that the transition into parenthood was a time where many need support. I also learned during birth that a trained mind (in mindfulness, being with what is moment by moment) really had a positive impact on my birth experience and coping with pain. Having a positive birth experience, I experienced is empowering, the effects last for a long time. I felt a strong urge to want to share this with other women and came across MBCP through my midwife. From the first moment I knew about MBCP I felt this was the right thing for me to learn so I could share this. These same mindfulness skills supported me through the birth of our second daughter. Here I experienced how a traumatic birth also has long lasting effects. Besides MBCP, I have been training in MBSR and after I became a mother I felt the need to create some form of support for women who are new to motherhood. And now I am offering these three tools to others (MBCP, MBSR and Women’s Coaching).

After the birth of my second daughter I felt that it was time for me to move out of the more protocolled way of working with people and to create my own way of working- more personal, intuitive and compassionate. Basically I feel that with more freedom I can offer what I can do best. To be a compassionate and nurturing person who can help guide you through whatever you are facing.

I grew up in the Alps and have been living in Amsterdam since the end of elementary school. This base not only gave me a great appreciation for nature but also for languages and a broader sense of cultural understanding. I’m in my mid 30’s, I have two daughters (now toddler and pre-schooler) and live with my partner in Amstelveen. I’m passionate about delicious food, yoga and travelling.