Carolyn Tabak
I was born in Belgium and grew up there and in Switzerland. I completed my education in the UK and settled there until 2007, when I came to live in The Hague in The Netherlands. I grew up bilingual in English and French, and have added Dutch and Italian to my languages, though I do not work in the latter two. I developed an interest in psychology while I was still at school, wondering what made people behave the way they do.
When I left university after my psychology degree in London, I sold advertising space in magazines for a few years, giving me an insight into the business world. But my love for psychology was not satisfied with this, so I started my training in counselling at what is now Roehampton University. I then went on to The Metanoia Institute to do my MSc in Integrative psychotherapy. From there I have obtained other qualifications in the field (see below) as well as having done countless workshops and training courses as part of my continuing professional development throughout my career.
Over the years I have developed an interest in the mind-body-spirit connection, which I now see as an indispensable part of my work. Developments in Neuroscience confirm that the body plays a key part in emotional regulation and dysregulation.. I teach a lot of resourcing skills that are mostly non-verbal, before working with any kind of trauma using EMDR.
For me the beauty of the work I do is that this field is constantly developing and that keeps me stimulated and interested. But at the core of it all is the creation of a safe and trusting therapeutic relationship.
Current interests include making mosaics and jewellery, walking with my dog in nature, Mindfulness and Mindful Self-Compassion, live comedy and music, spending time with friends, and family and travelling.
My Qualifications
- BSc(Hons)Social Psychology
- Diploma Psychological Counselling
- Diploma Stress Management
- MSc Integrative Psychotherapy
- Diploma Integrative Supervision
- Practitioner Certificate in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing)
- Certificate in CBT-i
- European Certificate of Psychotherapy
- Registered with UKCP, MBACP, EAP, and NIP (in the Netherlands)
- Member of Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine
Have questions about the way I work? Please feel free to email me.
Experience
- My first career was in publishing and media sales, giving me experience of working in business
- I have worked as a case manager for a major Employee Assistance Programme provider in the UK
- I have worked as a primary tutor on a Degree Course in Counselling at Metanoia in London, and as a visiting tutor on various courses. I have been part of faculty at Webster University Leiden on their MA in Counselling, as well as at the Rotterdam Business School, teaching Personal Development to Business Masters students.
- I have conducted psychological assessments of employees for the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) in London
- I currently supervise counsellors and psychotherapists privately. In the past I have also supervised counsellors in the voluntary sector, and for MPS, as well as trainee counsellors and therapists at training institutions.
- I have delivered stress management and trauma awareness training in organisations from the public and private sector in the UK.
- I have delivered Leadership and Management Development training in various organisations in the UK, including London Underground
