`Be a student daily, never a master.

You must keep moving forward & never stop learning´


- Misty Hildreth -

Liz -About me

Hello, thank you for finding me and being curious!


Mindfulness entered my life in my mid twenties visiting a meditation weekend in the Vipassana tradition of Sayagyi U Bha Kin.

It wasn´t long after that I attended my first 10 day silent retreat.

Over the years I had the opportunity to visit and to be inspired by great teachers like Thich Nhat Hanh and Sister Chan Khong.

In 2010 I started studying the western, science based approach of Mindfulness Based Interventions with the MBSR/MBCT teachings of Jon Kabat Zinn, Mark Williams, Zindel Seagal and John Teasdale.

I have followed many trainings since then (see here).

I love the work and approach of Amy Wright Glenn from the Centre of Birth, Breath and Death and am deeply interested in the field of human consciousness.


Mindfulness for me is about being aware, cultivating the capacity to be with yourself, sit with yourself and turn inwards.

Kindly, open and with curiosity. In a world where we are surrounded by noise and distraction, connecting to this inner place asks practice, a lot of practice, kindness and patience.

Eventually this practice helps our inner world (feelings, thoughts and needs) to become more clear.

With mindfulness we can become better aware of how we are doing and tune in more easily to what we need in the moment. It moves us into a place of ´being´ instead of doing.

Mindfulness supports us to choose more consciously (instead of habitually) what our next thought, next step or action will be. 


Jon Kabat Zinn writes. ‘It’s the most difficult job in the world to sit with ourselves’.

I am still experiencing this difficulty by times and have witnessed this with dozens of participants with whom I have shared the 8 week Mindfulness training.

It often starts with the expectation that we bring into the practice.

Being able to build a kind relationship with yourself and with whatever you are experiencing is what can end up being the most awakening lesson of your life.


Through my doula work, my grief work and through my mindfulness coaching and training I have had the opportunity to companion many people in different phases of their lives.

I have witnessed many times the profound change when people start to discover that in life it is not about what happens, but about how we relate to what is happening.

We can only start to make that switch when we have the capacity to observe what´s happening (in our inner world and outer world) instead of being in reaction to what´s happening.


That´s mindfulness.


That´s what I try and practice every day.


And that is what I do. Supporting you in making that switch.


But who am I ?


I grew up in the Netherlands, studied and worked there and then lived a traveling job for many years. I found a new home in the South West Algarve in 2011, 

I’m there for many years living a simple off-grid life with my partner, daughter, dog, cats and chicken.

I love the light there, the blue of the ocean, the rough cliffs, the clear night skies when I can see the milky way and countless of stars.

I love the silence there, it´s deep and big.

I feel good and nourished when I´m surrounded by nature.

I take care of myself by dancing, reading, meditating, being outside, studying, writing, doing yoga, walking our dog, cuddling our cats, spending time with my loved ones and spending time in solitude.


How I approach my work?

My approach evolves around bringing authenticity, curiousity, non-judgement and compassion into all my offers.

I share from my own experience, backed by the many training and courses that I have followed until this day.

I believe that´s where the connection with my clients happen, the connection with real life in all it´s beauties and difficulties.


I like to go beyond the conventional at times. I guess that shows in the way I live, some choices I have made in life and the work I do, or at least how I do it. People might see it as unconventional, I see it as following my heart and intuition.

In my coaching and work I go beyond the standard models and systems that come from a place of fixing problems, solving issues and getting from A to B as quick as possible.

I would like for it to be more deep & meaningful.

By facilitating inner change, not just outer change of how of what you are doing.


I´d like to create a space where we can drop beyond the surface, supporting change and transformation to happen on a deeper level.


I´d like to guide you to a place where your own connection with a deeper sense of self leads and guides you in life.


Does my approach speaks to you? 

Contact me, I´d be glad to get to know you.


Warmly,

Liz


Certification and training


Following is an overview of the teacher and professional trainings I have followed since Mindfulness started to be my profession. I am a Certified Mindfulness Trainer by See True Mindfulness Institute in the Netherlands since 2012


  • Jan. 2024 -> Mentoring & Self care monthly meeting with Amy Wright Glenn, Institute for the Study of Birth, Breath and Death, USA
  • 2018 -> Intervision, coaching & mentoring meetings with Marlou Gulikers, Lumi.nu, Netherlands
  • Aug. 2022 > -The Practice of direct awakening - Online training with Craigh Hamilton, USA
  • July 2022 > - Grief Work Training - Online self-paced training, Institute for the Study of Birth, Breath and Death, Amy Wright Glenn, USA
  • May 2022 - Nascer com Direitos with Mia Negrão (doula and lawyer) - a 2 day training on women´s rights in pregnancy and birth , Sintra, Portugal
  • Nov. 2021 -  12 month Grief Educator program by David Kessler & Grief.com, USA ("A Certified Grief Educator is committed to providing the highest level of grief support through education, experience, and insights into the often unacknowledged rocky terrain of grief. Certified Grief Educators completed a certificate program designed by world-renowned grief expert, David Kessler. They bring his unique methodology, tools, and decades of experience to help people navigate the challenges of grief.")
  • Oct. 2020 - Jan. 2021 - Holding Space for Pregnancy loss, (Online training, Institute for the Study of Birth, Breath and Death, Amy Wright Glenn, USA)
  • Aug. 2020 - Mindfulness for Life MBCT-L - Teacher training 2 day (MBCT-L, Online Summerschool, Prof. Willem Kuyken, Oxford Mindfulness Centre, UK)*
  • Jan – Oct 2020 - 10 month Doula Training - Curso de Formação de Doulas by Materlua, Sintra, Portugal with Carla Silveira, Rita Leite Prudente, Patricia Lemos, Raquel Cajão, Lurdes Rodeai e.d.)
  • 2020 - Participant in online webinars offered by See True Mindfuleness: ´Intention Matters´ with Juliet Adams,´Internalizing your practice´ with Miles Kessler, Family and the Practice of Mindfulness´ with Kate Munding,´Working on Difficulties´ with Trish Bartley.
  • 2019 > - Participant of monthly SITT Portugal group meetings since 2019 (Supporting Integrity in Teaching and Training mindfulness, inMindsight, Algarve)
  • 2018 - 7 week Online training Power of Awareness by Tara Brach & Jack Kornfield, by Sounds True, supported by Greater Good Science Center, University of Berkeley, California, USA
  • 2018 - Supervision by qualified See True Mindfulness supervisor during 8-week training
  • 2017 - Mindfulness Advanced Teacher Training, 2 day Inquiry Intensive (See True Mindfulness, Rob Vincken, Maastricht, Netherlands)
  • 2017 - Mindfulness For Children & Adolescence, A Still Quiet Place with Dr. Amy Saltzman, USA.
    (Sociedade Portuguesa de meditacão e bem-ester, Barcelos, Portugal, www.spm-be.pt)
  • 2017 - Mindfulness Advanced Teacher Training (See True Mindfulness, David Dewulf (Belgium), Maastricht, Netherlands, www.aandacht.be)
  • 2016 - Mindfulness Advanced Teacher Training (See True Mindfulness, Trish Bartley (UK), Maastricht, Netherlands, www.trishbartley.co.uk)
  • 2015 - Integral Parenting - 8 week virtual course Parenting as a Spiritual Journey by Miriam Mason Martineau (www.integralparenting.com / www.miriammartineau.com)
  • 2014 - Mindfulness & Pregnancy Teacher Training (See True Mindfulness, Sanne Claas, Amsterdam, Netherlands)
  • 2012 - Acceptance & Commitment Therapy Teacher Training, (ACT, See True Mindfulness, Gijs Jansen, Amsterdam, Netherlands)
  • 2011 - Mindfulness Basic Teacher Training MBCT/MBSR, (See True Mindfulness, Rob Vincken, Amsterdam, Netherlands)
  • 2011 - MBSR participant Training (See True Mindfulness, Caroline van Haperen, Amsterdam, Netherlands)

    Personal Practice
    One of the basic needs and commitments of a Mindfulness Trainer is his or her own daily practice.
    To deepen my personal practice I try to visit a (silent) retreat as often as possible.
    I have attended the following so far:
  • 2005 - 10 day Vipassana Silent Retreat - Netherlands - (www.internationalmeditationcentre.org)
  • 2011 - 10 day Vipassana Silent Retreat - UK - (www.internationalmeditationcentre.org)
  • 2012 - 6 day Mindfulness Retreat - Thich Nhat Hanh - EIAB, Germany - (www.plumvillage.org)
  • 2014 - 6 day Mindfulness Retreat - Thich Nhat Hanh - EIAB, Germany
  • 2016 - 3 day Silent Retreat - Netherlands (www.simsara.nl)
  • 2017 - 6 day Mindfulness Retreat - Thcih Nhat Hanh - EIAB, Germany 
  • 2018 - 10 day Vipassana Silent Retreat - UK - (www.internationalmeditationcentre.org)
  • 2019 - 3 day Embodiment Retreat by Jana Krohn, Ocean and Yoga, Algarve, Portugal
  • 2023 - 6 day Silent Mindfulness Teacher Retreat with Karunavira  - Portugal - Conhecer-se / Ualg FCHS (universidade do Algarve, faculdade de ciências humanas e sociais)
  • 2023 - 5 day Meditation and Yin Yoga retreat with Catarina Silva, Ocean and Yoga, Portugal

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