Hypnotherapy for English speakers
If you’re looking for an English-speaking therapist in Amsterdam, you may have already tried to understand your anxiety, addiction or recurring emotional patterns. You know what you would like to change, yet somehow you keep finding yourself in the same place. That doesn’t mean you’re weak or lacking motivation. More often, it means your mind and nervous system have developed ways of coping that once helped you, but no longer serve you. My practice combines hypnotherapy with evidence-informed psychotherapy to help you understand these patterns and create lasting change.
I don’t see symptoms as something to fight against. Anxiety, addiction, perfectionism or compulsive behaviours rarely appear out of nowhere. They often develop as ways of coping with stress, shame, loneliness, trauma or overwhelming emotions. Rather than asking, “How do we get rid of this symptom?”, I’m more interested in understanding why it became necessary in the first place. Once we understand the function of a pattern, it becomes easier to develop healthier ways of coping. Lasting change usually doesn’t come from fighting yourself harder, but from understanding yourself better.
More than hypnotherapy
Despite the name of my practice, hypnotherapy is only one part of how I work. Depending on your needs, I integrate hypnotherapy with EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), psychoeducation and other experiential approaches. There is no fixed protocol. Every person is different, and every treatment is tailored to the individual. Hypnotherapy is not a trick to remove unwanted behaviour. I use trance when it helps us access emotions, beliefs and protective patterns that are often difficult to reach through conversation alone.
Areas I work with
I mainly work with:
- addiction, including alcohol, drugs, porn, sex and gambling;
- anxiety and panic attacks;
- compulsive behaviours;
- shame and low self-esteem;
- trauma and adverse life experiences;
- attachment and relationship difficulties;
- emotional regulation.
Many of these issues overlap. Someone struggling with addiction may also struggle with anxiety, shame or intimacy. Rather than treating each symptom separately, we explore the underlying patterns that connect them.
About me
My name is Erik Willems. I have been working as a hypnotherapist and psychosocial therapist in Amsterdam since 2009. Alongside my private practice, I work as a group counsellor in specialised addiction treatment, supporting people recovering from compulsive sexual behaviour and other forms of addiction. From 2027, I also teach in the Addiction & Recovery Coaching and Counselling programme at the ACC Academy (Academy for Coaching and Counselling), where I train professionals working in addiction counselling and recovery.
Practical information
Sessions are available both in person at my practice in Amsterdam west and online. A consultation lasts 75 minutes and costs €130. If you have Dutch supplementary health insurance (aanvullende verzekering), your sessions may be partly reimbursed, depending on your policy. If you’re unsure whether my way of working is the right fit for you, feel free to get in touch. I’m happy to answer your questions before scheduling a first appointment.
If you have any inquiries or would like to schedule an appointment, please feel free to reach out.
I'm here to assist you on your journey, so don't hesitate to get in touch.