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In this insightful episode, Saskia van Houten, Psychotherapist at The Balance, explores what it truly means to heal from the inside out. She shares how therapy helps shift the body from survival to safety, why belonging and connection are vital to our wellbeing, and how unspoken pain often hides behind competence and control. With honesty and grace, Saskia reflects on her own journey through loss and transformation, reminding us that healing is not a straight path but a process of rediscovering safety, love, and meaning.
 
As a psychotherapist, she bridges neuroscience, emotion, and lived experience—showing that when the mind feels safe, the heart begins to open.
 
🔗 Tune in for an honest conversation about trauma, belonging, and the courage to heal.
 
About Saskia: Clinical and organizational psychologist with a private practice where she supports clients both online and in person. Holding two master’s degrees, she originally specialized in eating disorders and self-image, later expanding her expertise through postgraduate training in trauma treatment, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Schema Therapy.
Beyond her clinical work, Saskia is a published author and a frequent contributor to Dutch television and radio, where she shares her insights on mental health and emotional wellbeing.

Personal Crisis and Growth (00:00:00)
Saskia’s Motivation and Career Path (00:02:13)
Therapeutic Training and Modalities (00:05:27)
Child and Adolescent Specialization (00:08:52)
Therapeutic Techniques and Customization (00:09:48)
Multiple Facets of Personality (00:12:26)
Self-Esteem and Relationship Dynamics (00:16:16)
Attachment, Guilt, and Repetition of Patterns (00:20:07)
Creating Safe Therapeutic Environments (00:22:24)
Repairing Childhood Wounds in Therapy (00:27:13)
Processing Childhood Experiences (00:29:48)
Inner Child Work and Imagery Rescripting (00:32:20)
Social Belonging and Fear of Rejection (00:37:04)
Self-Esteem, Public Perception, and Criticism (00:41:37)
Therapist’s Role: Past the Protector Part (00:46:15)
Comparison, Success, and Personal Values (00:48:34)
Self-Love, Boundaries, and Intentions (00:53:02)
Letting Go and Seasons of Life (01:03:20)
Therapist’s Personal Story: Twin Identity (01:05:17)
High-Functioning Depression and Autism (01:08:30)
Self-Image, Mirror Exercise, and Self-Love (01:13:33)
Happiness, Self-Love, and Life’s Ups and Downs (01:24:05)
Parenting, Reflection, and Imperfection (01:27:21)
Personal Setbacks and Recovery (01:30:45)
Post-Traumatic Growth and Choice (01:40:35)

For further mental health information and support, visit The Balance RehabClinic website: https://balancerehabclinic.com/

Follow Abdullah Boulad:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdullahboulad/
https://www.instagram.com/abdullahboulad/
 
Follow Saskia Van Houten:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/saskiageraertsvanhouten/
https://www.instagram.com/psycholoog_saskia/
 
You can order Abdullah’s book, ‘Living A Life In Balance’, here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/...

Follow The Balance RehabClinic:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebalancerehabclinic/

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