Mindfulness-Based Therapy in the Netherlands
Anxiety, self-doubt, and relationship stress get in the way of the life you want to live. It’s easy to feel defeated by these forces, especially if you’ve been struggling with them for some time. But giving over to hopelessness and fear is not a viable path forward.
I'm Ian Sicks, a licensed mental health counselor working with English-speaking international and expat clients virtually in the Netherlands. My work is mindfulness-based and direct, grounded in helping you step out of anxious cycles and back into what matters most to you.
Although I work with clients from all backgrounds, I have extensive experience working with queer clients navigating identity, relationships, and meaning.
About me
I'm originally from New York City, now based in Rotterdam. I've spent years working with people experiencing anxiety, panic, relationship stress, and the existential questions that tend to surface as we age and come in contact with the realities of loss and impermanence.
My training is in counseling, with thousands of hours of supervised clinical work. I help people who feel stuck in their own heads find a steadier, more present way to live.
I came to this work through my own interest in mindfulness, Buddhist philosophy, and existential thought. These traditions have deeply shaped how I work with my clients and live my own life.
I'm a gay man, and I bring that lived experience into therapy, especially with queer clients working through identity, dating, and relationships.
Outside of work, I'm a musician, a runner, and a meditator. I love language learning, pop music, movies, theatre, traveling, trains/trams/bikes etc.
How I Work
My approach is mindfulness-based, drawing mainly from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and existential therapy. In practice, that means:
We’ll always come back to mindful awareness. Mindfulness is the heart of the work we will do together. We will build your capacity to observe difficult thoughts and feelings without taking them all so personally.
Acting on what matters. We will clarify your values and move toward them, even when discomfort shows up. The goal is to stop making decisions based on fear and doubt and start living a life aligned with what you care about.
Sitting with the bigger questions. Not everything is a symptom to fix. Some things are about the bigger questions that come as we face the realities of sickness, age, and death in a scary and uncertain world. I encourage my clients to bring their most existential selves to our sessions and find that some of the best work starts from there.
Who I Work With
I work with adults and couples navigating anxiety, panic, self-doubt, overthinking, relationship stress, life transitions, and questions of meaning and identity. Generally my clients are internationals who find it best to work with a therapist who shares their experience of relocating to the Netherlands. As mentioned before, I also have extensive experience working with LGBTQ+ clients.
I speak conversational Spanish. I don't offer full sessions in Spanish at this time, but if it's your first language, it can be a helpful bridge in our work.
My Training and Credentials
I'm a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) from the United States, with years of clinical training/experience and I’m a member of the NBTP (Nederlandse Beroepsvereniging voor Toegepaste Psychologie), the Dutch Professional Association for Applied Psychology.
My training is up to the rigorous standards required to practice as a therapist in New York City and my credentials have been reviewed and validated by the Dutch Professional Association for Applied Psychology. These credentials include a masters degree in Mental Health Counseling from Hunter College and cumulatively 4,500 hours of pre-licensure supervised work. I maintain this license in good standing and pursue continuing education and supervision as the licensing body requires. My US license number is 014882 and can be verified here.
Outside of my training as a therapist, I have extensive experience in meditation practice, including months of intensive silent retreat and study.
Fees and Payment
All sessions are 50 minutes and virtual. Costs start at €125 (VAT included) for individual sessions. I never want cost to be the reason someone doesn't get support, so I hold a number of sliding-scale spots for clients who need them. If the cost of sessions is inaccessible, tell me and we'll find a rate that works.
I don't bill insurance directly, and no GP referral is needed to start. Some insurance plans reimburse part or all of the cost of therapy, so it's worth checking with your provider.