About Femke
I am Femke van Gurp. In Essence Pillar I bring together sexology, relationship therapy and somatic psychotherapy: for people and couples who feel stuck in recurring patterns, tension or complaints, and who are looking for lasting change.
I prefer to work with people and couples who are willing to slow down and look honestly, even when it gets uncomfortable.
In 1:1 work, I work in a deep, depth-psychologically informed way; in relationship therapy the focus is on the pattern between you and the dynamic in the relationship.
My background is in art and philosophy. From there grew my fascination with what truly moves us: beneath words, beneath behaviour, beneath patterns.
I believe in the human capacity to heal, to reconnect with ourselves and with each other.
Femke van Gurp
How I work
I work with a combination of conversation and embodiment. Sometimes language is exactly what is needed; sometimes the work asks for slowing down and learning to feel. We work with attention to safety, boundaries and integration, at a pace that fits what you can carry.
I am trained in trauma therapy and work trauma-informed. Many complaints and relationship patterns are also layers of protection: ways in which the system once had to survive. We approach that protection with respect, and build more space, choice and connection step by step.
Where my work comes together
In my practice, these themes often come together:
- intimacy, sexuality, shame and desire
- relationship patterns, conflict, distance and closeness, and trust
- stress, overstimulation, numbness or overwhelm
- trauma and the way experiences carry through into body and relationships
Jungian-informed (in training) means to me: where fitting, there is also attention to meaning, images, dreams and the unconscious, without making it heavy or vague. It is an extra layer that can help to find coherence and direction.
Professional grounding
I continuously invest in training and supervision. I work within clear frameworks and value care, discretion and ethical practice. I have also studied psychedelic-assisted change work, with an emphasis on careful preparation and integration.
I work with a limited number of places, so that there is room for care and continuity.
Selected training: trauma therapy · sexology & relationship therapy · somatic psychotherapy · psychedelic-assisted change work (preparation & integration) · Jungian-informed (in training)
Privacy
Much of the work we do is personal and vulnerable. Out of respect for privacy and safety, I do not share client reviews on this website.