About me
I'm Yanina, a psychologist registered with the Nederlands Instituut van Psychologen (NIP), offering one-to-one sessions in English from Maastricht.
I work with thoughtful, driven people who spend a lot of time in their heads. You might be good at analysing everything and still not quite sure what you're feeling, or anxious in ways that are hard to pin down, and you're ready to do something about it. You don't need to be comfortable talking about feelings to start. That's part of what we work on. Many of my clients are international students and expats finding their feet in a new country.
I understand this from the inside. I was born in Malta into a multicultural family with German, British and Scandinavian influences, and I've since lived in the UK and the Netherlands. I know the quieter challenges of relocation: the isolation, the shifting sense of identity, the courage it takes to rebuild a life and a social world from scratch. Doing that while also figuring out work, relationships and who you want to become can feel overwhelming. It's also where some of the most meaningful growth happens.
I'm a firm believer that giving something your full attention is already half the work, and often the hardest half. My role is to help you make that feel possible.
My approach
Our first sessions are mostly about understanding what's going on: what's weighing on you, what keeps repeating, and what you'd like to be different. You don't need to arrive with the right words or a clear problem.
A lot of the work is learning to notice your thoughts and feelings without being run by them, getting clear on what matters to you, and taking steps in that direction even when it's uncomfortable. It's less about getting rid of anxiety or self-doubt, and more about loosening the hold they have on your decisions. We try things between sessions and look at how they went, so the work keeps moving.
I trained in both neuropsychology and sport and exercise psychology, so I pay close attention to how the brain and body shape the way we feel. When you’re stressed for long enough, your nervous system can get stuck in fight-or-flight, and things like sleep, movement and routine are part of how it settles again. Alongside the conversation, we look at these everyday foundations, and borrow from sport: building recovery into your week, handling pressure, and forming habits that hold up when motivation dips.
If you're working toward something specific, like a thesis deadline, a competition or a new role, we can also work directly on performance: staying focused under pressure, getting past procrastination, and keeping going when it gets hard.
There's no fixed script. I bring my training and experience, but you're the one driving: we work with your goals and what matters most to you. Life is shaped by the choices we make. My role is to help you see those choices more clearly, and build the flexibility to act on the ones that fit the life you want.
Sessions are 50 minutes, online and in English. If you're not sure I'm the right fit, start with a free 20-minute intro call.
- Registered with the Dutch Institute of Psychologists (Nederlands Instituut van Psychologen, NIP)
- WO master’s in Neuropsychology, Maastricht University
- MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology (BPS-accredited), Staffordshire University
- BSc (Hons) Psychology, University of Malta
Have a question, or want to request a free intro call?
Send me a message and I'll reply within two working days.