Sharon Hasselbaink, MSc
Psychologist, Neuroscientist, Weight Management Consultant and Primary Care Graduate Mental Health Worker
I am a university-trained psychologist who provides behavioural expertise for training, consulting, and human behaviour research. My specialisation is in health behaviour and the brain.
In addition, I also work independently to promote healthy behaviour in adults by providing positive lifestyle advice and weight management services.
I am trained and certified in health coaching methods to help adults improve their quality of life through nutrition counselling and running therapy.
Services are available in Dutch, English, and Spanish.
Member to:
- NIP – The Dutch Institute of Psychologists, professional association of psychologists in the Netherlands
- BPS – The British Psychological Society
- BGN – Professional Association of Weight Management Consultants in the Netherlands
- PG – Puur Gezond, Guru-free advice on fresh, minimally processed, healthy eating
Further reading: Linkedin | @Cal Alumni Network
Training
I received my psychology training in the Netherlands and the United States. I also have master’s degrees in clinical psychology, health psychology, and clinical neuropsychology, as well as competence in health coaching, conducting research, and (neuro) psychological assessment.
My additional education and post-master training include substance abuse treatment, advanced physiological psychology, and neuropsychological toxicology.
Psychology
Each academically trained psychologist is a behavioural expert. Psychologists are experts in the human mind, emotions and behaviour and know how various circumstances influence people.
Psychology focuses on studying, understanding, and influencing human behaviour to bring about positive change and solve problems in society and many other human activity areas.
My competencies include (neuro) psychological testing, research into different aspects of human behaviour, and cultural competence, having lived, studied and worked in international environments and communities in Europe and the USA.
Specialisations
I specialised in the psychology of health behaviour, mental health, brain (health) and behaviour.
> Health behaviour: psychological aspects and behavioural processes in health and illness for quality of life.
> Mental Health: Insight that helps reduce psychological distress, improves and encourages psychological well-being, and recognises the types of mental health problems people may (or may not) have.
>Brain (Health) & Behaviour: A better understanding of mental processes in daily functioning and in the case of brain damage, as well as strategies to maintain brain health.
To summarise, I have developed an expert understanding of human behaviour. And I offer insights to individuals and organisations to enhance their understanding of human behaviour.
Areas of expertise include behaviour, the psychology of health and illness and brain health, and topics such as healthy and unhealthy eating, the meaning of food, behavioural change, the mental processes involved in behaviour change, positive lifestyle changes, physical and mental well-being, and other psychological topics.
Professional Background
Within and beyond clinical settings, I provide lifestyle coaching. I work with people to advise on (mental) health matters and improve health behaviour.
In clinical settings, I provide counselling to help people deal with illness and medical treatment, identify the root causes of behaviour, and explore how to adopt healthier behaviour. Also, I assess (neuro) psychological functioning after brain injury or other neurological conditions such as strokes, tumours and degenerative diseases. And I help and support adults with psychological symptoms and conditions to overcome, for example, mild depression and stress.
Professional Services
> Behavioural Expertise Services
I offer a psychological perspective on human behaviour in the context of training, research, and advice.
I started offering behavioural expertise services when more non-psychological professionals approached me for reliable psychological knowledge and insights to increase their understanding of human behaviour.
They called on my behavioural expertise to help them research human behaviour during the project’s planning stage or prepare for something else.
For instance, my behavioural expertise was essential in creating a realistic description of a fictional character during the planning stage of writing a script and researching human behaviour.
Behavioural expertise services: for whom and why
Individuals or organisations can consult with me to deepen their knowledge and understanding of human behaviour.
Psychologists work in every area that needs knowledge of human behaviour. Human behaviour is at the root of many of the challenges we face, and psychological knowledge can help us find solutions to these challenges. Whatever the problem, the psychologist will use a scientific approach to determine the likely cause and what is likely to help.
My areas of expertise include human behaviour, neuroscience, mental health and health behaviour.
Read more about my: services.
> Health Coaching Services
Individual clients and organisations can contact me for nutrition consultation and running therapy.
Health coaching programs result from working with people to adopt healthier behaviours and working with people who have suffered brain damage as an irreversible end-stage vitamin deficiency symptom.
And it stems from my interest in why what and how we eat to maintain good health from both a psychological and nutritional perspective, especially mental health and brain health.
The main themes of the services are nutrition, exercise, and the brain.
Nutrition counselling
Not everyone is aware of the impact of unbalanced eating on their physical and mental well-being or brain health. I offer personalised nutritional advice to help people look for ways to improve their eating habits.
Unfortunately, most people don’t make healthy food choices and do not meet dietary recommendations. The first signs of deficiency are quite common and preventable like fatigue and difficulty concentrating, but end-stage signs are irreversible, like brain damage. In particular, dieters will lack vitamins and other nutrients for extended periods when they restrict their diet.
I am a certified nutrition coach and registered with both BGN Weight Consultants and Puur Gezond. These organisations advise people on how to improve their eating habits and ways to achieve a healthier weight.
BGN Weight Consultants only provide nutritional advice to people without medical problems, and we do not sell weight-loss products.
Provided healthy eating advice is consistent with the Health Council’s Recommendations on Healthy Nutrition and the Dutch Nutrition Centre’s Wheel of Five.
Schedule your appointment online.
Running Therapy
Running is one of the easiest ways for people with and without mental health conditions to relax, reset and release.
And Running Therapy is a personal running programme that focuses on the body, well-being and mind. It is a complementary health approach that uses techniques to enhance the running experience and achieve the mental and physical benefits of running.
At the Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences at VU Amsterdam, I studied the effects of physical exercise on the brain. There I learned about the positive effects of running therapy as a complementary intervention to treating depression.
I am a certified Running Therapist authorised to use Runningtherapy as a complementary intervention to psychotherapy and medical treatment.
Schedule your appointment online.
Health Coaching Methods
I use evidence-based training and lifestyle interventions supported by Loketgezondleven.nl, such as the SMARTsize Me Method.
In addition, I employ psychologically accepted and scientifically validated techniques such as running therapy, which is a body-mind intervention.
Furthermore, I am also qualified to use these methods. For instance, my training includes instruction from the SMARTsize Me Method’s creators.
Read more about my:
My work: Work
My services: Services
