Drs Sandra Meijer

Career, stress and executive coach

Drs Sandra Meijer

Coach / Career advisor / A&O psychologist

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Some clients about me


"I challenge you - and help you - to explore what is truly important to you and start living from that compass."

Specialisations


  • Personal leadership
  • Career coaching
  • Executive coaching
  • Team coaching
  • Equine assisted coaching (horse coaching)
  • Coaching around
    • balance (including work-life)
    • impact/profiling in work
    • meaning
  • Stress and burnout prevention
  • Outdoor coaching

For whom


  • Your career has so far gone 'naturally' but now you want - or need - to make conscious choices that fit your qualities and what you find important.
  • You are experiencing significant stress symptoms and want to regain your focus, energy and balance.
  • Others regularly overstep your boundaries and you find it difficult to be assertive.
  • You know very well what others excel at but not what you are really good at.
  • You are looking for an optimal and realistic balance between your ambition, your personal ife and your health.
  • You are responsible for a team or organisation and want more results and job satisfaction for yourself and your team.
  • You have a greater need to live with heart and soul and fear that this is not within reach for you.
  • ...?
Sandra Meijer homepage

This is how I work


In the first session, we get to know each other a little better and start off. Through a combination of sparring, work assignments, theory, practice and reflection, you get a little further towards your desired outcome each session. We explore what you do, think and feel and why. You often come across obstacles, old habits and unhelpful thoughts. With the coaching, you learn to recognise, accept and, where necessary, adjust or break through them. If possible, with mildness, self-reflection and humour. Of course, we also look at what is already going well, which qualities you can use more and who or what can help you. I will support, inspire and challenge you, but also I count on your motivation to work with your question and to make the best co-production possible. I also find it important to consider 'the bigger picture' and have an eye for your wishes and goals in all areas of life. (NB If it is beyond my expertise, I will look for suitable alternatives with you). You can then start making choices that fit with what matters most to you now in your work and in your life.

In the coach sessions, I use many different insights, models and practices, which I have collected and tried over the years. If other topics or events require attention during the coaching, there is room for this. For instance, you can't work on your career properly if you are immensely stressed out, so sometimes we need to work on another topic first or in parallel. Maybe you like to have our conversation while walking in nature, that is often quite possible. We can also discuss or just prepare a practical situation from your work. If you feel up to it, we can also work with the help of a horse as a mirror, to learn by doing in a completely different way and strengthen your personal leadership.

I have learned and also experienced myself that it is important not just to talk and think about what you think and want differently. It is important to be or get in touch with what you feel and notice your body's signals. 'The head screams, but the body whispers...' is a beautiful expression in my opinion. Even if you have nothing to do with feelings, spirituality and related work forms, we often find a way to bring this in in a way that suits you. You can always bring your wishes and preferences into the coaching and indicate what works for you. And you can trust us to work together to find the most appropriate and effective way for you to achieve your goals - and continue on your path with more insight, skills and confidence.

Who am I?


My name is Sandra (1969) and I am of half Frisian, half 'Achterhoekse' descent and grew up in the south of Holland (Brabant). I really enjoyed my study (Psychology) in Nijmegen and subsequently lived and worked in various cities and provinces. Now I live in a cosy little neighbourhood in Amsterdam, fortunately my two grown-up daughters live nearby. I am very happy with my work as an independent coach/psychologist and with my great colleagues and the connection with LemonGrass Coaching.

If you ask those around me about my person, they will probably answer that I am always full of ideas, good at analysing and coming up with solutions, as well as being kind, sensitive and honest. I strive to find the best balance between getting a lot done and also enjoying the moment and relaxing in time. Unfortunately, I have been seriously ill in the past, which helps me to keep focused on what life is all about: taking good care of yourself, making conscious choices and devoting time and energy to the people and goals that are close to your heart.

Both in my private life and in my work, you get my full attention if you want to learn to take better care of yourself and find and follow your own path in life. Because I try to 'practice what I preach', I also try to be aware of what I need myself. As a coach, I want to be present with full attention and energy and I adjust my choices accordingly. Also I take care of myself as best I can by finding peace in nature, connecting with colleagues and allowing myself to be inspired and keep learning. I enjoy practising yoga, breathwork and mindfulness and I am interested in everything contributing to good selfcare. Finally I learn a lot from life, sometimes through trial and error, like we all do.

You can share with me whatever you think and feel and what you are afraid of. I will not judge you and will handle your trust with integrity. Feel welcome to explore your question and experience if I am the right coach for you.

Training / qualifications


  • Occupational and organisational psychology at KUN / Radboud University;
  • 'Entrepreneurship in the life course' - Intensive career counselling course, NPI in Zeist;
  • Coaching Advice - Association for Coaching;
  • Associate coach training - by Alex Engel (LifeUniversity)
  • Accreditation Interplace - Belbin Academy / Rob Groen;
  • Experience with various career and assessment tools, including MBTI, NEO, Enneagram
  • ACT for coaches - Coach 020 (Nonons)
  • Basic training in Horse Coaching - Caprilli Coaching & training
  • Abbreviated training in Cognitive Coaching with horses - Centre for Horse Coaching
  • Positive psychology training - Office of Positive Psychology
  • Psychologist NIP and member of NOBCO
  • Coaching for teams - Brout
  • Stress and burnout coaching - CSR (Aug 2019)
  • Breath training - Mr Breath
  • Certification DISC - Talent First
  • Psychologist NIP and member of NOBCO

In addition, I regularly attend refresher courses from NIP and NOBCO and Centre for Horse Coaching.

I learn a lot by reading specialist books and listening to podcasts on topics including how the brain works, relationships, high sensitivity and dealing with trauma. If it is useful, I like to use (basic) exercises from yoga, mindfulness or breathwork and I am always open to learning new techniques that are helpful.

Work experience


After studying occupational and organisational psychology in Nijmegen, I really wanted to 'go into practice'. I started (in '93) in the prison in Vught in the personnel field and gradually built up a broad working experience. I have held various HR positions and worked in both large and small organisations, profit and non-profit, as an advisor and as an HR manager. This has given me a broad perspective and a good insight into what is (less) effective in organisations and how things can be done differently.

When I started working, I soon discovered that I loved talking to people 1-on-1 about their work and what they were up against. As early as my second year of work, I took an intensive career training course and that became one of my specialisations. In all my roles, I found it important to help people work more enjoyably. Sometimes it was about increasing influence, or reducing stress, better cooperation or restoring balance and health. Because I was keen to invest more of my time in this, and was looking for more peace and depth in conversations, I made the switch in 2010 to work fully as a coach/career advisor and consultant. First I worked for an agency (Laagland Loopbaanontwikkeling) and since 2013 I have been self-employed.

I have now coached many different people for various organisations. No coaching process is the same with me, because every person has a different use case, preferences and needs. I can draw from a whole range of theories, experience and exercises and believe it is important that together we find what works for you and takes you forward.

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Drs Sandra Meijer
Psychologist NIP / Coach / Career advisor

Laan van Kronenburg 14, 1183 AS Amstelveen
Jacob Obrechtstraat 51, 1071 KJ Amsterdam

 06-51 18 17 45
 sandra@lemongrasscoaching.nl

Request a free introductory meeting


"*" indicates required fields

May we register your personal data?*
By using this form, you consent to the registration of personal data required for our services. For more information on data registration, please refer to the Privacy statement From LemonGrass Coaching.

Data


Drs Sandra Meijer
Psychologist NIP / Coach / Career advisor

Laan van Kronenburg 14, 1183 AS Amstelveen
Jacob Obrechtstraat 51, 1071 KJ Amsterdam

 06-51 18 17 45
 sandra@lemongrasscoaching.nl

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