Tijmen van der Meer
At the age of 22, I discovered the hero’s journey and the legacy of Carl Jung. I read about individuation and enlightenment. A desire for psychological maturity and personal growth ignited.
A part of this journey took place in marketing; as a growth hacker, I developed companies by doing research and experimentation. On a personal level, there was something within that was calling for attention. I now have the words and understanding for this phenomenon. There was a shadow part lying dormant in my psyche, wanting to be lived.
Spirituality, philosophy, and psychology, in particular the books of Irvin D. Yalom, showed me the power of therapy for self-realization. I read about dream work, anxiety, the fear of death, and the relationship between therapist and client. Everything about it was intriguing to me. Something started to move. It was the depth I was longing for, a sacred place for transformation, a safe place. From that moment on, I knew I wanted to become a therapist.
The Jung Academy in Amsterdam was the answer. A 3-year training that is focused on the hero’s journey and Self-realization. Answering such a call from within often takes time and sometimes we need multiple signs and help from the outer world. I also understand why I needed the search for meaning and why it took me about 8 years to really answer my call. Meanwhile, being in analysis for the past three years, I am confident Jungian Therapy is how I can help others on their journey. Unexamined parts carry a lot of potential. I discovered many parts of myself I had repressed like the joy I find in reading and writing, my creativity, the joy of connecting with other people, and exploring the psyche. Therapy is a gift. What began as the first feeling of bliss reading about Jung, 10 years ago has developed in the feeling of bliss to do this work.
I am a big fan of martial arts and kung fu has been an important part of my journey. Grounding, defending your center, calming the mind, being in the here and now are all requirements for effective defense. I believe martial arts in any form like Tai Chi or Qi Gong are great tools to overcome overwhelming experiences from the past and help balance the psyche. Kung fu is all about the mind, body connection. I use embodiment techniques from martial arts in my sessions.
We all experience the hero’s journey in some way. Finding the gold in your own shadow. Living and discovering unseen parts of yourself. Finding a source of creativity and joy.
If you want to experience how Jungian Therapy feels with me, book a free introduction below.
Testimonials
“In Jungian therapy, there is incredible potential to witness and work through unseen parts of yourself. But this kind of therapy is only as good as its guide to lead you through it. Tijmen has a very subtle way of leading you into the work by walking behind you.”
— Julia, 28
“To start shaking off old patterns, to say "yes" to me, and to begin the journey back home - that is what Jungian therapy with Tijmen has meant to me. To find inner peace and strength in a way that honors my fear and pain is only possible with the help of those who have already embraced themselves in their wholeness. Tijmen is such an individual”
— Richard, 26
“Getting an unbiased professional view on elements of my own psyche is an immensely valuable addition. The topics that have come up in just a few sessions played a big part in getting a better understanding of my own unconscious behaviors and lead to progressing maturation in some key areas of my life.”