Feeling lost?
Let me help you find your way.
I am an English-speaking psychologist based in Amsterdam and a registered psychologist of the Nederlandse Instituut van Psychologen (NIP). I offer personalized, client-centred therapy sessions inspired by Gestalt therapy, CBT, Psychoanalysis and mindfulness. Embark with me on the journey to reconnect with your true nature.
BURNOUT - ANXIETY - DEPRESSION - OCD - SELF-ESTEEM PROBLEMS - EATING DISORDERS - RELATIONSHIP CHALLENGES - CHILDHOOD TRAUMA
My approach
The sessions are a combination of Gestalt therapy, Cognitive-behavioural therapy, Psychoanalysis and mindfulness.
The therapy is a 5-step program:
Intake call - a 20-minute call dedicated to learning your story, also determining whether your case is suitable for my practice (if not, I will do my best to redirect you to suitable care). You will learn about my approach and organizational info.
2. First session - what to expect? Please don’t prepare for the first session. I will ask you to run through your life events, no worries if you miss some points (everything will clarify at the right time). We will work through some first themes.
After the first session, you can decide if you want to continue. If you do, I will send you a contract to sign (with flexible terms, more for your own commitment towards the treatment).
3. Homework - beginning therapy means taking personal action! I am here to guide you, mirror you and give you the tools. The real inner work has to come from you.
4. During each therapy session, new themes surface. Even seemingly small weekly events are part of a bigger theme, so don’t hold back with sharing. Therapy is advised from 3 months to a year or longer, depending on the case. There will be more progressive moments, as well as seemingly stagnant ones in the treatment (at least what you will consciously think ;). The key is to keep up the consistency.
Sometimes, the moment when you start questioning if things have come to a dead end, the truth is that you have actually arrived at uncovered a difficult (and ground-breaking!) truth. Consciously, we think we want to stop, but subconsciously it is our ego protecting us from gaining an uncomfortable insight.
5. After we finish the treatment, it is advised to reconnect once in a while for a maintenance session.
The first results can usually be observed after a few sessions. However, healing is a journey and a process, which requires consistency throughout at least a few months. No miracle cures :)
Cancellations must be done with a 24 hours notice period, except for emergencies. Otherwise, the full fee will be charged.
Since I have a holistic approach, the treatment will be aimed at healing your physical body, your mind, and… your spirit. All is one.
Services
Holistic Therapy
Coaching
A personalized therapy program
There is no such thing as a universal solution. Each one of us has our own set of experiences and “truths”. And a unique program will be created just for you. My role is to guide you in reconnecting with your true nature: increase your awareness and self-acceptance. You will receive tasks to practice in between sessions which we will discuss afterward.
In-person and online sessions
Live sessions are advised, but I understand if you are living far away, or cannot leave work/your home for other reasons. In case of the latter, we can schedule an online session. I am currently working from the Overtoom on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons 3:30 - 7:30pm, and in the centre the rest of the week.
About Michelle Prygiel…
Being an expat myself, I can easily relate to the challenges newcomers face when moving country and provide valuable guidance. I have been moving around since I can remember - firstly, as a young child, I immigrated to Australia from my homeland, Poland. There, I spent 12 years living in Sydney, Adelaide and Canberra, experiencing the challenges of immigrant life: from humble beginnings, to flourishing socially and academically in my teens. At the age of 15, I travelled alone back to Poland to live with my family which caused my trauma to repeat itself all over again: being a foreigner in my homeland this time. I moved out to study and live alone at the age of 17. Moving around so often, I learned some great people and apdation skills, which I happily share with my patients.
After overcoming my own phase of depression and anxiety, I began to explore spirituality (yoga and Buddhism), and soon after, I became fascinated in psychology. After finishing my specialization in Psychotherapy in Warsaw, I firstly developed a passion for Gestalt therapy under the supervision of my mentor. It felt natural to assist my clients in self-exploration and aligning with their truth. Peeling away the trauma responses that don’t belong to them and connecting with their emotions.
In 2015, I moved to Amsterdam looking for a new experience, but also feeling initially that l was in a big, grey zone. And well.. you expats know the feeling! After expanding my skills via various courses and internships in CBT, I made a deep dive into the fascinating world of psychoanalysis once again under the guidance of my mentor. I soon became a registered psychologist at the Nederlandse Instituut van Psychologen (NIP). My main interests include working with clients suffering from anxiety, low self-esteem, eating disorders, depression, burnout, OCD, some personality disorders and psychosomatic disorders. I am also a certified yoga teacher. In my free time, I do sports, write, paint and host events on personal development in Amsterdam.
