• About Us

  • Jessica Lohrmann

    Co-founder

    Marriage & Family Therapist

    I was born and raised in Southern Germany as the child of an American father and a French-German mother. I moved to New York at the age of 20. In 2008, after having lived in the States for 16 years, I moved to Amsterdam with my Dutch husband.

    I know first-hand what the impact of moving to another country can be, having first moved to the States as a student and years later to the Netherlands as a professional and mother. Both transitions were an enriching experience but also came with its challenges: it meant I had to adjust to a new culture, learn a new language, build up another support system, all this while also having to deal with the feelings of loss and grief because I had left a great job, dear friends and family behind in the previous country.

    Educational background and experience

    I completed my BA and MSW in New York and worked at a renowned Mental Health Clinic in Manhattan as a licensed therapist with individuals, couples, families and groups. Since 2008, I have been working at various organizations in Amsterdam whilst also completing an additional two-year training to become a licensed systemic therapist in the Netherlands. I received a Post-Masters degree in Systemic Therapy in 2014 from the CTT (Collectief voor Transcultureel Therapeuten) in Amsterdam. I am also a second level EFT therapist with a certificate from the International Center for Excellence in Emotional Focused Therapy (ICEEFT).

    My approach is based on systemic therapy concepts. This approach means that the emphasis is not placed on the individual alone, but instead explores behavior patterns and human experience of individuals and their relationship to and interaction with their environment. The focus is on understanding problems in a contextual framework of the system.

    Sessions can take place in our centrally located office in Amsterdam or at your home. I offer counseling in English, German and Dutch.

    Affiliations:

    - NVRG (Nederlandse Vereniging voor Relatie- en Gezinstherapie): NVRG-13064

  • Ooshani Suma

    Co-founder

    Marriage & Family Therapist

    I was born and raised in California as a daughter of immigrant parents. I loved to travel and decided to embark on a new adventure by moving to the Netherlands in 1996 with my Dutch husband. I understand the challenges of moving to another country, leaving behind family, friends, culture, language, and career connections.

    I know how trying it can be to build up a new life (both personal and professional) in a new country, as well as dealing with differences in a bicultural relationship, and raising bilingual children. Because of these personal experiences, I believe that there are a variety of ways to better understand and overcome the hurdles that expat life can present to you.

    Educational background and experience

    I received my Bachelors of Psychology from the University of California, Irvine and my Masters of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania. In the U.S., I worked primarily with adolescents in intramural settings as well as in high schools. I received a Post-Masters degree in Systemic Therapy in 2013 from Lorentzhuis in Haarlem and I am a second level EFT therapist with a certificate from the International Center for Excellence in Emotional Focused Therapy (ICEEFT). I also have a Level 1 +2 training of the Gottman method and I am an EMDR practitioner in training.

    For the past 20+ years, I have worked in a variety of social fields in Amsterdam — from refugees and mentally handicapped families to victims and perpetrators of domestic violence. I have also experience with the expat community and their struggles with adjustment and relocation issues and guiding couples through complex divorces while maintaining the focus on the children.

    Finding the right therapist can be challenging. The alliance between client - therapist, understanding the different (cultural) grids or sometimes just feeling a ‘click’ can make a difference between a successful treatment or not. In therapy, I have a compassionate and open attitude.

    As a native English-speaking therapist, I offer counseling and therapy to individuals, couples and families as well as trainings regarding the escalation process.

    Sessions can take place in our centrally located office in Amsterdam, either in person or online. I speak English and Dutch fluently.

    Affiliations:

    - NVRG (Nederlandse Vereniging voor Relatie- en Gezinstherapie): NVRG-12582
    - EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy) : 4141

  • Gabrielle van Rijn

    Narrative

    Marriage & Family Therapist

    I was born and raised in Amsterdam, where my parents landed after living in Argentina for 8 years. I, too, share their desire to travel and live in other cultures. Together with my French/Spanish husband we have lived in Buenos Aires and recently returned from a 5 year stay in Barcelona. We have two sons together.

    It is the reason why I started working with expats and other immigrants. I love the work! I use my own experiences of having a multi -cultural family and living in different cultures in my work with clients. 

    Educational background and work experience

    I was educated and trained in Amsterdam where I did my Bachelor in Psycho-Social Therapy at Inholland University in 1998 and Masters in Mental Healthcare of Applied Science at Amsterdam University in 2002. In 2010, I received my Post-Masters degree as systemic therapist through RINO. 

    Before starting my own practice in 2013, I have spent many years working in different mental healthcare centers with individuals and families. My work experience has included psychoanalytic, CBT and narrative therapy settings. My therapeutic approach can now easily be labelled as eclectic and adjusted to your personal situation. 

    In the last years, I have worked mainly with individuals, couples, or family members in processes to overcome old patterns and develop new communication and strategies in life. I am a specialist in (adult) ADHD and the effect it can have on your life and that of your family. 

    I believe in the power of language and communication. I am very fond of working with a narrative approach, which uses stories and language to reshape your history and future. In Barcelona, I also trained as a documentary photographer and if you wish, we can combine the two and include therapeutic photography in our work.

    Sessions can be offered in Amsterdam (in person or online).  I offer counseling in English, Dutch, and Spanish.

    Affiliations:

    - NVRG (Nederlandse Vereniging voor Relatie- en Gezinstherapie): NVRG-13021

  • Anna Koops

    Marriage & Family therapist

    I was born and raised in Northern California, and, despite loving the Bay Area, have always wanted to expand my worldview and experience a different culture and country. I was able to make that dream a reality through my recent move to Amsterdam with my family (and dog!), and understand the complicated feelings that come with such a huge transition.

    I get how easy it is for difficult emotions and tricky relationship issues to emerge, or reappear, while living in a place far away from one's former country, family, and friends, which is why I love working with the expat community. 

    Educational background and experience:

    I received my B.A. from California State University Chico, and an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies. From 2010-2012, I completed 3,000 hours of clinical work with children, individuals and couples, supervised by various master clinicians, in addition to passing three licensing exams, to obtain my MFT (Marriage and Family Therapy) license in the state of California.

    I have worked with a diverse range of clients  on issues including anxiety, depression, phobias, work performance, disordered eating, addiction, family estrangement, sex and intimacy, conflict resolution, and separation and divorce. 
    Although I adopt various techniques to meet each client where they are, I draw on past training in CBT, DBT, mindfulness, psychoanalytic psychotherapy, and family systems. I have also completed an EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy) externship with a certification from ICEEFT.

    Although skill and experience are important to the therapeutic relationship, the most important factor in treatment is the good relationship between therapist and client. Open mindedness, humor, sharp insightfulness, and empathy are a few characteristics former clients have used to describe some traits of mine that have been helpful. But meeting in person is the best way to find out whether a therapist like myself will work for you. I'm happy to meet in person in my office in Amsterdam or online. 

    Affiliations:

    - MFT  licensed in California: MFT 88190
    - CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists)
    - ICEEFT 
    - PINC (Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California)

  • Dr Ramón Karamat Ali

    Couple Therapist and Family & Systemic Psychotherapist

    My name is Ramón, and I am a Dutch-Surinamese psychologist who was born in the Netherlands, and trained in Netherlands, South Africa, and mostly in the UK. I am the eldest of three from an intercultural relationship. I am in an intercultural marriage myself with a Capetonian for more than 25 years and have personal experience of the joys of diversity as well as the tricky and challenging aspects of being part of an intercultural marriage with two amazing children. Since 1998 we are working and living in the UK. My working life as a therapist, supervisor and trainer I spend in the UK and the Netherlands, and occasionally in South Africa.

    Educational background and experience:

    I obtained my MSc in (Counselling) Psychology from the Vrije Universiteit (‘Free University’) in Amsterdam in 1997. After moving to the UK, I completed the Masters in Systemic Therapy at the Tavistock in London in 2003, became an Approved Supervisor in 2010 from the Institute of Family Therapy, and obtained my doctorate in Psychotherapy in 2014. In addition to the required ongoing training, one needs to do for continued registration as a therapist and supervisor, I have undertaken training in ANT (Attachment Narrative Therapy), MST (Multisystemic Therapy), DDP (Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy), ABFT (Attachment-Based Family Therapy, and I have trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing).

    My working life I have dedicated mostly to working with families with adolescents and trauma, and to working with couples in distress. In terms of specific training in couple counselling and marital therapy, I have had training in EFT (Hold Me Tight), PREP, the John Gottman Method, and I am very taken by the insights and writings of Esther Perel.

    How I work:

    I would describe my work as process-driven, goal-oriented, culturally sensitive, and systemic. This means that I consider people’s backgrounds (racially, culturally, in terms of class, faith, and language, to name a few), think intergenerationally, and always think of the context of people’s lives as individuals and in relation to others. From research we know that the therapeutic relationship is an important factor to successful counselling and therapy, hence I hope to co-create with clients that respectful space to do effective therapy.

    Even before the pandemic, I had experience of working online, but this has become a feature of some of the work I undertake with individuals and couples, esp. since global movement has meant that family relationships and those with friends and significant others are spread out. To do justice to the complexity of the therapeutic work there may well be a reason to involve others, and online platforms can offer support with this.

    I am delighted to join Expats Counselling Centre in Amsterdam with Ooshani, Jessica and the team. I will be offering most of my sessions online but will be in Amsterdam on a regular basis to see people in person at the consulting rooms. It is important to establish a safe and strong working relationship for the therapy to have the most impact, and so I recommend for us to meet in person at the start and occasionally thereafter at a mutually agreed date and time.

    It is important to find that ‘fit’ with your therapist, both you, your partner, and/or child(ren). I do like that at ECC there is a recognition of its importance, and a 20 min free consultation is offered to assist you making the right decision. I am looking forward to meeting with you, if you so wish.

    Affiliations:

    - AFT (Association of Family Therapy and Systemic Practice)

    - NVRG (Nederlandse Vereniging voor Relatie- en Gezinstherapie)

    - UKCP (United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy)

  • Kiki

    Office Dog

    Kiki is an essential member of our team  (and she may well be our clients’ favorite). She is present on a daily basis at our office, offering affection and serenity to those who want it, and tolerating being pet continuously by those who like to do so. Kiki has years of experience as a support dog at the Expat Counseling Center, always sitting in on her owner Jessica’s sessions.