About Annabelle van Nieuwkoop-Read
Neuro-affirming Therapist & Trainer | Creating Neuro and Queer-Affirming Spaces Where Being Divergent is Beautiful | Helping Neurodivergent People feel truly seen & heard.
My Journey & Identity
I was born in 1981 and grew up in England. At 23, I began my training to become a therapist—a path that has since been rich with meaningful experiences and connections. I have lived in the Netherlands since 2006, spending most of my adult life here. Holding both passports, I am not quite Dutch, yet I am no longer entirely British either. I am truly content with how that is. I identify as Neurodivergent and invite you to read My Story. I have over twenty years of experience working as a therapist or counsellor in International Education settings, social work and private practice. I value working in diverse environments. In addition to the therapy I offer through Nurturing Neurodiversity Netherlands, I work as a freelance Student Counsellor at Codam College (Amsterdam).
Advocacy & Approach
I am deeply passionate about neuro and queer-affirming care, therapy, training, and support. I also embrace a social activist role outside the therapeutic room, actively writing about neuro-affirming practices, consulting, and leading workshops. For me, meeting and connecting with new people is the heart of my work. Being trusted with your life story and walking alongside you on your journey is a privilege I never take for granted.
I hope to meet you soon!
Annabelle
Experience
Academic
- MA Arts Therapy (Drama)
- MEd Autism
- Psychosocial Therapy
- ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
Clinical experience
Over twenty years of experience as a Counsellor and Therapist in various settings:
- Trauma Care
- Primary (International) Education
- Secondary (International) Education
- Private Practice
The four core modalities of Nurturing Neurodiversity Netherlands
Neuro- affirming
To be neuro-affirming means embracing and acknowledging variations in learning and development, rather than subscribing to dominant deficit narratives.
Relational
I value building a trusted relationship with my clients. To build that trust, I am committed to self-disclosure and will share (when appropriate) about myself to help convey humility, humanity and understanding.
Arts Therapy
Finding your words in therapy can feel hard at times. I incorporate creative methods of expression, such as writing, drawing, or role-play. This can be a helpful way to help a client find the right words and name the feelings and thoughts they are experiencing.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
BOOK A CONSULTATION
In this beautiful encounter, I explore the stages of shared later diagnosis with Leen. I was privileged to be invited to be part of this wonderful project from Laudace, Flip the Neuro-tive. Flip the Neuro-tive is a series of conversations and interviews with Neurodivergent adults. Sharing our stories increases awareness, acceptance, and common humanity. You can learn more about Flip the Neuro-tive and watch other episodes in this meaningful series.
