My mission
I believe it is time for us humans to open up to the gifts of life on this earth. Seeing that westernised culture is widely cut off from its natural roots, I felt my mission from young age on; reconnecting humans with their belongingness to nature.
I like to work radically, from the root of things. Under the many planetary and individual crises we face today, lies a crisis of inattention and disconnection. Inattention for the gifts of life in itself and a disconnection from human’s belongingness to nature. If we want to sustain future life, we need not only to slow down, stop planetary destruction and restore the ecological balance; but we need to regenerate the collective psyche and fall back in love with our home, the earth. From this awareness we can start envisioning a world our hearts know is possible.
Join me!
my path
Being born into a performance-driven, industrial growth society that is valuing economic growth over people and ecological well-being, I started questioning this way of operating from an early age on.
As someone who is sensitive, empathetic and drawn towards the mystics, I felt misplaced growing up in a culture that is afraid of the liberation and celebration of nature and women.
In my early 20’s after I graduated from my Psychology study, I went on a self-study journey to study books around Deep Ecology, Ecopsychology and Eco-Feminism.
As my knowledge expanded, I decided to make time to integrate and embody what I have learned. That is when I went on a journey of unwrapping layers of social conditioning and limiting beliefs.
Nature turned out to be my biggest teacher on this path as I started spending much of my time in intimacy with the forest, river, plants and wildlife. As I immersed into the wilderness around me, I started to explore my inner nature, my own seasonal cycles, my authentic core.
This work touched me deeply, empowered me and let me fall back in love with this beautiful life.
Scroll down to read about my Trainings & Experiences that have shaped my work.
“There is abundance of beauty waiting for us to get explored. All we need to do is allow ourselves to land in the moment and open our heart widely.”
-Lara-
Trainings & Experiences
2024
Masterclasses Nature connection - at the Voedseltuin and Rotterdamse Munt
Autumn, Rotterdam
In collaboration with the two initiatives I have created 8 masterclasses in total that included Ecopsychology theory and exercises, somatic practices, self-designed ritual and plant knowledge. After each lesson, participants received take-home practices to deepen and integrate their knowledge.
Click here for more info.
2024
Courses Nature connection - at the Voedseltuin and Rotterdamse Munt
Summer, Rotterdam
In collaboration with the two initiatives I have created 2 courses that each contained 4 guided classes. The course included Ecopsychology theory and exercises, somatic practices, self-designed ritual and plant knowledge. After each lesson, participants received take-home practices to deepen and integrate their knowledge.
Click here for more info.
2023-2024
Study in Applied Ecopsychology - EcoTuner®, 1 year
Internationally certified (International Ecopsychology Society), Nov ‘24
Being trained to guide individuals and groups in the encounter and relationship with nature through in-depth reflection and introspection, and through pleasant and playful activities in and with nature.
2023
Returning Course - 6 week long Autumn Initiation
Developing and teaching a 6-week long course around Ecopsychology and Mindfulness, with the focus on integrating the inner transition from Summer to Autumn.
Unfolding Course - 6 week long Spring Initiation
Developing and teaching a 6-week long course around Ecopsychology and Mindfulness, with the focus on integrating the inner transition from Winter to Spring.
2022
Co-facilitator of the Youth Exchange ‘With Nature’ at the Catfarm Community
Through facilitating sharing circles and workshops on Mindfulness, Ecopsychology, Nature Connection and Foraging, I co-created this 10 day training for young adults who come from diverse urban backgrounds.
2021
Ecopsychology Course ECO 500(A), Project NatureConnect
Getting acquainted with knowledge and applied practises on healing the mind through Ecotherapy.
Resilience of Change Workshop series, Foundation Taste Before you Waste (TBYW) and National Fund NME
In collaboration, I’ve developed a workshop series that benefits change makers and activists working on the fore front of environmental and social justice. Participants got equipped with tools on resilience and well-being.
2020
Mindfulness Trainer (MBSR), Centrum voor Mindfulness in Amsterdam
Educated towards being a certified trainer Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR).
Spiritual Ecology Course, Annick Nevejan& Maaike Boumans
Learning how inner spiritual work fuels outer change towards a more fair and life-sustaining future.
Deep Adaptation& Radical Resilience Course, St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace
Working through the 4 R’s of deep adaptation in times of climate emergency / collapse: reconciliation, relinquishment, resilience and restoration.
Birth of The Root Of Life
(Co-)Facilitating workshops on Nature Connection and Spiritual Activism.
Visiting and learning from different eco-communities that are co-creating a regenerative future around Germany.
2019-2021
Project Coordinator at Stichting Bildung
Co-facilitating events and projects around community building, art, social,-and environmental justice organised by the foundation itself and/or external organisations/individuals. Besides, I co-initiated a weekly food market, where rescued food was distributed to local people in need. This work taught me about the importance of intersectionality.
2019
General Coordinator at grassroots foundation ‘Taste Before You Waste’
After my studies, I got a job offer to coordinate this Amsterdam based initiative that is creating awareness around food justice through offering hands on knowledge on ways to reduce food waste. This work allowed me to develop my facilitator and leadership skills, as well as introduced me to the bigger topic of social& environmental justice.
2014-2018
Bachelor Degree in Psychology
My Psychology study taught me all about the human psyche from a Western Scientific perspective. In my thesis I researched the psychological factors that motivate people to be the change they want to see in the world.