Erik Willems
“Trying to be better than yourself is easier than being yourself.” – Marion Woodman
What inspires you to be a teacher?
For me, teaching is a way of bringing together experience, knowledge and curiosity. I enjoy helping professionals gain new insights while encouraging them to think critically and develop their own authentic style. The most rewarding moments are when theory suddenly comes to life in a conversation with a client. I believe that good education does more than transfer knowledge – it gives people the confidence to apply that knowledge in practice. If students leave a class seeing people, recovery or themselves from a new perspective, then I have achieved my goal.
About me
I am a psychosocial therapist and hypnotherapist, and I work as a group therapist within addiction care. In my private practice in Amsterdam, I have been supporting people with a wide range of addiction- and anxiety-related issues for more than 15 years. I also work as a group counsellor at Intomeyousee, where I facilitate groups for men struggling with sex, love and attention addiction (SLA), sometimes alongside substance and/or alcohol addiction. Before becoming a therapist, I spent many years working in the theatre as an actor, director, writer and teacher.
My expertise and passion
My expertise lies in addiction, behavioural change and recovery. What fascinates me most is understanding what lies beneath addictive behaviour. My work goes beyond the behaviour itself, exploring themes such as attachment, shame, trauma, emotional regulation and the fundamental human need for connection. I work with both individuals and groups, integrating a range of therapeutic approaches while always adapting my work to the person in front of me rather than relying on a single method.
Recovering from addiction is one of the most profound and challenging journeys many people will ever experience. It is rarely a straightforward process. In my experience, lasting change does not happen simply because people gain more knowledge. It happens when something shifts in the way they see themselves, their personal history and the possibilities available to them. Witnessing that gradual transition from insight to genuine transformation is what makes this work so meaningful to me.
Why have you chosen to teach for the ACC?
The ACC is a well-established and respected training institute with a long history of educating professionals. Although I have only recently become acquainted with the ACC, I have experienced the organisation as highly committed, knowledgeable and genuinely dedicated to both its students and the quality of its education. That combination of professionalism and humanity reflects my own values and the way I work. I believe that education should not only provide knowledge but also help students develop a well-founded professional identity and way of working. I am delighted to contribute to that process.
Who is my hero and why?
I am not really someone who has heroes. However, if I had to name one person, it would be Carl Rogers. His belief that genuine change takes place within a relationship where people feel truly seen, heard and accepted continues to be one of the fundamental principles that guides my work. I also admire his humility. He was never interested in applying techniques for their own sake; he was interested in genuinely meeting the person in front of him. That is an attitude I strive to bring into both my therapeutic work and my teaching.
