For 30 years, we have been the leading training institute for coaches and counsellors in the Netherlands and internationally. The ACC offers training programmes in which people discover and develop their own talents, and learn to guide others in their process.

During these events, our teachers, alumni and study adviser will be on hand to answer your questions. You can sign up for one of the following sessions:

• Saturday 6 June 2026 – Open day in Utrecht
• Thursday 11 June 2026 – Online session via Zoom

What to expect during our open days:

• Receive information about all our coaching and counselling training programmes.
• Get informed about our accreditations and recognitions.
• Discover what can you achieve with our education.
• Meet our team, teachers, and alumni.
• View our course materials.
• Receive personalised advice from our study adviser.

Participation is free of charge.
Would you like to attend? Click here for the overview of open days.

Het bericht Register for one of our open days in June 2026 verscheen eerst op Academy for Coaching and Counselling.

For each programme, you will find the overview of starting dates per training location on the Location and dates tab. On this tab, you can download the class schedule, view the location details for each location and register for the training programme.

Are you curious about a training programmes or looking for personalised study advice? Our study advisor is here to help. Get in touch with us today and discover which course best suits your future.

In June 2026, we will once again be organising an open day and an online information session. Participation is free of charge.

Het bericht Now online: the schedules for fall 2026 verscheen eerst op Academy for Coaching and Counselling.

For more than 25 years, Lya was devoted to our institute. With great dedication, expertise, and heartfelt commitment, she made an indispensable contribution to our academy. She guided countless students in both their professional and personal growth, leaving a lasting impression through her knowledge, warmth, and keen insight. For many, she was not only a teacher, but also a mentor, a source of inspiration, and a steadfast support.

Her dedication to her profession and to the people she worked with was profound. She worked tirelessly to uphold the quality of education and to nurture the well-being and development of her students. Her influence reaches far beyond the classroom; it lives on in the work of the many professionals she helped shape and guide.

We realise that this news may bring up many emotions. Whether you knew her as a student, supervisee, client, or colleague, her passing touches us all. We wish you much strength and comfort as you process this loss.

Were You One of Lya’s Supervisees?

Lya supervised many students. If you are currently in a supervision trajectory with her, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will gladly think along with you about arranging a suitable replacement supervisor.

Update on the Farewell and Funeral of Lya Young-Afat

To honour Lya’s life and to take leave of her, there are several opportunities available should you wish to attend. This week, there are three occasions on which you may say your farewell:

1. Live Farewell Gathering (open to all)

On Thursday 5 March, from 3:00 to 4:30 PM, there will be an opportunity to say goodbye to Lya at Uitvaartcentrum Arenapoort Amsterdam Zuid-Oost (Hoorneboeg 1, 1102 BK Amsterdam). Everyone is warmly welcome.

Please note: Lya’s coffin will remain open during this gathering and will be closed afterwards.

2. Funeral Service (private, with public livestream)

The cremation will take place in a private setting on Saturday 7 March at 1:45 PM in Amsterdam. However, the service may be followed by all via a livestream.

Livestream link: https://live-ceremonie.nl

Ceremony ID: 156057
Password: muzq9rrvxvh3

3. Online Memorial Gathering ACC – Wednesday 4 March

ACC will host an online memorial gathering via Zoom on Wednesday evening, 4 March, from 7:00 to 8:00 PM. All who feel the need for support, wish to speak with others, or would like to share memories of Lya are most welcome to attend.

It is no longer possible to register for the Online Memorial Gathering.

We wish everyone much strength and comfort in coping with this heartbreaking news and in mourning the loss of Lya.

Het bericht In memoriam teacher Lya Young-Afat verscheen eerst op Academy for Coaching and Counselling.

Friday 20 March 2026
Coaching and Counselling Year 1 – Utrecht

Saturday 21 March 2026
Coaching and Counselling Year 1 – Amsterdam
Coaching and Counselling Year 2 – Amsterdam

Saturday 28 March 2026
Coaching and Counselling Year 2 – Online

Friday 10 April 2026
Coaching and Counselling Year 1 – Online

Saturday 11 April 2026
Coaching and Counselling Year 1 – Online

On our website, on the ‘Location and dates’ tab, you will find an overview of the starting dates for each training programme. Here you can download the class schedules, discover the class locations and register for the programme.

Het bericht Register now for a training programme starting in spring 2026 verscheen eerst op Academy for Coaching and Counselling.

Self-confidence as a starting point

Self-confidence is the belief in one’s own ability. It largely shapes how someone thinks, feels and behaves. A client with low self-confidence may doubt their decisions, struggle to set boundaries or continually question themselves. In coaching, strengthening this confidence is essential if clients are to move forward with courage.

What can you do as a coach?

• Acknowledge small successes: Highlight what is going well, even if it seems minor. This helps clients recognise their own strengths.
• Use scaling questions: For example, “On a scale of 1 to 10, how confident do you feel about this?” Then explore together what would help move that number up by one point.
• Reflect and affirm: Name the qualities you observe, even if the client cannot yet see them. “What stands out to me is that you did take the step to be here today.”

Wellbeing: creating space for growth

Where self-confidence influences doing, wellbeing relates to being. Does someone feel safe, heard and accepted? When that foundation is present, space opens for reflection, growth and change. When it is missing, clients often remain in survival mode.

How can you support this as a coach?

• Build psychological safety: Be congruent, non-judgemental and fully present.
• Slow the pace: Allow space for emotions. “What is happening for you as you say that?”
• Work with values: Explore what truly matters to someone. Connecting to core values strengthens a sense of direction and meaning.

Self-Confidence + Wellbeing = Resilience

When people trust themselves and feel good about who they are, resilience develops: the capacity to cope with setbacks, learn from mistakes and rise again. As a coach, you support clients not only in achieving their goals, but also in finding inner calm, clarity and strength.

The next step in your development as a coach

In our Coaching and Counselling Year 1 and Year 2 programmes, you will learn how to work in depth on strengthening self-confidence and wellbeing. You will gain coaching methodologies that help clients (re)discover their strengths, explore internal barriers and move forward with greater self-awareness and calm. Because sustainable change begins from within.

Interested in our approach? Download the free trial lesson from Coaching and Counselling Year 1 and see the difference a comprehensive training can make.

Het bericht Self-confidence and wellbeing: foundations for growth in coaching verscheen eerst op Academy for Coaching and Counselling.

During the information session, you will:

• Receive information about our training programmes and modules.
• Get informed about our accreditations and recognitions, and what can you achieve with our education.
• Meet the ACC’s staff and teachers.
• Discover whether the coaching profession suits you.
• Receive advice from our study advisor.

The session will take place from 7.00 p.m. until 9.00 p.m. and participation is free of charge. Click here for more information about the event and to sign up.

Het bericht Sign up for our Online Information Session on 24 February 2026 verscheen eerst op Academy for Coaching and Counselling.

That is why homework assignments are not an ‘extra’, but an essential part of a powerful coaching process. They create depth, awareness, and sustainable behavioural change.

From insight to integration

A coaching conversation can be inspiring and insightful, but without follow-up there is a risk that insights fade. Homework assignments help anchor those insights in practice. They bridge the gap between thinking and doing – between knowing and experiencing.

By trying something out, practising, or reflecting between sessions, the coachee integrates what has been discussed. In this way, not only awareness grows, but also the ability to respond differently to situations.

Encouraging self-direction

One of the aims of coaching is to strengthen ownership and autonomy. By giving your coachee assignments, you encourage self-exploration, initiative, and responsibility. It reinforces their role as an active participant in the process – rather than a passive recipient of advice.

Homework also supports motivation: it makes progress visible. Coachees notice they are taking steps, that they have influence, that they can grow. This has a reinforcing effect.

What kind of assignments can you give?

Homework assignments do not need to be complex. What matters most is that they align with the goal of the session and the person in front of you. Some examples:

• Reflection questions: What have you noticed this week in your behaviour or thoughts? What worked well / what did not?
• Behavioural tasks: Try consciously saying ‘no’ once a day / initiate a feedback conversation / meditate for five minutes.
• Observation: What happens in your body when you feel tension? How do you respond to criticism?
• Creative tasks: Write a letter to your future self / create a values collage / keep a mood journal.
• Preparation: Reflect on a question for the next session or bring in a case example.

What makes a good homework assignment?

An effective homework assignment is:

• Short and achievable
• Concrete and purposeful
• Connected to the coachee’s question or goal
• Inviting self-reflection or action
• Can be discussed in the next session

Always discuss the assignment clearly: what is the purpose, how will the coachee approach it, and how will it be reviewed next time? This prevents it from feeling like an obligation and makes it a meaningful part of the process.

From coaching to habit

Homework assignments ensure that coaching has an impact beyond the session. They help coachees recognise patterns, take new steps, and ultimately influence their behaviour, thinking, and emotions in a lasting way.

In short, as a coach you do not only help people during the conversation – you help the conversation continue to work in their lives. Homework is one of your most powerful tools for making that happen.

Do you use homework assignments in your coaching practice?

Experiment with different forms and actively explore with your coachee what works best for them. The better the assignment fits, the greater the chance of sustainable change. This topic is also addressed in our Coaching and Counselling Year 1 training programme, where you learn how to use homework assignments effectively within a coaching trajectory.

Het bericht Homework in coaching: Why it is the key to sustainable change verscheen eerst op Academy for Coaching and Counselling.

During the open day, you will:

• Receive information about our training programmes and modules.
• Get informed about our accreditations and recognitions, and what can you achieve with our education.
• Meet the ACC’s staff, teachers and former students.
• Discover whether the coaching profession suits you.
• View the course materials for all programmes.
• Receive advice from our study advisors.

The open day will take place from 1.00 p.m. until 4.30 p.m. and participation is free of charge. Click here for more information about the event and to sign up.

Het bericht Sign up for our Open Day on Saturday 24 January 2026 verscheen eerst op Academy for Coaching and Counselling.

The fact that these issues so often occur together is not coincidental. Research shows that psychological vulnerability and addiction frequently interact and reinforce one another. For professionals working in coaching and counselling, it is important to understand this relationship, while remaining clear about the boundaries of their role and not stepping into treatment.

Addiction and mental health in the Netherlands

According to figures from the Trimbos Institute, around two million people in the Netherlands engage in risky or heavy alcohol use. Approximately 600,000 people experience problematic alcohol use. In addition, hundreds of thousands struggle with problematic drug use or behavioural addictions such as gambling or gaming.

The most recent Mental Health Monitor (RIVM & Trimbos Institute, 2025) shows that mental health in the Netherlands continues to be under pressure. Around one in five adults experiences psychological complaints such as anxiety, low mood or stress. This vulnerability is particularly evident among young people and young adults, who report higher levels of depressive symptoms, stress, performance pressure and mental exhaustion than previous generations.

In this monitor, RIVM and Trimbos emphasise that mental health difficulties are a significant risk factor for problematic substance use. Combined with the widespread availability and social acceptance of substances and addictive behaviours, this helps explain why addiction and mental health problems so often co-occur.

Mental health conditions and self-medication

For many people, addiction is not a conscious choice but a way of coping with psychological pain. Alcohol may temporarily reduce tension, cannabis can promote relaxation, and stimulant substances may dampen low mood or concentration difficulties. This pattern is commonly described as self-medication.

While this may offer short-term relief, research consistently shows that in the longer term it often leads to a worsening of mental health problems and increasing dependence. The substance does not resolve the underlying issues; it merely masks them for a time.

For coaches, it is important to recognise that stopping substance use alone is often insufficient if underlying psychological vulnerability is not addressed.

When substance use causes mental health problems

The relationship between addiction and mental health also works in the opposite direction. Prolonged or intensive substance use can cause or exacerbate mental health difficulties. Alcohol use is associated with depressive symptoms, stimulant use with anxiety and agitation, and cannabis use with psychotic symptoms in vulnerable individuals.

Behavioural addictions such as gambling or gaming are also frequently linked to stress, shame and low mood. Financial difficulties, relationship problems and social isolation can further intensify psychological distress.

International research shows that among people seeking help for addiction, more than half also meet the criteria for one or more mental health conditions. This significantly increases the complexity of both support and recovery.

Dual diagnosis and recovery

In cases of dual diagnosis, addiction and mental health difficulties often reinforce each other in a vicious cycle. Anxiety or low mood may lead to increased substance use, while that substance use in turn worsens psychological symptoms.

Both research and practice demonstrate that recovery becomes more challenging when only one side of the problem is addressed. Focusing solely on abstinence without attending to psychological vulnerability increases the risk of relapse. Conversely, mental health support is less effective if substance use remains unaddressed.

For coaches and counsellors, this means working with complex presentations while maintaining clear professional boundaries.

Training programme in Addiction and Recovery Coaching and Counselling

In the Addiction and Recovery Coaching and Counselling training programme, we prepare professionals to support people through all stages of addiction and recovery. Participants learn how addictive processes develop, how recovery can take shape, and the role that psychological vulnerability plays within this process.

At the same time, it is central to the training that a coach is not a therapist or clinician. The programme focuses on:

• recognising mental health difficulties;
• providing support within a coaching and counselling framework;
• working with motivation and recovery-oriented thinking;
• collaborating with other professionals;
• and making timely and appropriate referrals when necessary.

This approach reflects what research consistently shows: sustainable change requires collaboration and clear role boundaries between coaching, counselling and treatment.

Knowing your boundaries as a coach

Because mental health conditions are so common in the context of addiction, it is essential that coaches understand what they can and cannot responsibly support. Knowing when coaching alone is insufficient, and when referral is required, is a key aspect of professional practice.

In conclusion

The rise in mental health difficulties in the Netherlands, particularly among young people, makes the connection between addiction and mental health increasingly visible. Research shows that these issues frequently influence and reinforce one another.

For coaches and counsellors, this highlights the importance of broad knowledge, reflective practice and clear professional boundaries. With the right training, it is possible to support people in recovery with sensitivity to their psychological vulnerability, while remaining firmly within one’s professional role.

Sources and research

• Mental Health Monitor. National Report 2025, RIVM & Trimbos Institute
• Kessler et al. (2005), National Comorbidity Survey (USA)
  Demonstrates that more than 50% of people with addiction also have a mental health condition.
• EMCDDA (European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction)
  Reports consistently high rates of dual diagnosis within addiction services.
• NICE Guidelines & WHO
  Recognise self-medication as an important factor in the development of addiction.

Het bericht Addiction and mental health conditions: Why they so often co-occur verscheen eerst op Academy for Coaching and Counselling.

As a training institute for coaches and counsellors, we recognise this development clearly – not only because it places a burden on the GGZ, but because it highlights the growing demand for accessible, preventative and human-centred support. Coaching and counselling can play a vital role in this.

The GGZ as the ‘first stop’

According to De Nederlandse ggz, the GGZ increasingly acts as the first port of call for people experiencing stress, low mood, sleep problems, loneliness or performance pressure. These complaints are understandable in a society where expectations are high, social networks are shrinking, and life seems to move ever faster. Yet they do not always require specialist mental health care.

In the article, GGZ organisation Arkin highlights the importance of timely and appropriate support, ideally as early as possible. The sooner issues are identified and addressed, the more manageable they often are. At the same time, this also suggests that not every request for help needs to result in a treatment trajectory within the GGZ. Sometimes guidance, reflection and practical support are enough to help someone regain balance.

Prevention and early support

Public debate often focuses on schools, universities and employers as places where preventative action can be taken – for example through mental health education, open drop-in hours or anonymous online support. These are valuable initiatives. At the same time, we see as a training institute that the role of individual coaches and counsellors in this field is equally important.

Not everyone seeks support through school or work. Many people walk around with questions or complaints that they prefer to discuss one-to-one, away from their immediate environment. An independent coach or counsellor can provide a safe, accessible and confidential space for this. These professionals can help clarify complaints, recognise patterns, and explore what someone truly needs.

Uncovering underlying causes

Another important point – also noted by GGZ organisation Dimence – is that psychological complaints often stem from underlying problems. Debt, relationship tensions, work pressure, loss or questions about meaning and purpose can present as depressive or anxiety symptoms. If only the symptoms are treated without attention to context, there is a risk that the core of the problem remains unaddressed.

Coaches and counsellors are trained to take a broad perspective. Together with the client, they explore what is happening in their life as a whole. Through exploratory conversations, targeted questions and practical exercises, clients gain insights and space for change. In many cases, psychological complaints decrease as a result – sometimes to the extent that further care is no longer necessary.

Building resilience instead of medicalising

Another key theme from the article is resilience. Arkin notes that people increasingly struggle to cope with setbacks that are simply part of life. Sadness, disappointment, stress or grief are more quickly labelled as problematic, even though they are intrinsic to being human. This does not mean people must face these alone, but it does mean that guidance can sometimes focus more on coping with such experiences rather than medicalising them immediately.

Coaching and counselling align with this approach seamlessly. They help people develop skills such as self-reflection, emotional regulation, setting boundaries and strengthening social relationships. Attention to lifestyle – such as exercise, sleep and balancing effort with rest – also plays a role. This contributes to sustainable mental health and prevents mild complaints from escalating.

The importance of training and professionalism

It is crucial that coaches and counsellors are well trained. Working with people and their mental wellbeing requires knowledge, ethics and self-reflection. In our Coaching and Counselling programmes, we train professionals who take this responsibility seriously.

Our programmes offer a solid foundation in conversation techniques, psychology, and coaching and counselling skills. Students learn not only how to guide clients effectively, but also when it is important to refer to other professionals or services. Well-trained coaches therefore contribute to a healthy care landscape in which collaboration and clear boundaries are central.

Coaching as a link in the care landscape

Coaches and counsellors do not replace the GGZ – nor should they. Their strength lies in complementing other forms of care. They form an important link between self-reliance, informal support and specialist treatment. By supporting people early on, they can reduce pressure on the GGZ and simultaneously improve the quality of support available.

Coaches also help increase awareness: people learn that there are more options than simply “put up with it” or “go to the GGZ”. Sometimes a conversation with a coach, a short course or joining a group is enough to regain perspective.

Investing in the future of mental health

As a training institute, we believe that the future of mental health lies in a broad approach: prevention, early identification, accessible guidance and specialist care where needed. By investing in the training of coaches and counsellors, we invest in resilient individuals and a more accessible care system.

Not every complaint belongs in the GGZ. But every request for help deserves attention, to be taken seriously, and to receive the appropriate form of support. Well-trained coaches and counsellors can make that difference – today and in the future.

Sources

NU.nl – GGZ increasingly the ‘first stop’ for people with complaints that are actually too mild

Het bericht Not Every Complaint Belongs in the GGZ: The Role of Coaching verscheen eerst op Academy for Coaching and Counselling.