From the North Sea to Bali: how Eduard started his own recovery practice
From process operator on an offshore platform to recovery coach in Bali – Eduard Volkersz made a radical change in his life. After years of battling addiction and a successful career in the offshore industry, he decided to take a different path. In 2023, he enrolled in the Dutch training programme Addiction and Recovery Coaching and Counselling at the Academy for Coaching and Counselling (ACC). In this interview, he speaks candidly about his personal journey, his motivation to support others, and his dream of guiding people towards recovery – surrounded by the natural beauty of Bali.
From offshore work to inner work
“I worked in shifts for years – first in the pharmaceutical sector, then in the chemical industry. My dream job came true in 2011: working as a process operator on a platform in the North Sea. But despite all the success, I felt something gnawing at me deep down. My history with addiction had left its mark. And somehow I knew: if I ever wanted to do something truly meaningful, I had to use my own experience to help others.”
Still, it took time for Eduard to take that step. “I had a good job, a great salary… Leaving it all behind was incredibly difficult. But when I attended an open day at the ACC in 2020 and spoke with teacher Lya Young-Afat, I just knew: this is where I need to be.”
The power of living it through
“What really appealed to me about the training programme was that it’s not just about techniques and models – you go through a deep personal process yourself,” Eduard explains. “That inner journey was possibly the most valuable part for me. I learned to let go of my head and trust my intuition. To allow silence in conversations. To be truly present with someone.”
One moment that particularly moved him was a family constellation session during the programme. “It became painfully clear how emotionally distant I had become from my family. When a fellow student confronted me with the belief ‘it was my own fault’, something clicked. It uncovered a deep-rooted conviction that had driven much of my addictive behaviour.”
Building a new future
Eduard is now establishing his own practice. Since April 2025, he has completely left his work as a process operator behind and now lives in Bali, where he supports clients in their recovery. “I’ve felt firsthand how healing nature can be and I wanted to combine that power with coaching. Starting this August, I’ll be offering 12-day recovery retreats at a beautiful location in the jungle of North Bali. I also want to offer support online, so I can help people no matter where they are.”
In his practice, he integrates techniques from other therapeutic approaches he has been trained in along the way: inner child work, breathwork, family constellations, as well as EFT, Ho’oponopono, and insights from the polyvagal theory. “I’m still exploring what really suits me, but one thing I know for sure: I want to help people reclaim their strength, feel self-love, and rediscover meaning in life.”
The book that ties it all together
Alongside his coaching practice, Eduard has realised another project: his first book. Een retourtje naar de Filistijnen (‘A return ticket to rock bottom’), published in April 2025, is an autobiographical novel about his years of addiction and the spiritual journey that helped him break free.
“The book begins at a retreat in Mallorca, where my inner transformation really started. I looked back on ten years of addiction – the despair and the relapses – but also how I eventually found the way inward. I hope the book inspires people to take action – even those who have no interest in spirituality.”
And finally: why the ACC?
Eduard warmly recommends the training programme: “Especially for people who want to use their lived experience in the field of addiction recovery. The ACC offers a broad range of tools, but also the space to develop your own unique style as a coach. The connection with teachers and fellow students is incredibly valuable. This course has laid the foundation for building my new life.”
Interested in the Addiction and Recovery Coaching and Counselling course?
Discover more about the training programme Addiction and Recovery Coaching and Counselling at the Academy for Coaching and Counselling – and discover how you too, like Eduard, can make a difference in the lives of others.
