SOPHIE ZIJLSTRA
About Sophie
As a psychologist and Vedic meditation teacher, I help people find inner peace, balance, and happiness from within.
From a young age, I have had a deep interest in the human psyche. After years of study and work experience, I discovered how meditation and psychotherapy complement each other. In my private practice, I combine Western psychology with Vedic philosophy and techniques to support clients in a holistic way, fostering lasting results and growth.
My holistic approach is rooted in both my professional experience as a psychologist and my own personal journey. Through experiences of loss, self-discovery, and learning to truly feel and navigate my emotions, I have come to understand the importance of approaching wellbeing as a whole.
The ancient wisdom of the Vedic tradition has played a profound role in that journey, helping me reconnect with a deeper sense of meaning and a more grounded way of being. Meditation and this wisdom have become an essential part of my life—not only personally, but also in the way I understand and support the people I work with.
I bring both perspectives together in my work: the depth and understanding of psychology, alongside the timeless insights of the Vedic tradition.
Beneath the anxiety, stress, depression and exhaustion, there is often a much older pain — a pain that never had the space to be felt. That is where my work begins. Not by eliminating symptoms, but by learning to feel and tolerate what is truly going on.
In my practice, the focus is on creating a deeper relationship with yourself. A relationship in which you may, perhaps for the first time, allow yourself to become the most important person in your own life. Where you are not treated as a collection of symptoms, but seen as a human being, in your entirety.
I like to explore where something began. Not to remain stuck in the past, but because you can only truly heal when you are able to return to the core. From there, space emerges to simply be and to begin experiencing who you truly are, beyond the ideas of who you think you should be.
Education and work experience
Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Child Psychology
Master’s degree in Criminology
2016–2020
Psychologist and Family Therapist, Forensic Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
2020
Intentional pause — travel, personal development, and an introduction to Vedic philosophy
2021
Meditation training (1 Giant Mind Academy) — start private practice
2022–2025
Addiction treatment in Thailand and the Netherlands
2024
Trained in EMDR for the treatment of psychological trauma
2025
Certified Vedic Meditation Teacher
What you can expect from me
Much of what keeps us stuck is there because we don’t dare to truly feel it.
We think about it, analyze it, and try to understand it, but in doing so, we often avoid meeting what is actually there. In my work, I invite people to have that meeting and to turn toward what they feel, not in order to suffer, but because on the other side of truly feeling our emotions, something can be released that has been there all along.
In this work, I draw on both psychotherapeutic techniques and Vedic meditation, tailoring the approach to what you need.
Present and open
I follow your process, not a protocol.
Beyond the mind
I work with what takes place beneath the mind. In the body, in consciousness.
Honest and warm at the same time
I'll tell you what I see, even if it is confronting. Always with care and love.
Depth over surface level.
Better slow and thorough than fast and superficial.
What my clients say
"Sophie came into my life at a time when I really needed her. I was feeling confused and in a lot of pain. She helped me get back on my feet and gain clarity about some of my beliefs and what I could focus on. I am so grateful to have worked with her. She is a warm and loving person who made me feel safe and seen."
"I found Sophie to be a calming and comforting presence. She helped me gain perspective and awareness, and led me to a number of important insights related to personal trauma and self-worth."
"I learned quite a few things about myself in meditation and conversation with Sophie. Our time together has shaped my spirit in ways I'm deeply grateful for. My learning in the process has shaped my daily practices and mindset."
"Before the course I needed to ground myself, to feel more in touch with myself and to slow down my overactive, busy mind. The course helped me learn to regulate my nervous system, create space and connect with my deeper self."
"This year has been amazing and life changing for me. I am proud of how far I have come and now know better how to let go of things that are out of my control. I am so grateful that I met Sophie, who taught me to love and accept myself exactly as I am."
Are you curious if my guidance is right for you?
Schedule a free introductory meeting.