ABOUT ME
Hi, I’m Maud. I’m originally from The Netherlands but have been living in Cape Town since 2014. In both my personal life and in my work as a Social Worker, I have dealt with different types of grief.
When I was 22, my father passed away from a brain tumour. I found it difficult to acknowledge my feelings of grief and talk about them, especially because it felt like the rest of the world had moved on while my world was falling apart.
Later, when I left The Netherlands for love and a new life in Cape Town, I experienced another form of grief. Leaving family and friends behind in exchange for an adventure abroad has caused, and still causes, conflicting feelings at times.
Grief has become part of my life. Navigating my grief has not been easy, but it has led me to live a more fulfilled life and taught me to cherish the beautiful moments.
Experience
My passion for working with people to navigate their daily life struggles has always been a guiding factor throughout my career in Social Work and Education.
When working as a social worker, I helped people navigate problems in their life by acknowledging and accepting the grief associated with these problems and focusing on their strengths to find ways of coping with grief.
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I have a special interest in grief as I find meaning in discussing difficult topics openly. Grief is a topic that is still somewhat taboo, and yet it can provide much comfort when it is discussed openly. Talking about grief can help people to acknowledge and process their emotions and feelings. By sharing experiences, people can receive emotional support from others, which can help them feel less isolated and alone.
Education
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Grief Coaching (Institute for Life Coach Training, ICF accredited, August 2023)
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Online Mental Health Coaching (Inuka coaching, ICF accredited, April, 2023)
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Bachelor's Degree in Education (Human Resource Development) (2014)
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Bachelor's Degree in Social Work (BSW) (Honours) (2008)
