Karin Peeters - Life & Career Coach, Counsellor & Psychotherapist
Karin Peeters (PgDip, MBACP)
Life & Career Coach / Psychotherapist
So glad you are here!
Hello, my name is Karin Peeters. Following an intentional, aligned path true to ourselves is for me the essence of our human life. That, and deep love. They matter so much to me that they have become the core focus of my work as a Coach & Psychotherapist.
Supporting you to connect with yourself, with others and with life itself in the most true, fulfilling and meaningful way, is both my joy and my professional speciality.
How I came to this work has been a profound journey and I’d love to share my personal story with you.
LIFE IS PRECIOUS. LIVE IT TRUE TO YOURSELF.
I am a Life & Career Coach and Psychotherapist, in full time private practice since 2008. I love helping you find clarity, rebuild your confidence and reclaim your joy when you’ve been through a lot and are unsure about your best way forward in life.
Qualifications
Degree: Five year Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) in Counselling & Psychotherapy at the Centre for Counselling and Psychotherapy Education (CCPE).
Accreditation: Registered Member of the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (MBACP) and abiding by their strict code of ethics;
Therapy Modalities: Degree in Transpersonal Psychotherapy which falls under the Humanistic Integrative approach. It brings together modalities like Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Jungian Psychology, Gestalt, Transactional Analysis, existential and psycho-somatic methods (body, breath-work and nervous system regulation).
Certification in trauma treatment EMDR Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing);
Diploma in Professional Life Coaching from Achievement Specialists, accredited by the International Authority for Professional Coaching & Mentoring (IAPC&M);
Six months university exchange program at Human Resources faculty of Université Paris Sorbonne (Paris IV), France;
Master of Science (MSc) at VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
CCPE is a recognised Member Organisation of the United Kingdom Council of Psychotherapists (UKCP).
Life Coaching training accredited by the International Authority for Professional Coaching & Mentoring (IAPC&M).
I am a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) in the UK.
Curious about my background, training, studies and work experience? Enjoy exploring my LinkedIN profile, and please send me an invite to connect.
In 2025 I was short-listed for a TEDX Talk. I made it to the final 20 places out of hundreds of applicants. A huge boost for my self-confidence!
Specialisations
Buddhist meditation practitioner since 2006: incorporating mindfulness, meditation and compassion-based practices in my work. I lived in India and Nepal for 3.5 years while studying with the great Tibetan Buddhist meditation masters;
Courses in Psychological Dream Interpretation and Creative Imagination, using art therapy and guided visualisation where words fall short;
Trauma informed therapist;
My clients describe me as warm, calm, kind, wise, spiritual, practical and grounded.
Experience
Full time private practice as a Life & Career Coach and Psychotherapist since 2008;
NHS Foundation Trust: Clinical Psychotherapist Attaché with a Psychiatrist for the Central and North West London Brent Community Recovery Team, gaining experience in the treatment of complex mental health and psychiatric diagnosis;
HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs: offering emotional and spiritual support to inmates and their families at the biggest male prison in London;
Ealing Abbey Counselling Service & FreshStart Psychotherapy: Trainee Counsellor in the voluntary sector;
Organising committee member of social and business networking events for Dutch expatriates in London (NL-Borrel and NL City Lunches);
Just to name a few: Mindfulness Training for Epson, International Young Talent Development Programmes for ING Bank, mediation for Westminster Kingsway College and Executive Coaching for the Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands;
Corporate background: Sales & Marketing at Heineken in The Netherlands.
My personal philosophy and approach to life
Reminding the world how to love
Picture me in 2006, our setting is Nepal sitting atop a stupa (a symbolic representation of the Buddha's compassionate and wise mind). At the time of my visit to Nepal I was working an intense corporate job at Heineken, and I felt out of my depth in my responsibilities as a manager of my team. Being single at the time, it was tempting to spend my time at the office, and too much of my identity was caught up in my work. I knew something had to change, otherwise a burn-out would be next. My gut told me I had to go to Nepal to learn about Buddhism and meditation, because that would help me to never feel so overwhelmed and stressed again…
So there I am, sitting quiet and still, contemplating my life, when a voice in my head spoke clearly to me, and I knew in my bones it was right. The voice said "You are wasting your life!”.
That moment changed everything for me.
Now, I can tell you about how this led me to quit my corporate job, study spirituality, Buddhism and meditation in India and Nepal (during two unbelievingly special sabbaticals, for a grand total of 3.5 years - for more stunning photos visit the bottom of this page), and follow my heart to live in Argentina and the UK to be with the man I love.
But what really mattered was the transformation that happened within me. My heart opened wider, I softened and relaxed in a way I had never experienced before. And my life choices from then onwards were motivated by a wish to be kinder, both to myself and to others, to truly be of benefit to this world; giving me a sense of expansive joy. Buddhists call it Bodhicitta – the awakened heart. Who knows, maybe I got a glimpse of it that day. You and I might call it love. A love for life itself, for the world and all beings, big or small, near or far, friend or foe.
My life's intention became to love in a way that inspires others. And where better to begin than in our own home, our own mind, our own heart? I am motivated by a deep desire to remind people how to love. To fall in love again with themselves, with others, with the planet and with life itself. When we re-connect with a wise love that’s bigger than ourselves, a calm spaciousness, a joy comes over us, radiating out for the benefit of everyone we meet. In this way, I believe our presence alone is healing to others.
Our world desperately needs more kindness, let us spread the love.
Thank you for reading my story, and for still being here. Perhaps you are inspired to work with a professional yourself, and are wondering if we are a good fit together.
The very best coaching and therapeutic relationships are those where there is a beautiful synergy between the client and the practitioner. When you’re trying to discern if we would make a good fit, a little more about me and how I work will be helpful.
I'm an experienced Coach and qualified Counsellor & Psychotherapist with private practice experience in the City of London and online since 2008.
Being both a Psychotherapist and Coach, I know how to heal your past experiences, while working in a solution-focused way in the here and now so that your life gets better today. My qualifications are robust, not the result of a weekend ‘crash’ course, but rather five years of in-depth Counselling & Psychotherapy study, coupled with my own ongoing therapy for many, many years. I’ve been doing this work full-time since 2008, which means I really know what I am doing as a therapist. When I say you are in safe, capable hands, you can fully believe it.
Thanks to my corporate background at Heineken in The Netherlands I am refreshingly practical with a down-to-earth nature and solution focused attitude. It also means I understand the culture, high pressure and office politics you may find yourself in.
I was born in The Netherlands and have lived as an expat and digital nomad in France, Nepal, India, Argentina and the United Kingdom. Clients who are or have been expats themselves enjoy my thorough understanding of living away from our country of birth, with all it’s challenges and blessings.
My clients often compare me with a bridge, successfully applying the ancient wisdom traditions of the East to Western life. I combine Western Psychology with extensive experience in Eastern Philosophy, Buddhism, Mindfulness Meditation and Creative Imagination (using visualisation and creativity when words fall short). I was taught about meditation and the mystic spiritual traditions at the source, while living and studying with Buddhist monks and nuns in India and Nepal for a total of 3.5 years, during two magical sabbaticals - for photos, see below!
I enjoy creating a union between head and heart, being and doing, Coaching and Therapy, East and West, Business and Buddha.
I offer sessions in English and Dutch.
Working with me creates that much-craved clarity, builds your self-confidence, brings the joy back in your life, and most importantly, you might end up falling in love… with yourself.
I guess I am a little unusual, and my clients tell me they appreciate this a lot. I’m result-oriented, for a Psychotherapist. I go deep, for a Coach. I’m ambitious, for a Buddhist meditator. I’m commercial, for a business about healing. I’m extraordinary at what I do, and yet another professional guiding people through major life transitions.
I’m all about love, yet I believe it's vital to get to know our anger. Compassion for all is at the core of what I do, yet believe that compassion is never complete if it doesn’t include yourself. I am passionate about joy, yet I believe we can only be as happy to the extent we dared to face our sorrow. I’m an absolute expert in what I do, yet just like you, with so much more to learn on this wonderful journey called life.
I’m East and West. Spiritual and business-like. Quick and still. Calm and uplifting. Aspirational, and one of you.
Celebrating Holi
Picture taken at Holi, the Hindu "Festival of Colours", celebrates spring, love, and the lasting triumph of good over evil.
Rishikesh, India
Fun facts about me
That’s the serious bit… now for a bit of fun:
I am convinced I cannot sing, so much so that I used to lip sync during 'Happy Birthday'. I now go to a yoga studio where we sit in a circle and chant mantras, and I slowly try to make my singing voice louder than a whisper.
I sort my books by colour on the shelf because it looks so pretty and peaceful. And because I am such a visual person, this way I find it much easier to find the book I am looking for!
When I have stayed in a hotel and it is time to leave, I thank the room for the wonderful time (and make my husband laugh).
Growing up in The Netherlands we used to have little ‘friendship books’ at primary school. I replied the question “what do you want to be when you grow up?” with ‘happy’. That answer still makes me smile today. Perhaps at a young age I somehow already understood what life is really all about…
I look forward to getting to know more about you!
Photo Gallery
Spiritual Sabbatical - India & Nepal - 2006, 2017-2019
Infinite Gratitude
The beauty, serenity, loving-kindness and wisdom received during these magical journeys in India & Nepal is immeasurable.
I cannot wait to share what I have learned with you, so it radiates out for the benefit of all.
Photographers: Maksim Timofeev, Bill Kane, Dalai Lama official website, Inge Peeters, Augusto Rodriguez, Mychael James and Vadim Lobodin.
Let’s connect on Instagram
I enjoy inspiring you with what I’m up to via @inner.pilgrim and would be honoured to see you there. With the hashtag #innerpilgrim I’ll endeavour to bring more confidence, joy and connection to your love story!
I adore what I do, and it would be an absolute honour to walk next to you for a while on this journey called life. Find out more about how I can help you:
