vision & goals

When people want to work on their health, they often first embark on a vigorous sports regime and a challenging diet. Yet people rarely succeed in achieving lasting behavioral change, despite the often expert support of sports coaches or nutritionists. Recognizable? So where does it go wrong? In my opinion, the mental aspect is the missing link between your intentions and lasting behavior change!

As a health coach I specialize in the mental side of exercise and healthy living. I am more than a motivational coach. We map out your personal goals and wishes, explore obstacles from your past and current lifestyle, and get to work to make your mind a friend and not an enemy. This way, you can arm yourself against challenges in our society that invite overweight and prolonged sitting in all kinds of areas. To achieve this, we work in a an easy step by step manner. First we will look at what can increase your quality of life and those actions that appeal to you most to start with. This can range from sitting less, over bringing more exercise into your day, to incorporating (intensive) exercise and getting fit. We pay sufficient attention to how we can maintain this healthier lifestyle in combination with work and family.

I promise no guarantee of success in the sense of 'so many kilos less!'. What I do promise is a different view on exercise and health and your path to progress. For many people this means an alternative route than the straight 'I want to lose so many kilos'. With a different look at health, with more pleasure in what you do and with kindness to yourself and your body, you often achieve more than with every new trend that promises immediate results. Don't wait until you are slim or fit to live, but let's look together now at what you really want to achieve in life.

Due to the strong individual approach, it is difficult to describe a standard counseling process. However, I would summarize it in the following three points:
  1. Motivation: Where do you want to go? Discover what really matters to you.
  2. Facing the truth: Why is it not working now? Get to know yourself better.
  3. Action: What do you need? We practice the necessary techniques and thinking patterns to help you move forward.

In my coaching I combine my accumulated knowledge of sports psychology, exercise psychology and health psychology with the mental techniques of Acceptance & Commitment Therapy/Training (a form of cognitive behavioral therapy).

Services & Prices

  • INDIVIDUAL COUNSELLING
  • COACHES & HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
  • WEBINARS
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Sessions will take place online. Click HERE to learn more about online counselling. 
Frequency and number of sessions are always discussed together based on your needs.

Payment options:
  • You can instantly pay with a mobile payment app by scanning the QR code of my smartphone through the webcam.
  • I can send a payment request via SMS, mail or Whatsapp.
  • Or you can simply transfer the money yourself after the session.
Please note: payment for the last session must be received before the next session can take place.
As an expert of the mental aspect, I am of course only 1 piece of the puzzle to assist people in lasting behavioral change. I often hear from other experts: "I provide all the necessary information, the client seems to understand and is motivated... and yet he or she is not maintaining their efforts. What more can I do?".

That's why I provide the opportunity for coaches (recreational club trainers, personal trainers, fitness instructors...) and other health professionals (doctors, nutritionists, physiotherapists...) to join me for a conversation about the mental aspects of health behavior change. This can range from one-on-one conversations, a meeting in your group practice or lectures for your network or federation. Price negotiable based on wishes and needs. Contact me to discuss possible collaborations or take a look at 'Webinars' for more information about possible themes.
As a speaker I give lectures with a focus on knowledge transfer or workshops with a very practical approach. Of course, you can also opt for a mix of both. Presentations are always given with a view to the specific target group and I am happy to discuss the specific needs and wishes with the contact person in advance.
Price to be agreed based on required preparation time, duration of the presentation and group size.

An (incomplete) list of some topics I was invited to speak about:
  • General introduction to exercise psychology for colleges and universities
  • Telephone coaching for exercise coaches
  • Mental aspects of coaching non-competitive athletes for personal trainers and fitness instructors
  • Well-being at work
  • Energy management for companies
  • Mental aspects of sport injuries

Anonymous feedback from participants after the workshops:
  • "Interesting, new insights learned"
  • "Super interesting session, very well presented!"
  • "Nice, calm teacher with clear explanation"

Feel free to contact us to discuss a possible topic!
I also give on site lectures and workshops in the area of Flanders.

FAQ

What's the difference between an exercise psychologist and an exercise coach?
An exercise psychologist has completed a university education and therefore has at least a master's degree in psychology. In addition, he/she has preferably studied further in the field of exercise psychology on the basis of additional (university) training. The title 'psychologist' is protected by law in Belgium and can therefore not be used by just anyone.
The term 'coach' is not protected by law. Although there are good educations and training courses on coaching, people without any scientific background can also promote themselves as an exercise coach, based on their own life or sports experience. In addition, the term exercise coach is often used by masters in movement sciences. You can therefore expect an extensive knowledge of the human body in motion and different training methods from them. However, they have not necessarily specialized in the mental aspects of sport and exercise like an exercise psychologist. As a recognized psychologist with additional training, I have the right to bear the title of exercise psychologist. To find out more about my background, it is best to take a look at the 'About Me' section or the overview of my education.
What happens in the case of late cancellations or no shows?
If individual clients cannot attend a scheduled session, they can cancel or reschedule it free of charge up to 24 hours in advance. Cancellations must be reported by telephone or e-mail. If a client cancels a scheduled session late (<24h) or does not show up (in person or online), the session will be charged in full.

Cancellations of a lecture or workshop must be communicated at least one week in advance by telephone or e-mail. If not announced in time, I am forced to charge the total amount of the cancelled session as a compensation for the dedicated time.
For which topics/issues can i contact you?
People contact me for things like:
  • More active/healthier lifestyle (less alcohol, more exercise, healthier food...)
  • Mental aspects of healthy nutrition
  • Mental aspects of weight control
  • Stress management (dealing with chronic stress & burnout prevention)
  • Smoking cessation
When is it best to start counselling?
There is no easy answer to this as this is a very personal question. Getting personal mental coaching in the field of health and exercise is not yet evident in our society. Especially not when you see the word 'exercise psychologist'. After all, you're not crazy, are you?! People come to me for guidance when they realize that even though they know well enough that a healthy lifestyle is important, even though they have enough information about what is healthy now, ... they still notice that it is not possible for them to start living healthier or maintain their efforts. I will engage in a collaboration with you in which I do not prescribe anything, but rather look at what you need to overcome your barriers to lasting behavioral change.
I think i have an eating disorder, can you help me with this?
As a clinical psychologist I can recognize characteristics of serious eating problems or eating disorders. However, I have not specialized in its treatment. Therefore, when there is a suspicion of an eating disorder, I will always consult with you to determine the best possible approach. I can refer to specialized colleagues and possibly start a multidisciplinary counselling process.

Testimonials

After a 3 day festival my partner and I noticed that our bodies were not in shape and not in the size we would like. Soon we agreed that our fitness was more important than our size. We believed that we don't need fitness to move. We found ourselves quickly slipping back into our old routine after trying a new habit. That's why we sought help from someone who could teach us a healthier lifestyle. Together as a couple we have a meeting once a month and we talk about our lifestyle. We receive tips and find enthusiasm to take on new challenges. Together we look for what is feasible and we learn to be less strict on ourselves and to enjoy exercise more.​
- L. & P., young couple

You have to "just do sports", with depression you have to "just turn the switch". These are the arguments of people who are lucky that they haven't known such (heavy) mental problems. I also used to make the mistake of seeing sport as "physical" and therefore putting it aside because I was working on "mental". Cedric made me realize that it is all connected and that one aspect can influence the other. As a result, my life has seriously changed already, in the good sense.
​- P.

21 months, 33 kilos. There used to be a time when I didn't even believe I'd ever see my weight expressed in two digits again. Now I feel fitter and stronger than ever, both physically and mentally. I'm not where I want to be yet, but I found something I had lost for a long time: who I am.
- P. again, several months after he continued the work we did together in our sessions.


"You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”

- R. Buckminster fuller