YOU ARE IN GOOD HANDS…
In 2011, after an intensive seventeen year career as a child psychologist in Belgium, I decided to follow my husband for an ex-pat life in the Middle East. I quickly learned from my three children how challenging this journey could be, frequently changing places or saying goodbye to friends, missing overseas family or coping with foreign languages and cultural differences.
After being a full-time mum for some years and getting my children on their unique life tracks, it was time to move back into what I love most, assisting and coaching young children. For a few years, I supported children's well-being in different settings across different institutions. In 2022, I decided to establish as an independent lifestyle coach to help children, parents and educators.
“Whatever your goal in life, the beginning is knowledge and experience”
Henry Ford
Academic Award and Education
Bachelor (Candidate) in the Clinical Psychology
Free University of Brussels, Belgium (1992)
Master in the Clinical Psychology, high distinction
Free University of Brussels, Belgium (1994) - Thesis: Veronica Sherborne movement education
Master after Master in the Specialized Studies of Psychotherapy
Ghent University, Belgium (1998)
Experience
Professional Educationalist - Head of the Care Unit - Psychologist
MPI Remi Quadens is an orthopedagogic institution in Belgium supporting children and young adults between 3 and 21 years old with behavioural and emotional disorders and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This Institute supports 200 children in an orthopedagogic setting in daycare or boarding school. Ellen started in 1994 as a professional educationalist and was promoted to Head of the Care Unit in 1998. In 1999, she developed and launched a therapeutic section for children between 3 and 12.
Ellen Peeters Private Child Psychology Practice (Belgium)
In 2002, Ellen founded a child psychology practice in Antwerp with a child-centred approach, involving parents, therapists, teachers and schools in every step of the process. She gained a strong reputation, especially for Emotional and Behavioral problems, Trauma and Autism-Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Parent coaching and teacher training contributed to the successful outcomes of the individual child’s journey.
Independent Child Counselor (Egypt)
In 2015, after a three-year break focusing on her children moving to the Middle East, Ellen started supporting a local British International School in Cairo. She worked with children between 3 and 14 around war-related trauma, separation anxiety, ASD, and cultural adaptation. She coached teachers, shadow teachers and the learning support team.
Well Being Coach (UAE)
After many years of practising child psychology, Ellen shifted to Life Style Coaching. Leaving testing, diagnosis and clinical therapy to other specialists, she now focuses on children's well-being support, aiming to prevent mental health difficulties from developing for children and young people.
In 2020 and through the Covid-19 pandemic, she joined the LINK team at a local British International School and established a well-being coaching format. While overall focussing on emotional support through the global pandemic and lockdown, she offered social, emotional and mental health sessions around school anxiety, learning issues, ASD, self-esteem and social communication and adaptation.
Engagement & Thought Leadership
Long Life Learning Experiences
Workshops concerning development issues, ASD, trauma, ADHD, child abuse and neglect, high sensitivity and high giftedness.
Certificate Video Interrogation of Children in a juridical setting
Belgian Federation of Clinical Psychologists (2008)
Pro Bono
Reading Support for 3rd grade at a local UAE international school (2013). Library support at a local Egyptian international school (2014). Ellen actively supports projects like Plan International, an organization fighting child poverty in rural areas in 3rd World Countries.
Shadow Teaching
Some children need ongoing attention to stay on track. Ellen is an experienced shadow teacher, assisting children from different backgrounds and cultures.
The Belgian Federation of Psychologists (BFP)
Although not practicing child psychology outside of Belgium, Ellen is still member of the Belgian Federation of Psychologists (BFP). It is the largest Belgian NGO for psychologists, and also brings together students of the Belgian master programs in psychology. She is licensed by the Belgian Commission of Psychologists for Belgian territory under license #712103972. She is not practicing outside of Belgium.
Guest Lecturer
For two consecutive academic years, Ellen taught elective subjects at the KDG University College Antwerp and she was a guest lecturer at the Free University of Brussels. (2000-01). She was a frequent keynote speaker at summits like the Flemish summit for Child Psychology and Child Psychiatry (1999).