About
My name is Debby Poort and I’ve been helping expats in the Netherlands since 2007.
I was born and raised in America and relocated to the Netherlands in 2000. After adjusting to life in Holland, I decided to pursue a career in psychotherapy and counseling. I studied at the Dutch Academy for Psychotherapy (Nederlandse Academie voor Psychotherapie) where I earned a four year degree in integrative psychotherapy.
Yellow Wood was established in order to serve and give back to the expat community what was given to me: empathy, support, and understanding.
At Yellow Wood, I aim to offer more than just my training and experience as a therapist, I utilize my own expat background to meet you where you are on your unique journey in Holland.
As part of my professional development, I continue to train in various therapeutic modalities:
• Sex, Desire & Attachment with Emily Nagoski, Ph.D.: New Science & Strategies to Transform Couples’ Sex Lives, PESI, February 2024
• Busting Myths About Male Sexuality: Implications for Therapy with Men, Women and Couples with Dr. Joe kort, Mind Body Training Institute, September 2023
• The Science of Female Sexuality: How Individual and Couples Therapists can Empower Women to Have Healthy Sex Lives with Dr. Stephanie Buehler, Mind Body Training Institute, April 2023
• Integrative Sex and Couples Certification Training with Tammy Nelson, PESI, April 2023
• Rumination-Focused Exposure and Response Prevention Training, Eight week training course with Dr. Michael J. Greenberg, OCD Associates, May 2022
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder:
An Introductory Online Course, Massachusetts General Hospital Psychiatry Academy, March 2022
• Engaging in the Rhythm of Regulation: Foundations of Polyvagal Informed Practice Part I, Four Cycles Institute, February 2021
• Stress & Burn-out, Con Amore, November 2019
• EFT, escalerende (echt)paren en geweld, Stichting EFT- Nederland, November 2019
• EFT and Persoonlijkheidsstoornissen, Stichting EFT- Nederland, January 2019
• Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Depression and Anxiety Disorders, I’m Learning ACT, Dr. Russ Harris, April 2018
• Psychosociale Basiskennis (PSBK), Con Amore, June 2016
• Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Level 1 Clinical training, June 2016
• EFT, Full day master class with Dr. Sue Johnson, April 2015
• Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Full day master class with Jon Kabat-Zinn, April 2015
• Full day master class with Dr. Daniel Siegel, April 2015
• The Hold Me Tight® Facilitator training program, Stichting EFT- Nederland, September 2013
• Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT), Four day externship with Dr. Sue Johnson, April 2013
• Teach .b certification course, Mindfulness in Schools Project, March 2013
• Five day silent insight meditation retreat for MBCT teachers with Christina Feldman and John Peacock, March 2012
• Mindful Schools Curriculum Training, Mindful Schools, July 2011
• MBCT Teacher training, See True Mindfulness Opleiding, April – Nov. 2010
• Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Eight week course, See True Mindfulness Training, January – March 2010
Philosophy
Yellow Wood’s philosophy is based on choices. Specifically, how we choose to respond to our thoughts and feelings, even under circumstances we cannot control.
The ability to recognize choices, or potential new roads that lie ahead, is the first step in making a change, whether it be choosing a different path or staying the course.
What choice will you make today?
Credentials
• Integrative psychotherapy degree, Nederlandse Academie voor Psychotherapie, Amsterdam, 2009
• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Wheaton College, Norton, MA, 1997
• Member of the Vereniging van Integraal Therapeuten (VIT)
• Member of the Stichting Register Beroepsoefenaren Complementaire Zorg (RBCZ)
Media
Beating Loneliness As an Expat Living Abroad or Working Overseas
By Amanda van Mulligen
Expanding your social network in the Netherlands
By Debby Poort
The Mamas Recommend: Family and Individual Counselling
By Editorial Team, Amsterdam Mamas