My name is Ooshani Suma.  I was born and raised in California and am a daughter of immigrant parents.  In 1996, I moved to the Netherlands with the ambition to work here as a social worker. I can empathize with the difficulties of moving to another country, leaving behind family, friends, culture, and career connections. And how trying it can be to build up a new life in a different country, as well as dealing with differences in a bicultural relationship and raising bilingual (Dutch/English) children.

As there are a multitude of private practice therapists, finding the right therapist can best be complicated for clients. The alliance between client / therapist, understanding the different (cultural) grids or sometimes just feeling a ‘click’ can make a difference between a successful treatment or not. With my American/South-Asian cultural background, I offer what I think is maybe a fitting answer to the needs for those whom are looking for individual, marital or family therapy.

Educational background and Experience

I received my Bachelors of Psychology from the University of California, Irvine and my Masters of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania. In the United States, I worked primarily with adolescents in different intramural settings as well as high schools.

For the past 16 years I’ve worked in variety of social fields in Amsterdam—with refugees, mentally handicapped families, victims and perpetrators of domestic violence.  I have also experience with the expat community and their struggling with adjustment and relocation issues as well as marital and family strains.

The realization of the importance of viewing problems within its social context was the reason I decided to study systemic therapy. I received a Post-Masters degree in Systemic Therapy in 2013 from Lorentzhuis in Haarlem.  I continue to further my skills as a therapist and an first level  EFT therapist and a EMDR practitioner in training.

Sessions can be conducted in English or Dutch.