I am Ilonka Slechte
The Change Coach
Due to moving frequently at a young age, I learned early on that although each country had its own culture, the basic principles of humanity were often the same: we seek love, appreciation/recognition, respect, and connection with each other.
In 1988, I delved into psychology at Webster University, which laid the foundation for my career focused on understanding people.
Returning to the academic world in 2014, I obtained my (H)NLP certification. Guided by the internationally renowned trainer and author Matt Hudson, I explored the depths of the human mind.
In 2017, I certified myself as a Body Mind Work Practitioner and completed my training as a recognised counselor.
Thanks to my work around stress, I began to see a pattern in clients, which led to the development of a new coaching method to prevent burn-out. When BNP Paribas asked me to be a Crisis Coach for employees on the verge of burn-out in 2020, I knew exactly how to support them. This method proved to be profoundly transformative.
The absolute gem in my extensive toolkit is the Body Mind Reset Technique (BMRT), a groundbreaking method that can deactivate the Emotional Memory Image associated with traumatic events (consider assistance with stress, burn-out, grief, divorce or breakups, fears, and phobias). This pioneering technique has undeniably had a positive impact on the lives of my clients over the past year.
I'LL HELP YOU WITH ...
HOW I WORK
In the past decade, I've specialized in helping clients overcome stress and grief as a Crisis Coach at BNP Paribas. In dealing with clients on the brink of burnout, I observed commonalities among them. After years of employing various techniques, I developed my own method to address these specific issues, guided by three fundamental principles:
- Stress Originates from a Thought or Belief - Inspired by Dr. Aaron T. Beck's Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approach, I've learned that at the heart of stress is a core belief that can be revisited and refined.
- Stress and Grief are Anchored in "Emotional Memory Images (EMIs)" - Drawing on insights from Matt Hudson and Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, I recognize that these emotional states are often tied to vivid, emotional memories that perpetuate the cycle of di-stress.
- Physical Sensations are Linked to Thoughts/Beliefs and EMIs - This understanding, informed by the work of both Dr. van der Kolk and Dr. Gabor Maté, emphasizes the body's role in emotional experiences, highlighting the interconnectedness of physical sensations and mental health.
Utilizing these principles in my sessions, I can pinpoint and address the origin of a client's distressing belief and update them. Then through the Body Mind Reset Technique (BMRT), I neutralise the unconscious negative belief associated with their EMIs. Essentially, eliminating the EMI's unconscious emotional response—transforming fear into neutrality, for instance, eliminates scared behavior.
My method of coaching has yielded incredible, enduring outcomes. Clients describe the sessions as uplifting and enjoyable, leaving behind the burdens they initially brought with them.
BODY MIND WORK
- Psychology, Webster University, United States (64 hours) as part of my B.A. in Media Communications with a minor in Management and Leadership
- Certified Counselor: Academy for Coaching & Counselling, Belgium (180 hours)
- Psych-K, Belgium (40 hours)
- Donna Eden - Energy Medicine, Belgium (32 hours)
- Body Mind Reset Technique, (BMRT) Belgium (40 hours)
- Certified Body Mind Work Practitioner (Matt Hudson):
- Humanistic Neuro-Linguistic Psychology (HNLP),
Belgium (56 hours)
- Body Mind Work, Level 1, Belgium (56 hours)
- Body Mind Work, Level 2, Belgium (56 hours)
- Body Mind Work, Level 3, Belgium (56 hours)
- Body Mind Work, Level 4, United Kingdom (56 hours)
- Mastering the Screen, Belgium (56 hours)
- The Map, Belgium (56 hours)
- The Electromagnetic Self, Belgium (56 hours)
- Conversational Decoding, Netherlands (56 hours)
- The Saboteur Within, Lanzarote (63 hours)
THE SESSIONS
the introductory session
During an introductory session of 60 to 90 minutes, we discover together who you really are and what you want to work on. I will explore a deeper path through a few small exercises. In this way we look at how open you are to my working method. At the end I will tell you how many sessions you may need to achieve your goal.
the sessions
During the following sessions we will work together to discover your beliefs and see if they still make sense in the present. If not, we will update them together, which will allow you to move forward. We will also be looking at where your reactions come from, learning to observe them and ultimately how changing them plays a key part in your happiness and peace.
online sessions
For those who do not live in the area, I also give on-line sessions.
WORKSHOPS
the workshops
I regularly give workshops that are based on important and recurring topics.
And now, This is ME!
For anyone who has been putting other people first, like their children or spouse and have now arrived at a point in their life that they are no longer needed as intensely in these roles by others and want to rediscover themselves.
Live Your Best Life
Where are you now, and what would your best life look like?
When a Should Becomes a Could
How to deal with stress.
De-Stress Zone
This is an extensive workshop with individual coaching and exercises to help you learn how to cope with stress and how to avoid getting a burn-out.