Meet the GATE 2026 Team

Born in the Netherlands but lost her heart in – and to – Belgium. Since 2002, she’s been working at the University Psychiatric Center (UPC), where she has gathered plenty of rich and adventurous experience along the way.

With a deep love for nature, an unstoppable urge to keep playing, and a seemingly endless supply of energy, it was almost inevitable that she would find her way to Adventure Therapy – a method that fits her like a glove.
Tanja works with groups of young people, occasionally with families, and also provides training sessions for colleges our organizations.

What does growth in nature mean to you?

What never ceases to amaze me in nature is how even crooked trees continue to grow – with roots firmly anchored in the earth and crowns that sway gently with the rhythm of the wind. How, on a bare rock, a flower can bloom unexpectedly. How generously nature provides us with fruits and herbs. It reminds me of the strength that lies in vulnerability. I find that truly powerful.

What’s your favorite place in Belgium and why?

Belgium has many beautiful places. I live in the forested region of Wallonia and work in Flanders. On my commute from home to work, I often pass through the stunning Meerdaal Forest. Especially in autumn, when the leaves turn golden yellow, the forest seems to glow like gold. It’s also where I often guide sessions with young people – a place that offers peace, spaciousness, and a sense of wonder, time and again

What does growth in nature mean to you?

To me, growth in nature reflects constant development and change. Each season brings something slightly different: the warmth you appreciate after feeling the cold, the blooming colors of plants after seeing bare branches, and the uplifting feeling of more sunlight and longer days after a period of darkness and short winter days. Nature helps me slow down and reconnect with the present moment and with myself. It often serves as a symbol for personal growth and transformation.

What’s your favorite place in Belgium and why?

Home is where the heart is… I live in Eliksem in Flamish Brabant. The village exudes rural charm, with a local artisan bakery just around the corner and several scenic hiking routes through the area.

I work as a consultant, trainer, and restorative justice practitioner, mainly focusing on youth and group work. I’m part of Alba vzw, where we support young people through restorative mediation, alternative measures, and guidance in their personal and social environments.

I help create spaces where dialogue, accountability, and connection can really take root—especially for young people facing tough situations. My approach is strength-based and experiential, aiming to support growth and healing in a way that feels real and human.

I have worked since 2011 at the University Psychiatric Center (UPC), I worked 9 years as a social worker with children and adolescents in crisis.

Since 2020 I have worked as head social worker; I coach employees and coordinate the trainings for the employees of the youth psychiatry.

My favorite place in Belgium is Provedroux, a lovely place near Vielsalm, in the Belgian Ardennes.

Every time I’m here, I’m going for a hike or a run in the forest.For me, growing in nature is about the little things; experiencing the silence, being consciously in the here and now, going on a discovery and using natural elements… All these things are not self-evident for our youngsters. I find it extremely valuable to give them a new experience in this area and support and guide them where necessary.

Mountains, flowers, outdoor sports, and listening to stories have always been my greatest passions.

Some of these passions are also reflected in the work I do. As a social pedagogue, I teach at UCLL University College in Leuven, where I work with enthusiastic young adults who are eager to contribute to the well-being of children and youth.
As a creative therapist, I run my own practice where I support young adults and adults through various life questions. Nature plays an important and supportive role in this work. In our flower meadow, by our greenhouse, among the fields, and in the Sonian Forest, I’ve had the privilege of guiding many journeys.

Stepping away from the everyday, into places that radiate both strength and gentleness—where there is no need for judgment—can help people reconnect with themselves and reflect on what they truly need.

I’m also a mother to two young adult daughters and two bonus sons, together with my husband. We share a lively household that I love being part of.

I work as an educator in a psychiatric setting with young people aged 12 to 15. In this context, I have taken my first steps into Adventure Therapy. For example, I am actively involved in therapeutic climbing (on the wall, on the rocks and in threes) within my work. Additionally, I am a true outdoor sports enthusiast who enjoys spending time in the mountains, hiking and climbing. 

– My favorite place in Belgium is definitely the vast forests and valleys of the Ardennes. I can spend days there, enjoying nature and finding peace. 

– Growth in nature, to me, means the continuous process of change, adaptation, and renewal. Like an ecosystem

I love music, its waves and vibrations. I love my wife and kids, their waves and vibrations. I love my colleagues, with whom I work to educate future child and youth social professionals. 

Growth in nature, to me, means remembering, bit by bit, who we really are.

My favorite place in Belgium is The Ardennes because I am in love with the smell of pine trees during a hot summer and the heat of the sun creating blurred air above the heath.

I am a digital strategist and nature-based spiritual guide with a unique background in both tech and theology. I’ve led digital community efforts for organizations like The BTS Center, The Wild Church Network, Agnes Scott College, and The Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. A graduate of Emory University’s Candler School of Theology, I combine heart-centered digital expertise with a deep commitment to eco-spiritual care.

I am a certified nature therapy guide, outdoor life coach, and labyrinth facilitator, and have led retreats and trainings across the U.S. and Europe—from retreats for LGBTQIA+ folx in the deep south, to forest bathing at Harvard Divinity School, sacred saunters in the Black Forest in Germany and serene mediations in Sweden.

Based in the Netherlands with my wife and our dog Butterbean, I offer soulful strategy to individuals and organizations seeking alignment between their values and their work