ABOUT
BLINDSPOT
INSTITUTE
Psychological BLIND SPOT Definition:
“A lack of [conscious] awareness—often persistent—about a specific area of one’s behaviour or personality…”
Excerpt retrieved from: https://dictionary.apa.org/blind-spot
Filling in your BLINDSPOT
Personalised Neuro-Psychotherapy and Coaching Psychology
Exploring recurring topics or struggles in our personal and professional life, or grappling with major life changes like divorce or bereavement, career change or a new baby can sometimes reveal hidden psychological blind spots. These blind spots are aspects of our psyche that can impact progress and well-being without us being consciously aware of them.
These blind spots can manifest as repetitive emotional and thought patterns, and underlying symptoms such as persistent low mood, heightened anxiety and sleep disturbance. Alternatively, a sense of unpredictability is exemplified by challenges like anger management difficulties or persistent migraines.
Using evidence-based techniques, we delve into the intricacies of individuals' distinct mental models using approaches that focus on your internal models of the world, without inference or assumptions. The process involves a meticulous exploration that fosters fresh perspectives and new insights that encourage a departure from unhelpful repetitive beliefs and patterns.
Individuals can gain a more nuanced understanding of their emotional and cognitive landscapes, through comfortable self-exploration and promoting awareness. Blindspot facilitates a process that honours the uniqueness of each individual's experiences in opening avenues for personal and professional growth.
Why BLINDSPOT INSTITUTE?
We all possess a unique way of behaving and reacting to changes in circumstances and life events that can bring about significant alterations, readjustments, or negative consequences in our regular lives. These may include chronic illness, the loss of a loved one or divorce, instances of bullying, abuse or discrimination, the transformative journey of pregnancy and childbirth, or the responsibility of being a parent, caregiver, career advancements, job loss or retirement.
These life events and changes in circumstances have the potential to impact the brain and body, and may also influence pre-existing mental and physical health conditions. This can manifest as noticeable alterations in cognition/thinking, memory, emotional regulation, behaviours, and physiology. For instance, symptoms like fits of rage, deep anxiety, unrelenting low mood, procrastination, pain or palpitations.
Where the underlying cause might not be immediately apparent or indeed not apparent but certain patterns or pain have been lifelong. Conversely, for some individuals, life events may present an opportunity for exploring new horizons for growth, seeking to hone your strengths and thriving on a personal, relational, social and/or professional level.
BLINDSPOT INSTITUTE offers a confidential environment, prioritising your health and well-being throughout the process of discovery, and therapeutic or coaching programmes for teens and adults.
About the Founder
Treesje Verlinden MSc, BSc (Hons), MBPsS FRSA FRSPH
My Story
I have always been fascinated by the nuances of individuals' social, emotional, behavioural, and cognitive dynamics across various domains—personal, relational, and organisational. Blindspot originated with just me in my 20s and 30s, juggling industry roles while acquiring individual certified qualifications to practice therapeutically in these domains, incorporating nutrition and exercise as fundamental pillars of change.
In 2002, I formally commenced an academic degree, delving into psychology and the broader science of mental health. I integrated these academic pursuits into practice, honing in on specific aspects of behaviour, cognition, and language, working with people and small businesses that included co-designing various formal therapeutic models and integrating my own.
Over the past five years, my academic pursuits and practice have integrated learnings from a King’s College London MSc in the psychology and neuroscience of mental health, completing studies in October 2019. All of my work is now anchored in the expanded framework of neuroscience and the neurobiological underpinnings of biopsychosocial models of health and wellbeing.
October 2019 coincided with my exiting industry and formalising almost two decades of study and practice, expanding Blindspot to Blindspot Institute (BI). BI values have not changed from my early practice, at the core of which is CHANGE. BI, along with its growing associate network of professionals, serves as a platform to ethically apply diverse psychological and psychotherapeutic perspectives across different domains, including organisational.
I went on to co-found the Applied Neuroscience Association (ANA), launching in 2022. ANA is building a global network of neuroscientists and professionals for applied neuroscience to ethically apply and expedite the translation of advancements from the lab into real-world settings to improve lives. It is ANA Members who are delivering this through their diverse perspectives and areas of work. I am honoured to be a founding member.
Education and Memberships
Formal Education:
BSc (Hons) Psychology, specialising in Counselling Psychology (The Open University)
MSc Psychology and Neuroscience of Mental Health (Kings College London IoPPN)
ICF Certificate in Clean Coaching (Clean Learning ICF-approved training centre) - IN PROGRESS
CNLMP Certified Master Practitioner, Trainer & Coach (ANLP Professional)
GCS Certificate in Counselling Practice (GCS is a BACP-approved training centre)