Silver Lining Psychology provides psychological support to individuals in The Hague and online.

Who am I?

My name is Helena Virk. Thank-you for taking interest in the services that I offer. I will take the time to tell some information about myself, so you can think about whether you would like to engage in sessions with me.

I set up as a freelance Psychologist in July 2020. My journey to this point has taken many turns. My training roots are in the UK, where I qualified as a Chartered Forensic Psychologist (CPsychol) in HM Prison Service, and moved to The Netherlands over seven years ago. I completed my second Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology (with distinction) from the University of Leiden in May 2019.

I am a Chartered member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and a member of the Nederlands Instituut van Psychologen (NIP). I am also registered with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) in the UK and EuroPsy as a Forensic Psychologist. On a personal note, I enjoy music and going to concerts, appreciating nature and art, trying out new food, and gardening.

I have always had a keen interest in psychology; why we behave in certain ways, what makes us different, what influences our thinking and emotions, and what can be done to help others. My main therapeutic approach is Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) where I have a PG cert in CFT from the University of Derby. CFT is a biopsychosocial approach rooted in evolutionary psychology. Compassion is defined as: “a sensitivity to suffering in self and others with a commitment to try to alleviate and prevent it“. Therefore, the therapy encourages individuals to develop compassion through having the strength be willing to see the nature and causes of suffering in ourselves and others, and then taking action to alleviate the suffering. CFT is an approach that can be used to help with a range of psychological issues.

I have particular interest in working with expectant mothers and mothers as this is can be a time of personal transition with new challenges and rewards. I also have experience working with individuals that may be experiencing low mood, anxiety, stress, challenges with self-worth, sense of identity, work-related issues, and integrating into another country. Being an expat myself, I can relate to the challenges that individuals may face when living in a different country, therefore I am keen to help and support others who find themselves in this situation.

My Experience

  • Over 10 years of experience in working with clients in different settings.
  • Face to face and online individual therapy with expats living in The Netherlands.
  • Facilitating and treatment managing CBT-based group work in HM Prison Service (UK).
  • Trained in Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT).
  • Trained in Positive Psychology.
  • Development and facilitation of private workshops (in The Netherlands), and staff training in HM Prison Service
  • Conducting scientific research projects.
  • Using violence risk assessment tools to inform assessment and treatment planning.
  • Writing risk assessment report and programme progress reports.
  • Experience in supervising, mentoring and line managing.

My Training

As a Chartered Forensic Psychologist, I have completed a range of academic qualifications. I have a BSc degree in Psychology, and a MSc in Applied Forensic Psychology. I then completed a qualification which is at Doctoral level, with the British Psychological Society (BPS) to gain Chartered Forensic Psychologist status with the BPS. I have also completed a MSc in Clinical Psychology (cum luade). Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is paramount to my practice as a Psychologist. I am always seeking ways to develop my skills, knowledge and practice in order to support clients and facilitate my personal growth. My main therapeutic modality is CFT, however I have attended training on schema-therapy, third-wave CBT approaches, positive psychology, and supervision skills.

Silver Lining Psychology

My mission and aim is to provide compassionate psychological support that is accessible for diverse client groups, with the aim of clients developing insight into their lives and facilitating personal growth.

Psychological Approaches

The psychological approach that is used with the client will depend on the reasons they are seeking therapeutic help. I have a background in the cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) approach. CBT is concerned with unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaviour; they way you think impacts on the way you behave. Therefore, CBT can help you to develop alternative ways of thinking and behaviour to reduce psychological problems and distress. It has a focus on the present.

My main method is Compassion Focused Therapy. Grounded in evolutionary, social, and developmental psychology, this approach can help individuals develop compassion towards themselves and others. It is particularly helpful for individuals with high levels of shame and self-criticism, as well as for individuals experiencing anxiety, trauma and low mood. I offer therapy solely using this approach, and it is the primary approach that I will draw on in the sessions.

I am also familar with, and have used the Schema-Therapy approach to explore a client’s unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaviour that have come about by unmet core emotional needs in childhood/adolescence. There is a focus on both past and present experiences. By identifying this, we will work towards developing healthier and adaptive coping methods and ensuring that emotional core needs are met in a healthy manner.

In addition to this, I also practice Positive Psychology Interventions with the aim to develop psychological well-being and help the client work towards leading a flourishing life. Such interventions are focused on developing positive emotions, thoughts and behaviours, as opposed to reducing problems or psychological symptoms. I offer sessions using this approach, and can tailor 5-6 sessions focusing on these interventions.