An innovative approach to transform anxiety from discomfort to a resource
Perhaps you recognize some of these situations in your life:
“Welcome Anxiety” is not just the name of my therapeutic approach – it’s a radically different philosophy. Anxiety is not an enemy nor a defect to be corrected – it’s an ally that brings us valuable information about our inner state and our needs.
Born from my Adlerian training, enriched by EMDR certification, and integrating polyvagal theory that connects mind to body through neuroscientific understanding of our nervous system, this methodology helps recognize anxiety for what it really is: a body signaling system trying to communicate important information that we often struggle to understand in a functional way.
But understanding is only the beginning: the real therapeutic work involves a collaborative journey that helps you move from a state of survival to a state of wellbeing across different spheres of life – affective, relational, social, work, and study, fostering hope for meaningful change.
I am Dr. Liesbeth Elsink, a Dutch psychotherapist who has lived in Pavia and worked between Milan and Pavia for 30 years.
My over 25 years of corporate experience, following a degree in international business communication, combined with specialized clinical training in clinical psychology and Adlerian psychotherapy, have enabled me to develop a unique approach to anxiety management.
Anxiety is one of my therapeutic specializations. In my work, I accompany people on a journey to transform their relationship with anxiety: from something to eliminate to a messenger to listen to.
My cross-cultural perspective – between the Netherlands and Italy – has taught me the importance of considering cultural context in therapeutic work. The body has a universal language: that of the autonomic nervous system. This language must be understood alongside verbal and non-verbal language and any other forms of communication in the language in which the patient expresses themselves. It is this multi-level listening that I accompany my patients to develop.
I work in Italian, English, and Dutch – in the language in which you feel most comfortable exploring deep emotional content.
Through this approach, you will be able to develop a completely different relationship with anxiety:
Learning to recognize the first signs of anxiety not with apprehension, but with curiosity: “What is my body trying to communicate to me right now?”
Having concrete tools, personalized to your nervous system, to regulate anxiety responses when they activate.
Gradually resuming activities you had started avoiding, reclaiming essential choices in your life.
Understanding the specific language of your nervous system through polyvagal theory, recognizing which state you are in moment by moment.
Using targeted somatic techniques to modulate anxiety responses in real time, calibrated to your bodily experience.
Reprocessing memories with EMDR that keep the alert system active even when it’s no longer necessary.
Developing a functional relationship with difficult emotions.
Progressively transforming anxiety’s energy from blockage to constructive motivation.
It’s not about eliminating anxiety – that would be impossible and counterproductive – but about profoundly modifying the way your nervous system responds to life’s challenges, moving from a state of continuous survival to one of greater balance and wellbeing across different spheres: affective and relational, social, work, and study.
My “Welcome Anxiety” approach integrates three scientifically validated pillars:
As an Adlerian therapist, I work to understand the specific meaning of your anxiety in the context of your current life, considering the spheres of love and relationships, work, and social life. What is its function? What does it prevent you from doing? Where does it come from? Which personal goal is it impeding, or what underlying motivation is at play? Anxiety always has meaning – discovering it together is fundamental for change.
The autonomic nervous system operates through three modes: social connection (ventral vagal state), defensive mobilization (sympathetic state), and immobilization (dorsal vagal state). Chronic anxiety often indicates that the system is stuck in alert mode. I teach you to recognize which state you’re in and how to bring the system back toward safety through specific somatic interventions – not just generic breathing, but targeted techniques on vagus nerve regulation.
Often, present anxiety is fueled by incompletely processed memories from the past. With EMDR, we reprocess these memories, allowing the brain to archive them functionally. The result is that the alert system stops activating for situations that no longer represent real danger.
The present is addressed through concrete techniques for regulating the nervous system for daily life. The past is explored to understand the origin of anxiety, building a complete picture of your life history. Together, we welcome, understand, process, and integrate the experiences that have contributed to creating current patterns. The future is built by developing personalized strategies that allow you to face upcoming challenges with greater security and autonomy.
This integration between past, present, and future is what makes change deep and lasting, not just temporary relief.
We begin with a stabilization phase, in which you learn the fundamental techniques of nervous system regulation, and we build together your personal “toolbox.” We then proceed with exploration, identifying specific patterns and memories that fuel your anxiety, working with EMDR on the roots of discomfort. We conclude by integrating the changes obtained, gradually facing previously avoided situations, and preparing you for autonomy.
The frequency of sessions is agreed upon, based on your specific needs. It’s not always necessary to meet weekly: we evaluate together the most suitable rhythm, taking into account the urgency of the situation, your personal and professional commitments, and your financial availability. The important thing is to find a pace that enables effective, sustainable work over time.
I work with adolescents (from age 17) and (young) adults seeking concrete and lasting results, who want to understand but also actively change their condition.
My professional experience combines two paths that integrate uniquely: over 25 years in the corporate world, where I developed a deep understanding of stress dynamics, performance, and management of work pressure, and specialized clinical training in psychology and Adlerian psychotherapy.
This dual perspective, enriched by a significant life journey – over 55 years in which I independently built career and family in a country different from my country of origin, raising three children – allows me to understand particularly effectively anxiety related to professional context, work responsibilities, complex relational dynamics, parenting and adolescent age challenges, and difficulties of those operating in multicultural environments or those living the condition of foreigner or feeling “foreign” in their own context.
An authentic cross-cultural perspective, matured in 30 years of life and work between the Netherlands and Italy. This experience allows me to deeply understand the challenges faced by those living between cultures, those who have moved for work, and those who feel “out of place” in their lives.
Real integration between body and mind in therapeutic work. We don’t limit ourselves to the cognitive level: we work directly with your nervous system, with bodily sensations, with the body’s implicit memory. Anxiety is not just a thought – it’s a nervous system response that must be understood and regulated at that level.
A concrete and results-oriented work method, typical of Northern European culture, combined with the empathy and warmth necessary for actual therapeutic change. I don’t just offer understanding; I also provide practical tools you can use autonomously.
The ability to work in multiple languages is not just a practical matter: working in one’s mother tongue or in the language in which one feels most authentic allows access to deeper emotional levels and facilitates the therapeutic process.
My specializations include: EMDR certification for the treatment of anxiety disorders and trauma. Specific training in personality disorder therapy, eating disorders, mindfulness, and augmented reality therapy. Adlerian psychotherapy, with a focus on understanding the meaning of the symptom in the context of the person’s life.
If you wish to undertake a journey to transform anxiety from obstacle to resource, contact me for a first introductory session. We will evaluate together whether the “Welcome Anxiety” approach is suitable for your needs.
The first introductory session is a meeting in which I listen to your story and your therapeutic goals. We evaluate together whether my approach responds to your specific needs. I will explain in concrete terms how the journey will unfold and what you can expect. You can already experience some of the first techniques of nervous system regulation.
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“Anxiety is one of our messengers – together we understand it, opening the possibility of change and greater wellbeing.”
Dr. Liesbeth Elsink – Un Passo per Volta
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