Psychosocial therapist Gineke Klinkhamer is set to release her new book, Herinner wie je bent. De weg terug naar het authentieke zelf, published by Triple Boeken in mid-September, according to an interview profile published by Niek Stam. Klinkhamer, the founder of De Roos Opleidingen in Vierhouten, has spent decades developing a therapeutic framework that combines clinical psychology with biblical concepts, drawing from her own background recovering from childhood trauma.
The Foundation of De Roos Opleidingen
Klinkhamer established De Roos Opleidingen after spending 35 years running her own practice for Christian counseling and pedagogical advice in Epe, which she closed in December. According to Klinkhamer, she founded the institute because she was dissatisfied with existing pastoral training programs. After placing a modest advertisement in the magazine EO Visie, she was surprised when twenty students enrolled, leading to the institute’s first classes in September 2005.
The curriculum utilizes what Klinkhamer describes as a “biblical blueprint for therapy.” According to this framework, humans are created in God’s image like a diamond, but that diamond becomes covered in the “mud” of lies, negative self-perceptions, and trauma. Therapy at the institute focuses on removing this accumulation to help clients rediscover their authentic selves. Klinkhamer emphasizes that the approach avoids forcing dogmatic beliefs onto clients, stating that she prefers to express care through active listening and validating past suffering.
Did you know? Klinkhamer’s practice in Epe previously utilized a certified therapy dog named Roosje, a labradoodle trained to recognize emotional distress and place a paw on a client’s knee when they cried.
Early Life and Path to Counseling
Klinkhamer’s approach to trauma recovery is informed by her own upbringing. Born into a Reformed family, she experienced severe childhood abuse and a lack of parental attachment, leading her to reject institutional faith at age six. Following a severe accident in 1976 where a truck door struck her near a canal in Amsterdam—resulting in a concussion and a two-month hospital stay—she reassessed her perspective on faith and eventually pursued nursing, becoming the head of a children’s department in an Amsterdam hospital.
Her career later took her to Curaçao, where she spent seven years living in a construction trailer in a valley, working day and night without a telephone or car to care for children aged zero to six. This remote rescue work laid the groundwork for what later became the Hebron children’s home. After returning to the Netherlands, she completed studies in Canada, orthopedagogiek in Utrecht, and specialized play therapy before launching her private practice in 1998.
Current Focus and Retirement
Now partially retired and living in Winterswijk—the region where she grew up—Klinkhamer continues to teach at De Roos Opleidingen while scaling back her clinical hours. Her upcoming book details her journey through trauma, faith, and the psychological principles she developed over decades of practice. Although she closed her physical practice in Epe, she continues to mentor students and share her methodology with the next generation of Christian counselors.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Gineke Klinkhamer’s new book releasing?
Her book, Herinner wie je bent. De weg terug naar het authentieke zelf, is published by Triple Boeken and releases in mid-September.
What is De Roos Opleidingen?
Founded by Klinkhamer in Vierhouten, De Roos Opleidingen is an educational institute training future psychosocial therapists using an integrated approach combining psychological observation with biblical principles.
Where did Klinkhamer work before founding her institute?
Before establishing her private practice in 1998, Klinkhamer worked as a pediatric nurse in Amsterdam, spent seven years developing early childcare services in Curaçao, and studied orthopedagogiek in Utrecht and Canada.
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