Finding the Oak tree within | Douglas Holwerda | TEDxHanoi

We are born with the natural potential to be our true self. Most of us get bogged down with emotional baggage and self-doubt. When we learn the importance of having our needs met, and how we can help one another, it opens the door to personal freedom, where we discover joy, spontaneity, appreciation of life and the beauty that surrounds us. We put things into perspective and live close to our own values. We want no more, nor no less for ourselves than we want for others. We are empowered to be ourselves. Douglas has worked as an American trained psychotherapist (Mental Health Counselor) in Hanoi since 2011 at Family Medical Practice. Douglas started his career as a teacher with students from 5 th grade to 8 th grade, before gaining a master’s degree in counseling psychology and working as a psychotherapist since 1996. His early experience was working in a high school-based teen health center in Seattle, Washington. He also worked at Shepherd’s Counseling Services which offers therapy for adults who had experienced childhood sexual abuse. In Vietnam, Douglas continues to see clients, teen- age and older, who are dealing with a variety of issues. Douglas believes that psycho-therapy is a process that brings about healing and involves self-discovery and acceptance.

Douglas feels fortunate to do the work he does but insists that what is equally important is what he does outside of work. He believes that creativity and the creative process are lubricants of a self-actualizing person. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx