Helping teenagers — and the adults they become — overcome anxiety, heal from trauma, and thrive.
I’m Dr. Anouk Houdijk — a Clinical Psychologist, parent, and lifelong advocate for human resilience. For over two decades, I’ve worked at the intersection of psychology, neuroscience, and compassion — supporting teenagers and families struggling with anxiety, and helping adults heal from the wounds of their past.
At the heart of my work is a simple belief: with the right understanding and support, we can rewrite even the most deeply rooted patterns — and move towards lives defined by compassion, connection, and meaning.
My Story
My journey into psychology began with a fascination for why we think, feel, and behave the way we do — and how early life experiences shape the adults we become..
As I trained and worked across NHS services, schools, and specialist clinics, I found myself drawn again and again to two groups who are often overlooked:
Teenagers navigating the intense pressures of growing up — anxiety, identity, friendships, school, and the digital world.
Adults still carrying the weight of what happened in those formative years — trauma that lingers, beliefs that limit, and patterns that feel hard to change.
Today, my mission is to bridge those worlds. I support teens and families to break the cycles of anxiety now — and I work with adults to heal the echoes of their past, so they can live with greater freedom and self-compassion.
My Approach
Everything I do is grounded in evidence-based psychological science — but delivered with warmth, humanity, and a deep respect for your story. My practice draws on a range of approaches including:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): To understand how thoughts, feelings, and behaviours interact and how we can shift them.
Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT): To build inner safety and self-kindness, especially when shame or self-criticism are present.
Attachment and Trauma-Informed Models: To explore how early experiences shape emotional patterns and relationships — and how we can safely rewire them.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing): A powerful, evidence-based approach to healing trauma and reducing the emotional impact of difficult experiences.
Mindfulness and Embodiment Practices, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): To help regulate the nervous system, reconnect with the body, and cultivate resilience.
As a qualified yoga teacher with additional training in trauma-sensitive yoga, I integrate body-based practices into psychological work when helpful — supporting clients to process trauma not just cognitively, but physiologically.
Whether I’m supporting a teenager and their parents to navigate anxiety, or walking alongside an adult processing trauma, my approach is collaborative, tailored, and deeply compassionate. It’s about creating a space where change feels not only possible — but inevitable.
Credentials & Experience
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy) – Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London.
20+ years’ experience working in mental health across NHS, education, community, and private settings
HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologist
Qualified EMDR Practitioner
Advanced training in Compassion-Focused Therapy, CBT, trauma-focused approaches, and trauma-informed yoga
Leadership team member for OpCourage (NHS veteran trauma services, Berkshire) — where I also supervise clinicians and design clinical programmes
Speaker at national and international conferences on trauma, anxiety, and adolescent mental health
Specialist expertise in adolescent anxiety, trauma, and attachment
Experience collaborating with parents, schools, charities, and community organisations to reduce youth mental health difficulties at a systemic level
Beyond the Therapy Room
While psychology is my profession, it’s also deeply personal. As a parent myself, I understand first-hand how complex, beautiful, and messy modern family life can be — especially in a world shaped by technology, the pressure of constant demands, and rapid change.
When I’m not working with clients or creating new resources for Dr Anouk Online, you’ll find me hiking with family and friends, practicing yoga, or exploring the many ways we can grow and transform throughout our lives.
A Final Word
Many people arrive here in the in-between. They may be thinking about getting help, wanting a bit more information or wanting to be proactive whilst on a waiting list for therapy.
Dr Anouk Online was created for this space. A place to pause, to learn, and to begin making sense of what’s happening — without pressure, judgement, or urgency.
Office: Buckinghamshire UK
Site: www.dranouk.online