So what is the norm? —> It’s everything that holds you back.
So what is the norm? —> It’s everything that holds you back.
So what is the norm? —> It’s everything that holds you back.
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Talks & Workshops
Raw, honest, and grounded. I mix stories from three years of travel & guiding with psychology. the kind of lessons you only learn after burning out, messing up, and starting over. No empty motivation. Just real stories that move people.
Talks & Workshops
Raw, honest, and grounded. I mix stories from three years of travel & guiding with psychology. the kind of lessons you only learn after burning out, messing up, and starting over. No empty motivation. Just real stories that move people.
Why choose Tess?
Psychologist
Tess has a Psychology Degree acquired at Leiden University in the Netherlands, She has worked in mental health care mostly focused on addiction, loss, trauma & behavioural disfunctions.. Psychology is the base of all of her talks & workshops.
Tour Guide
Tess has been guiding tours since she was 19 years old in many different countries, including: Australia, South Africa, Thailand, The Netherlands, England, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Austria, Italy, Greece, Croatia & Andorra.
Writer & Speaker
Tess shares her (traumatic) experience with her readers in her articles, and questions society's norms: why do people make it seem like there is a guideline for how we should live our lives? Tess questions this and is writing a book about this societal pressure and freedom.
Psychologist
Tess has a Psychology Degree acquired at Leiden University in the Netherlands. She has worked in mental health care mostly focused on addiction, loss, trauma & behavioural dysfunctions. Psychology forms the foundation of every talk and workshop.
Tour Guide
Tess has been leading tours across more than ten countries since she was 19, including: Australia, South Africa, Thailand, The Netherlands, England, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Austria, Italy, Greece, Croatia & Andorra.
Writer & Speaker
Tess shares her (traumatic) experience with her readers in her articles, and questions society's norms: why do people make it seem like there is a guideline for how we should live our lives? Tess questions this and is writing a book about this societal pressure and freedom.
Companies Tess has worked with or (is working) for:
3
continents I've called home
5+
years of iving & working “off the norm”
40+
countries i've travelled, lived and worked in
1000+
people guided through chaos, adventure & growth
3
continents I've called home
5+
years of iving & working “off the norm”
40+
countries i've travelled, lived and worked in
1000+
people guided through chaos, adventure & growth
3
continents I've called home
5+
years of iving & working “off the norm”
40+
countries i've travelled, lived and worked in
1000+
people guided through chaos, adventure & growth
Topics to choose from
Topics to choose from
Freedom vs. Expectations
How do you choose when everyone has an opinion? - Set boundaries without guilt - Make choices under social pressure - Turn freedom from a feeling into a habit.
Freedom vs. Expectations
How do you choose when everyone has an opinion? - Set boundaries without guilt - Make choices under social pressure - Turn freedom from a feeling into a habit.
Freedom vs. Expectations
How do you choose when everyone has an opinion? - Set boundaries without guilt - Make choices under social pressure - Turn freedom from a feeling into a habit.
Burnout before 30
Pressure, comparison, and managing your energy. - Recognize early signals - Practical tools to prevent overload - Build a shared team language for mental health
Burnout before 30
Pressure, comparison, and managing your energy. - Recognize early signals - Practical tools to prevent overload - Build a shared team language for mental health
Burnout before 30
Freedom shouldn’t cost a fortune. My sessions are priced to be fair, transparent, and doable.
Off the Norm: Building your own path
From what’s expected to what truly works for you. - Iterative career mindset - Failure as data - Courage > perfection
Off the Norm: Building your own path
From what’s expected to what truly works for you. - Iterative career mindset - Failure as data - Courage > perfection
Off the Norm: Building your own path
From what’s expected to what truly works for you. - Iterative career mindset - Failure as data - Courage > perfection
Safe & Resilient Abroad (for students & travelers)
Travel smart and stay grounded. - Mental resilience - Assess risks (without fear) - Tools for emergencies
Safe & Resilient Abroad (for students & travelers)
Travel smart and stay grounded. - Mental resilience - Assess risks (without fear) - Tools for emergencies
Safe & Resilient Abroad (for students & travelers)
Travel smart and stay grounded. - Mental resilience - Assess risks (without fear) - Tools for emergencies
Formats to fit your story.
Whether it’s a powerful keynote, an interactive workshop, or a session for your students: each format blends psychology, storytelling and real-world tools.
Keynote / Talk (45–60 min)
A powerful talk with Q&A —> For events, companies, schools.
Workshop (90–120 min)
From listening to doing: interactive exercises and reflection —> For teams, trainees, students.
Mentor Session (2×45 min)
Interactive sessions for schools or universities —> for young adults who would like help in building their future in their own way.
From November to March I work in Lapland, but my laptop travels with me. Online sessions are available; live bookings on request.
Meet Tess →
Meet Tess →
We live in a world where everyone looks free, but most of us are just exhausted.
Hi, I’m Tess: psychologist, writer, tour guide and world traveller.
At 18 I left home to chase freedom across Africa, Asia, New Zealand & Australia. At 26, I realised freedom isn’t about quitting your job or buying a plane ticket. It's about learning to breathe under pressure, wherever you are.
My talks dive into that pressure: the expectations, the burnout, the fear of not being ‘enough’. I mix psychology with real stories from the road: raw, sometimes funny, always real.
Because freedom doesn’t come from escaping life.
It comes from facing it.
Degree in Psychology
50+ groups guided worldwide
Published essays (Bedrock)
Talks and coaching that cut through the noise
Meet Tess →
Meet Tess →
We live in a world where everyone looks free, but most of us are just exhausted.
We live in a world where everyone looks free, but most of us are just exhausted.
Hi, I’m Tess: psychologist, writer, tour guide and world traveller.
At 18 I left home to chase freedom across Africa, Asia, New Zealand & Australia. At 26, I realised freedom isn’t about quitting your job or buying a plane ticket. It's about learning to breathe under pressure, wherever you are.
My talks dive into that pressure: the expectations, the burnout, the fear of not being ‘enough’. I mix psychology with real stories from the road: raw, sometimes funny, always real.
Because freedom doesn’t come from escaping life.
It comes from facing it.
Degree in Psychology
50+ groups guided worldwide
Published essays (Bedrock)
Talks and coaching that cut through the noise
Hi, I’m Tess: psychologist, writer, tour guide and world traveller.
At 18 I left home to chase freedom across Africa, Asia, New Zealand & Australia. At 26, I realised freedom isn’t about quitting your job or buying a plane ticket. It's about learning to breathe under pressure, wherever you are.
My talks dive into that pressure: the expectations, the burnout, the fear of not being ‘enough’. I mix psychology with real stories from the road: raw, sometimes funny, always real.
Because freedom doesn’t come from escaping life.
It comes from facing it.
Don't take my word for it
If you want to know what it’s like to work with me, hear it from the people who’ve been there. Their words tell the story better than I ever could.
Explore more ways to work together
Ready for something that sticks?
Tell me about your audience, goal, and preferred date.
I’ll send a proposal within 48 hours.
Let’s connect!
See what people have to say about Tess
See what people have to say about Tess
Ready for something that sticks?
Tell me about your audience, goal, and preferred date.
I’ll send a proposal within 48 hours.
Let’s connect!
See what people have to say about Tess
See what people have to say about Tess
Latest writings
Stories that make you think, laugh, or question the norm.
Ready to break the norm?
Book a clarity session, join a workshop, or start with joining the community. Your choice.
Ready to break the norm?
Book a clarity session, join a workshop, or start with joining the community. Your choice.
Ready to break the norm?
Book a clarity session, join a workshop, or start with joining the community. Your choice.