Credits & Gratitude

Credits & gratitude

Serenify is the result of hard work, collaboration, trust, and inspiration. I am deeply grateful to every person, tool, and platform that helped shape it.

This page is dedicated to acknowledging the people and organizations who played a meaningful role in my journey.

It begins with those who offered me personal guidance and business advice at key moments. Then there are the businesses and platforms whose expertise continues to support Serenify behind the scenes. I also want to honor the teachers and coaches who guided me through my own healing process with anxiety — their wisdom left a lasting impact and inspired me to create Serenify. Finally, I hold a special gratitude for the practice clients who trusted me in the earliest stages of my coaching path.

Each of these people and businesses, in their own way, contributed to what Serenify has become. My hope is that their work, wisdom, and example may also serve as a source of encouragement and guidance for others — whether you are navigating anxiety yourself, or exploring the path of becoming a coach.

Business support & content guidance

Marcel van Es – Entrepreneur, founder of TMC Media | Business coaching and sparring partner
Govert Doedijns – Transformation coach | Strategic business advice
Karel Bouwens – Sales & marketing expert| Strategic business advice
Nicole Ferraz – Digital marketing expert | Strategic marketing advice
Francis Arickx – Healthcare policy expert, photographer | Strategic business advice, videography and photograpy
Marischka Brouwer – Entrepreneur, founder of Leadworks | Strategic sales advice
Barbara Mulder – Psychologist, founder of Slaapmakend | Program content guidance
Marc Jacobs – Psychologist | Program content guidance
Aad van Leeuwen – Psychologist | Program content guidance
Paul Bürer – Educational specialist | Program structure- and content guidance
Wim Hofland – IT expert | Program review- and content guidance
Chetna Chakravarthy – Life coach | Coaching on coaching
Ingrid Daemen – Nature coach | Coaching on coaching
Onno Zijdel – Video/audio expert | Audio + Video strategy
Bas Brand – Audio engineer | Audio strategy

Creative, technical and educational contributors

Eileen Rose Miles | Meditations; voice and audio recordings
Prashant Verma | Audio editing
Mohd Zeeshan | Animation + video editing
Harssimran Singh | Website creation
Mahbubur Rahman | Meta advertising
Jostel Owusu | Writing support
Tiziana Mahavri | Writing support
TMC Media | Website review
House of Communications | Website setup
World Coach Institute | Coaching certification
Kajabi | Coaching software
Meta | Advertising
Upwork | Freelancers platform
ChatGPT | Content development, business setup, marketing
Claude | Content development, business setup, marketing
Perplexity | Research
Notebook LM |Research
Insight Timer | Meditation practice + inspiration
Substack | Mental health content, business-, coaching-, marketing-, and AI learnings

Teachers & coaches in mental health and personal growth

Incredible teachers and coaches supported me during my own journey with anxiety — whether in person, through a course, or on platforms like Insight Timer and Substack. Their experience, stories and dedication inspired me to later create Serenify, so I could support others in their own healing.

Susan Philips – Mental health counsellor (India)
Geert Verschaeve – Anxiety coach (Belgium)
Eileen Rose Miles – Meditation coach (USA)
Lou Redmond – Meditation coach (USA)
Jud Brewer, MD PhD – Psychiatrist (USA)
Lynn Frase – Founder of the Stillpoint Method of Healing Trauma (Canada)
Prema Gaja – Meditation teacher (Costa Rica)
Jamie Wozny – Soul empowerment coach (USA)
Ashly Chymiy – Mindfulness and compassion meditation teacher (USA)
Mel Robbins – Mindset & performance coach (USA)
Gabor Maté – Trauma expert (Canada)
Tony Robbins – Life & performance coach (USA)
Charlotte Labee – Brain balance expert (The Netherlands)
Michael Hunter – Neuroscience + manifestation expert (USA)
Layla Shaikley – Writer on emotional regulation and confidence (USA)

Practice clients

Out of respect for their privacy, I will not mention names here — but I want to give special thanks to the practice clients who worked with me in the early stages of my coaching journey. Each of them was facing very real and often painful struggles with anxiety, yet they placed their trust in me. Their openness and courage not only gave me confidence as a coach, but also deeply influenced how Serenify has come to life. I hold a lasting appreciation for the trust they offered and the invaluable lessons they brought into my growth as a coach.

Kindred spirits

Along the way, I also crossed paths — both online and in real life — with people who truly got it. People who had been through anxiety themselves, or were still in the thick of it when our paths met. They shared their stories openly, with honesty, humor, and humanity, which reminded me that I was far from alone in this experience and things would eventually all get better. Among the public voices who deeply inspired me were Geert Verschaeve, Mardy Fish, and Blindboy, whose honest and vulnerable stories offered both hope and courage at times I needed it most.

Books & influences

The following books have contributed in some ways to the tools, perspectives, and practices I share.

Mel Robbins | The Let Them Theory
James Clear | Atomic Habits
Charles Duhigg | The Power of Habit
Lara Namaskar | Vagus Nerve Healing Bible
Bianca Sparacino | A Gentle Reminder
Nanette Kant | Zen in de Chaos
Florence Williams The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative
Gabor Maté | When the Body Says No
David Carbonell | Outsmart Your Anxious Brain
Seth J. Gillihan | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in 7 Weeks
Anna Nierling | CBT Workbook
Anna Nierling | ACT Workbook
Rob Willson & Rhena Branch | Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Dummies
Freddy Jackson Brown & Duncan Gillard | Acceptance & Commitment Therapy for Dummies
Barbara Mulder | Slapeloosheid behandelen
Nathan Cadwell | Biohacking Sleep
Vex King | Good Vibes, Good Life
Marcia Reynolds | Breakthrough Coaching
Marcia Reynolds | Coach the Person, Not the Problem
Megan Jo Wilson | Who the Fck Am I to Be a Coach?!*

Research & scientific sources

The following scientific works provide the evidence base that supports my approach.

know more

Kessler RC et al. | Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R) | 2005

Clark DM & Wells A. | A cognitive model of social phobia | 1995

Barlow DH. | Anxiety and Its Disorders: The Nature and Treatment of Anxiety and Panic | 2002

Hayes SC, Strosahl KD, Wilson KG. | Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: The Process and Practice of Mindful Change | 2012
Chand SP & Marwaha R. | Anxiety Disorders | 2023

Doki S, Sasahara S, Matsuzaki I. | Stress of working abroad: A systematic review | 2018

Zhang J, Harzing A-W, Fan S. | The impact of expatriates’ cross-cultural adjustment on work stress | 2018

Ersoy E. | The predictors of psychological distress in expatriates: Adjustment, loneliness, and social problem-solving skills | 2022

Yang W, Gao L, Fang J. | COVID-19 related stressors and mental health outcomes of expatriates in international contexts | 2021

Guo Y, Wang C, & colleagues. | Loneliness, trust, and perceived stress among expatriates | 2022

Hayes SC, Luoma JB, Bond FW, Masuda A, Lillis J. | Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Model, processes and outcomes | 2006

Levitt JT, Brown TA, Orsillo SM, Barlow DH. | The effects of acceptance versus suppression of emotion on subjective and psychophysiological response to carbon dioxide challenge in patients with panic disorder | 2004

Hofmann SG, Asnaani A, Vonk IJJ, Sawyer AT, Fang A. | The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy: A review of meta-analyses | 2012

Carpenter JK, Andrews LA, Witcraft SM, Powers MB, Smits JAJ, Hofmann SG. | Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and related disorders: A meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials | 2018

Goldberg SB, Tucker RP, Greene PA, Davidson RJ, Wampold BE, Kearney DJ, Simpson TL. | Mindfulness-based interventions for psychiatric disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis | 2018

Hayes SC, Villatte M, Levin M, Hildebrandt M. | Open, aware, and active: Contextual approaches as an emerging trend in the behavioral and cognitive therapies | 2011

Norton PJ, Paulus DJ. | Transdiagnostic models of anxiety disorder: Theoretical and empirical underpinnings | 2016

Newby JM, McKinnon A, Kuyken W, Gilbody S, Dalgleish T. | Systematic review and meta-analysis of transdiagnostic psychological treatments for anxiety and depressive disorders | 2015

Hofmann SG, Sawyer AT, Witt AA, Oh D. | The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Therapy on Anxiety and Depression: A Meta-Analytic Review | 2010

Hoge EA, Bui E, Marques L, Metcalf CA, Morris LK, Robinaugh DJ, Ojserkis RA, Unruh AS, Worthington JJ, Pollack MH, Simon NM. | Randomized Controlled Trial of Mindfulness Meditation for Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Effects on Anxiety and Stress Reactivity | 2013

Hoge EA, Bui E, Palitz SA, Schwarz NR, Owens ME, Johnston JM, Pollack MH, Simon NM. | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction vs Escitalopram for the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders: A Randomized Clinical Trial | 2022

Creswell JD, Lindsay EK. | How Does Mindfulness Training Affect Health? A Mindfulness Stress Buffering Account | 2014

Polak EJ, Slovak L, Andersen J, Droit-Volet S, et al. | Just 10 Minutes of Meditation Helps Anxious People Have Better Focus and Less Mind-Wandering | 2018

Hoge EA, Chen MM, Orr E, Metcalf CA, Fischer LE, Pollack MH, Simon NM. | Mindfulness Meditation Training Lowers Biomarkers of Stress Response in Anxiety Disorder | 2017

Baikie KA, Wilhelm K. | Emotional and Physical Health Benefits of Expressive Writing | 2005

Krpan KM, Kross E, Berman MG, Deldin PJ, Askren MK, Jonides J. | An Everyday Activity as a Treatment for Depression: The Benefits of Expressive Writing for People Diagnosed With Major Depressive Disorder | 2013

Hofmann SG. | Rethinking Avoidance: Toward a Balanced Approach to Avoidance in Treating Anxiety Disorders | 2018
McNally RJ & Ricciardi JN. | Suppression of Negative and Neutral Thoughts | 1996

Gloster AT, Klotsche J, Chaker S, Hummel KV, Glück S, Knefel M, Tichy L, Bents H, Strohmaier S, Höfler M, Hoyer J. | Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Routine Care for Chronic Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial | 2020

Chestnut Global Partners and The Truman Group | The Mental Health Status of Expatriate Versus US Domestic Workers | 2025
Bela Khan & Abdur Rahman | Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Among the Expatriate Population in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province | 2021

Wang H. et al. | Types of On-Screen Content and Mental Health in Children | 2024

Tang S. et al. | The Relationship Between Screen Time and Mental Health in Adolescents | 2021

Orben A. & Przybylski A. | The Association Between Adolescent Well-Being and Digital Technology Use | 2019

7 steps sources

The seven steps in this audio are rooted in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), positive psychology, and somatic research, all combined with personal experience. Additionally, they are informed by the work of Geert Verschaeve, a very experienced Belgian anxiety coach with targeted knowledge on panic and anxiety; Stephen Porges' Polyvagal Theory on nervous system regulation; the affect labeling research of neuroscientist Matthew Lieberman (UCLA); the work of psychologist David Carbonell on thought suppression and anxiety; and Peter Levine's Somatic Experiencing framework.

Disclaimer: Serenify provides coaching and psycho-education. It does not provide psychotherapy or medical care and does not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any mental health condition. Content is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for advice from your physician, psychologist, or other qualified professional. If you are in crisis or at risk, contact local emergency services. If you are seeking a diagnosis or treatment, consult your healthcare provider.