My name is Olav Swaan. All my life, I have been fascinated by people. What drives us, literally and figuratively? How do we find balance, connection, and direction—within ourselves, with others, and in our lives?

My career began in the world of hospitality and human resources, where I immersed myself in work, behavior, and organizations. But gradually, my desire to work more deeply grew: not only with words and systems, but also with the body, with feelings, emotions, and with the story behind the story.

That is why I studied massage and body-oriented therapy, mindfulness, and psychology. This broad background—from HR to holistic therapy, from science to intuition—means that today I work at the intersection of body, mind, and life course.

I completed my four-year training as a massage therapist at the Akademie voor Massage en Beweging in Amsterdam. Experienced therapists and teachers introduced me to the power and beauty of holistic bodywork..

I graduated with a master’s degree in (life course) psychology. Life course psychology is based on the idea that human development takes place in interaction with the environment. Humans are therefore not preprogrammed or static, but dynamic. We learn through trial and error (setbacks) and success. Throughout our entire lives. This is based on positive psychology, which focuses not so much on the pathological side of human beings, but rather on the positive aspects such as increasing resilience and emotional, psychological, and social well-being.

In addition, I am a mindfulness trainer.(categorie 1 bij de Vereniging Mindfulness Based Trainers Nederland). II was educated at Radboud Centrum voor Mindfulness. Mindfulness is a way to observe what is happening in our body and mind more consciously, without necessarily changing anything. It is the art of being present in the here and now, allowing you to live more intensely and consciously. Would you like to know more about mindfulness or are you interested in training? Then read on at the page about mindfulness.

I am currently training to become a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner™ (to be completed in 2026). Somatic Experiencing® was developed by Peter Levine. It is a body-oriented approach to trauma and stress-related disorders based on multidisciplinary findings from psychology, neuroscience, and physiology, among other fields.

I am also training to become a NARM therapist (to be completed in 2026). NARM (NeuroAffective Relational Model)

is a body-oriented and psychological method for healing old, deep-rooted trauma. It helps you understand how past experiences unconsciously influence how you feel, think, and relate to others now. Instead of extensively revisiting the past, NARM focuses on restoring your connection with yourself in the here and now—through your body, emotions, and inner experience.

I work in my own practice and at an organization that specializes in the prevention and treatment of work-related psychological issues.

I work with people who long for real change, who feel that there is more possible than just “carrying on.” Together, we explore what is going on inside you, what wants to be heard and felt, so that you can move toward wholeness from within.

We all have our own stories, our own patterns, and our own desires. I approach everyone with an open, unbiased attitude and am happy to accompany you on a journey into your world of body and mind with an open mind and my full attention.