Coming across a dog while out for a run. For many people, it’s nothing more than a fleeting encounter. Maybe you cross the street for a moment or check to see if the dog is on a leash. For Cindy Nugteren, for years it was a reason to stop going out for runs altogether .
That is, until she experienced firsthand what hypnosis can do during an NLP training course at Edwin Selij . That changed the course of her life. “That’s when I really thought: holy shit, this is so cool,” Cindy says. Now, as “The Phobia Specialist,” she helps others leave their fears behind. “It’s not magic, but sometimes it sure seems like it.”
Twenty years of working with computers
Cindy lives with her husband and their two children in Rijswijk, near The Hague. Before becoming a hypnotherapist , she worked as a programmer for twenty years. She built apps and, as both an employee and a freelancer, worked with many different organizations, including those in the banking and insurance sectors.
It was interesting work and she earned a good living from it, but after the birth of her children, something began to change. Cindy started to view her work and her place in the world differently. “I mostly made apps related to money. That was all great fun, but it didn’t make my heart race.” Slowly, the desire grew to spend less time working with systems and more time working with people. “What I really wanted was to help people instead of building apps.”
One hypnosis session changed everything
About ten years ago, while searching for an NLP course, Cindy came across the Hypnosis Institute of the Netherlands online. The courses that Edwin Selij was offering in Wormerveer at the time included a module on hypnosis. That’s when Cindy decided to tackle her fear of dogs.
That fear had already made her life quite restricted. Cindy loved running, but she no longer dared to move freely outdoors for fear of encountering a dog. “At one point, I was only running indoors on a treadmill because I just didn’t dare to go outside anymore.” During a single session, Edwin helped her overcome that phobia. “That really changed my life. Then I thought: Okay, this is really something special.”
Learning at the Hypnosis Institute of the Netherlands
After this experience, Cindy wanted to learn more about hypnosis. She completed the HIN 1.0 (Hypno Principles), 2.0 (Hypno Playground), and 3.0 (Hypno Pathfinder) courses in succession. Part of the training took place online due to COVID-19 restrictions. Although that worked fine, Cindy found that she preferred the in-person training days. On-site, she was able to fully immerse herself in the course material and connect with the other students.
For her, the courses were not only educational but also deeply personal. She learned techniques she can use to help others, while at the same time examining her own patterns. “It can be a bit uncomfortable at times, but that’s actually a good thing. I’ve really learned a lot about myself.” Feedback played an important role in that process. “If you receive feedback that’s a little uncomfortable, you can bring it up right away in a session with a colleague or trainer.”
Much more than just learning techniques
During the training courses, Cindy noticed that participants not only became better hypnotherapists but also changed as people. Conversations increasingly centered on topics such as gratitude, responsibility, and how one views other people. She herself noticed, among other things, that she began to take a more positive outlook on life.
She also learned to truly listen to someone without jumping to conclusions about their story. In her work, that’s perhaps even more important than executing a technique perfectly. “You have to listen to what someone is actually saying, avoid making assumptions, and remain curious about the other person.” As a result, she also views behavior differently. “People basically do what they think is best at that moment. I haven’t actually come across a single jerk among my clients.”
HIN 3.0 as the icing on the cake
For Cindy, the HIN 3.0 Hypno Pathfinder was a key turning point. From the start, she knew she wanted to pursue a serious career as a hypnotherapist. At the time, students in this program were required to complete and document a certain number of practical hours. Cindy therefore decided to see clients two days a week in addition to her work as a Scrum Master.
During the 3.0 program, her sessions were thoroughly reviewed and analyzed. What was she already doing well? Where had she made an assumption? And at what point could she have asked follow-up questions to probe even deeper?
“The 3.0 course was the most important one for me, because I knew: this is what will truly make me a hypnotherapist.” The earlier courses laid the foundation, but during the 3.0 course, everything fell into place. “The 3.0 is truly the icing on the cake. That’s when you really have to master the techniques.”
An exam she’s proud of
Cindy is also enthusiastic about the way the exam was conducted. She wasn’t simply given a set step-by-step plan that she could memorize. During the exam, she faced a real client and had to determine for herself what was needed in that moment. That made it exciting, but also valuable.
Cindy had to listen, observe, and choose the right techniques based on her knowledge and experience—exactly as she would later do in her own practice. “I thought the exam was absolutely brilliant, because in that moment you have to decide for yourself what the right thing to do is.”
As a result, the certificate didn’t feel like just a piece of paper she was handed out of the blue. “You can’t just have a certificate signed and go home. It’s really a step further, and I’m very proud of that.”
Inspiring trainers and delicious sandwiches
For Cindy, the HIN is more th Edwin Selij . She learned a lot from him, but she also cites Simone and Anneke as important role models. In Simone, she sees someone who made the transition from the business world. Anneke inspires her because, just like Cindy, she built a business later in life around work that truly suits her.
In addition, Cindy appreciates the way both women teach. They are knowledgeable, effective, and know how to convey the material in a natural way. “When I think of the courses, I really see Simone and Anneke as two power women.”
The atmosphere at the location also left a lasting impression on her. “With the coffee and the delicious sandwiches, you really feel welcome as a student.” It was precisely that combination of content, humor, attention, and hospitality that made the training days special for her.
A down-to-earth approach to phobias
Cindy now works full-time from her own practice in Rijswijk. Under the name “De Fobiespecialist,” she helps people with fears of spiders, dogs, vomiting, small spaces, and heights, among other things . She has deliberately chosen a clear specialization so that people immediately understand what she can help them with.
Her down-to-earth background as a programmer is still evident in her approach. She focuses on the specific problem a person comes in with. “My style is very specific: helping people with their phobia, preferably in three to five sessions.” She finds it remarkable that she can now guide people through something she herself struggled with for so long. “It’s wonderful that I can help people with the same problem I had to overcome.”
Entrepreneurship suits me better than I expected
Entrepreneurship also aligns surprisingly well with the way Cindy works. Her days are varied. One moment she’s conducting an intake interview, then she’s working on her website, writing a newsletter, or recording a video. If she gets stuck on one task, she can temporarily shift her focus to something else.
Her technical background comes in handy here. She built her own website and is active on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. Every Monday, she shares a video, and she’s creating a series in which she explains various phobias.
She no longer feels the need for her videos to be perfect. “Sometimes I don’t look directly into the camera or the sound isn’t ideal, but so what—at least I made a video.” Her motto has become a lot more practical: “They see my face and they know I’m human. Just get started.”
From being afraid of dogs to helping others overcome their fears
Cindy’s practice is gaining more and more traction. Although she also offers hypnotherapy online, her clients have so far mostly chosen to visit her practice in Rijswijk. There, she helps them gradually let go of fears that have sometimes been dictating their choices for years.
So the woman who once ran indoors on a treadmill to avoid dogs is now the one helping others experience how much freedom there is when a phobia no longer holds them back. “I help people overcome their phobias. That’s really all I do,” Cindy says matter-of-factly.
Behind that simple description, however, lies a major transformation—not only for her clients but also for Cindy herself: “Now that I’m doing this work, I finally understand what Edwin meant when he said, ‘This is your superpower.’”
You can reach Cindy at defobiespecialist.nl.
She is also active on social media.
Want to learn hypnosis yourself? Just like Cindy?
You can take the training in person or online. Would you like to have a no-obligation chat to see if this is right for you? Schedule a one-on-one consultation here. You won’t be speaking with a salesperson, but with an experienced HIN coach who works with this training program and clients on a daily basis. In 20–30 minutes, you’ll get a clear sense of whether this is the right step for you and which start date suits you best.
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