From physical therapy to hypnotherapy: how Irene rediscovered her own strength at the HIN

Crete is a beautiful country—how could you not enjoy a vacation there? Especially when you’ve got your life completely together. That question led Irene Tromp to the HIN and to becoming a hypnotherapist.

Irene Tromp works as a physical therapist at a primary care practice in Wormerveer, near the Hypnosis Institute of the Netherlands. She primarily treats older adults, including those with lung problems and Parkinson’s disease.

In addition, she is now a hypnotherapist and completed the 3.0 program in November 2025. For her, hypnotherapy doesn’t feel like something separate from her work, but rather as a way to deepen it. As she puts it: “Now that I’ve added hypnotherapy to my practice, it’s a wonderful way to help people in a different way.”

She’s always been drawn to the medical field. She’s a care provider; she wants to support people, but deep down she also felt: this isn’t the only thing I want to do for the rest of my life.

Physical therapy was valuable, but something was still missing. Hypnotherapy turned out to be exactly the complement she was looking for. “I did think to myself: I’m not going to be a physical therapist my whole life,” she says. And at the same time, a very clear feeling came over her: “I’m so glad I discovered this and that I enjoy it so much.”

A vacation in Crete where things started to shift

Her first encounter with hypnosis didn’t stem from a professional quest, but from a personal feeling. During the summer vacation before Irene started the 1.0 program, she was in Crete with her family. On the surface, everything seemed perfect: a beautiful place, a loving husband, wonderful children, good health, and a job. And yet, deep down, something didn’t feel right. “I felt miserable,” she says. “I couldn’t really enjoy myself, even though I had everything.”

That may have made the confusion even greater. Because when nothing seems wrong on the outside, it’s very tempting to tell yourself not to make a big deal out of it. Irene recognizes that all too well. She kept going, was often lost in her thoughts, thought a lot, worried a lot, and wondered why she couldn’t enjoy that beautiful country.

One night, she couldn’t sleep and started searching the internet. That’s when she came across Edwin. She bought an MP3—probably one about self-confidence—and started listening. Edwin, whom she didn’t know, told her, “You’re doing great.” And that struck a chord. “How is it that someone I don’t even know says, ‘You’re doing great,’ and I react to that so strongly?” From that moment on, she became curious.

From Curiosity to Version 1.0

That first experience with an MP3 made Irene realize that hypnosis could set something in motion—not after months of talking, but immediately. She found that almost bizarre. “If it can happen that fast, then I need to learn more about it,” she thought. And that’s how she, as she says with a laugh, “got hooked.” In January 2023, she started with the 1.0 ( Hypno Principles) course, which was still online at the time.

That was exciting. Very exciting, in fact. Trying new things, asking for help, putting herself out there: it didn’t come naturally to her. Yet she did it.

Don’t wait until the tension is gone—just go for it while it’s still exciting. “I did it anyway,” she says. “It’s meant so much to me.” And perhaps even better: “I’m still proud of myself for having dared to do that.”

The Power of Like-Minded People

What Irene found special about the training wasn’t just the content. Of course, the techniques were important, but the atmosphere was just as valuable. For her, this was actually her first real introduction to personal development.

She had once taken a short NLP course, but had never pursued it further. At the HIN, it felt different. “Being together with like-minded people—that was really important to me,” she says.

The combination of trainers, exercises, music, dancing, humor, and in-depth exploration made her feel right at home. It was a place where she could learn, but also where she could laugh. And that suits Irene perfectly.

She also believes lightheartedness is important in therapy. Because yes, serious topics may come up, but that doesn’t mean everything has to be heavy. “If we can’t laugh, it all gets pretty boring,” she says. That atmosphere of safety, recognition, and fun gave her the space to grow.

From not daring to ask a question to giving a demo

When Irene looks back on her own growth, she sees a huge difference between who she was in the 1.0 version and who she later became. In the beginning, she didn’t even dare to ask a question. The idea that everyone would see and hear her was far too nerve-wracking for her. “I didn’t even dare to ask a question,” she says. Do a demo? Absolutely not. That was way too much.

Yet something special happened in the 2.0 ( Hypno Playground). During a regression demo, she felt deep down inside: I have to do this. She was terrified, spoke to Nico, didn’t sleep a wink all night, and did the demo anyway.

It may not have gone exactly as it should have as a “perfect example,” but for Irene, it was wonderful. Her issue was speaking in front of a group, and after the demo, she was actually able to give a short talk to that group. “I was terrified, but I thought: this is what I need,” she says.

That moment became a catalyst for her to delve even deeper into herself and get to know herself better.

Version 3.0 as the final step and a deeper exploration

After completing the 2.0 program, Irene deliberately took a year off. In 2024, she launched her practice and received coaching from Nico. “That was extremely valuable. Through the feedback on my audio sessions, I got exactly what I needed.” This gave her extra confidence and practical feedback. After that, she felt she was ready for the 3.0 ( Hypno Pathfinder) program. For Irene, that training was “a wonderful addition.” She wanted to complete the series and actually have “hypnotherapist” listed on her diploma.

In the 3.0 course, she encountered techniques that resonated with her, such as “sharing work,” self-image, and the “3-minute reset.” But she found the feedback sessions especially valuable. Not just Edwin’s feedback, but also observing one another. She found a lot of room for learning there. “That’s where you really learn the most: when you can simply learn from one another,” she says.

She also found that attending the 2.0 and 3.0 courses in person added significant value. The online experience was good, but being together in one room made it even more powerful for her.

Hypnosis in Physical Therapy Practice

Irene now incorporates hypnotherapy into the practice where she also works as a physical therapist: Fysiotherapie De Witte Vlinder in Wormerveer. She took a practical approach—she just got started. “I just put a chair in the treatment room,” she says. There’s also a brochure in the waiting room, and conversations naturally arise in the practice and the training room.

People come to her through physical therapy, but also through word of mouth. Sometimes people hear her talking enthusiastically about hypnotherapy and become curious. Precisely because they already know Irene, they’re more willing to take the plunge.

For example, a woman with irritable bowel syndrome said that she would never have just walked into a hypnotherapy practice on her own, but because she knew Irene and heard her talk about it, she felt confident enough to give it a try.

This perfectly illustrates what makes her approach so powerful: the familiar approach of physical therapy combined with the deep-acting power of hypnotherapy.

From Parkinson’s to driving

The issues Irene addresses are diverse. She has helped people with Parkinson’s disease, including those with a fear of heights, enabling them to hike in the mountains again and enjoy their vacations once more. She has also helped a person with Parkinson’s improve their ability to concentrate by processing trauma through hypnotherapy.

In addition, she helped a woman who, after suffering a minor brain hemorrhage, was too afraid to drive again—even though her doctor had cleared her to drive. During their conversation, Irene asked one simple question that immediately shifted something within her. After that, the woman got back behind the wheel.

For Irene, hypnosis isn’t limited to formal sessions. She also notices how much is possible in everyday conversation. During conversations, she hears beliefs coming to the surface, and then she can’t help but listen. “I can’t really not do it anymore,” she says.

One session with a woman suffering from long-term COVID-19 symptoms really stuck with her. After a symbolic journey, this woman regained her energy and even went back to work at home. For Irene, those are the moments when she thinks: this is why I do what I do.

Everyone has the right to feel good

Although Irene is still searching for a very specific target audience, she does feel that the medical field continues to appeal to her. She finds irritable bowel syndrome particularly interesting, precisely because of the connection between anxious thoughts and how the stomach reacts.

She also sees possibilities in the context of Parkinson’s disease. At the same time, she doesn’t want to limit her thinking, because she sees so many people with such a wide range of needs. “Everyone has the right to feel good,” she says.

Everyone carries beliefs with them. Some beliefs help; others limit us. And it is precisely those limiting beliefs that should be challenged—not harshly, not forcefully, but in a gentle, attuned way.

Helping yourself without having to do everything alone

What the HIN ultimately gave Irene goes beyond techniques and certificates. It helped her get to know herself better, dare to ask for help, and take steps she used to avoid.

She explains that for years she felt like a victim of her upbringing, even though she knows her parents acted with the best of intentions. By working on herself, she discovered something important: no one is coming to save you.

That might sound harsh, but for Irene, there’s actually strength in it. “You have to do it yourself,” she says. “You have to take action and step out of your comfort zone.” That doesn’t mean you have to do everything on your own.

It does mean, however, that you’re the one who has to take the first step.

She wants to share that insight with others as well. You don’t have to remain dependent on a therapist. You can rediscover your own strength.

Or as Irene so beautifully puts it: “You are your own leader.” And that is exactly what makes hypnotherapy so special to her: helping people discover that much more is possible than they initially thought.

Would you like to learn more about Irene? Send her an email at Irene_tromp@hotmail.com—she doesn’t yet have a website or social media accounts for her practice.

Want to learn hypnosis just like Irene?

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.

The schedule for these sessions fills up quickly around the start of each group. Is there still a time slot available that works for you? Then book it now.