We, Glen and Anita, are Anchorage Coaching.
Together, we have more than three decades of experience in the field of mental health care and social care. Our experience lies in working with people with various behavioural problems and mental or social challenges. We also offer support for addiction problems, grief or relationship problems. But if you are looking for a purpose or have become stuck in life for whatever reason we offer support as well.
We provide professional online and private coaching for Dutch and English speaking people. Our services also include, recovery training courses, psychoeducation and workshops for schools, parents and other professionals.
Anchorage Coaching is based in the beautiful Portuguese Algarve. However, you can also use our online coaching outside of Portugal.
Have a look around on our website and feel free to contact us if you need help or if you need more information on our services.
Hi, my name is Glen.
As a coach, I focus on working with teenagers, young adults and adults. My expertise lies in working with people who have (had) to deal with addiction, ad(h)d, autism, bullying, peer pressure, behavioural problems, homelessness, low self-esteem and dysfunctional relationships, among others. I get a lot of fulfilment from my work. Not only as a coach, but also by developing and conducting training courses tailored to the needs of both professionals and clients.
Besides my interest in social, mental and interpersonal relationships and behaviour, I also have a passion for music, film, art, cooking, nature, hiking and I love spending time with my family and our dogs and cats.
As a teenager my life seemed pretty okay from the outside but on the inside, I was struggling. Living in a dysfunctional environment I felt neither seen nor heard, resulting in making a lot of impulsive and sometimes VERY unhealthy choices.
After many failed attempts to complete an education, my path led to a number of underpaid, boring and even questionable jobs. I was desperately searching for my true self. And on that journey, I dove into the world of partying, self-medicating, dubious peers and I rebelled against anything that even remotely resembled authority
Due to several life-changing events during my early twenties, I made even more unhealthy choices. I was trapped in a downward spiral of negative thoughts and behaviour which I tried to hide from the rest of the world in all sorts of ways.
But then in my late twenties I met a lovely lady on a boat. She was working in a forensic psychiatric hospital and often told me moving and interesting stories about her work which I found fascinating. With time, patience and love, she challenged me to find my true self. Which meant cleaning up my act and taking back control of my life, little by little. These efforts eventually paid off. Fighting my way out of my destructive behaviour was immensely worth it. I finally found what I truly liked and what I was good at ; working with people in need. I immediately felt like a fish in water when I started working in mental health care around 2004.
Since then, my mission in life has been to support those seeking help in finding their own path towards a healthier future.
For the curious ones among you, yes I married that lovely lady on the boat. Together we raised a fantastic young man and we enjoy our lives in the beautiful Algarve with our animals.
Hello, my name is Anita and I am an (online) coach for adults.
Our often 'unnatural' way of life can make it difficult to maintain healthy functioning. It can happen to all of us that we get out of balance.
Sometimes the imbalance is severe, and sometimes it just needs a little push. Supporting people in that quest for balance, regardless of their difficulties, is what I love doing most.
For me, the relationship between client and coach is at the heart of the process. Therefore, I want you to feel comfortable and safe during the process.
I have been working as a registered psychiatric nurse/supervisor in the Netherlands since 1997. I have mainly gained experience working with clients in forensic psychiatry, as well as short-term hospitalisation, chronic psychiatric care, and outpatient care.
The content of my work then consisted mainly of counselling and supporting people with severe psychiatric disorders. I offered support in coping with their challenges in several areas of their lives.
In addition to working with clients, I have supervised many students. For this, I worked closely with training programs within the health care industry.
I also temporarily held my own counselling practice in the Netherlands.
I have been living in Portugal since 2020 with my son and husband.
In 2021, I started working at Human Concern Portugal with people with eating disorders. A wonderful new experience from which I also learned a lot. Unfortunately, this clinic had to close. Nowadays, I enjoy working for GGZ-Interventies, a Dutch addiction clinic in the Algarve.
Although I really enjoy my work as a psychiatric nurse, I have found that, 'one-on-one', working with people is even more rewarding. Being able to coach people is a valuable addition to my life. I coach people who run into life's problems such as stress, grief, fear of failure and feelings of insecurity.
I mainly do my coaching while walking in the hills of the Algarve, together with my dog(s). I find this to be the perfect setting to disconnect from the constant over stimulation that (digital) life sometimes brings. Here, amidst beautiful nature, we can focus on your recovery.
In my coaching, I don't beat around the bush and I'm always looking for possibilities. In doing so, I like to think outside the box and do not shy away from humour.
My work experience, my dog(s) and the power of nature give me the tools to work collaboratively with you on the challenges you might face in life.
If hiking is not possible, we look for other possibilities.
The sessions are online or you can visit me. Together, we look at your challenge and map out a plan.
We start with an intake and based on your help request I will tell you if what I can offer is suitable. Sometimes a request for help may require more specialised assistance that I cannot provide.
The goal is that you can move forward with useful life tools and that you can deal with the challenge you came with.
I want to help you help yourself.
Our interactive workshop is designed for schools, universities, health facilities and other places where many people gather. In this workshop, we create awareness about topics such as recovery and mental and social vulnerabilities.
Talking about these topics is often taboo. Also, there is still a lot of ignorance and misunderstanding which can create or sustain stigmas. This is not always intentional but can still adversely affect the way we see ourselves and each other.
Through knowledge, conversations, practical examples, activities and of course humour, we discuss taboos and uncomfortable topics in order to make them more acceptable and normal to talk about.
Unfortunately, there is still a stigma attached to psychiatric disorders. People with such challenges are unfortunately still often ignored, discriminated against or in any other way disadvantaged.
We think it is important for people to better understand what a psychiatric disorder is and what it can do to someone.
But also how to recognise it and learn what you can do to help.
Due to our many years of experience we can provide information and awareness (aka psychoeducation) that can help you to understand or talk about topics that might be unknown, taboo or stigmatised.
This training course is designed for groups up to 8-10 people, currently in recovery (non-addicted) and dealing with social and mental health challenges.
It is an intense 9 session course where we all share experiences and work together. You will also learn tools that you can apply in your own recovery. By engaging in a group setting, people are able to find recognition and support with each other.
Some of the topics we discuss together during our sessions include ; hope, goals, purpose, triggers and
self-awareness.
In terms of pronunciation, it also resembles “encourage”. That is exactly what we want you to do. To encourage you, to find the anchor for your soul. This is often being used as the definition for hope. Consequently one of the key pillars of recovery or even life itself.
We consider it a privilege to coach others. Using our personal no-nonsense approach, as well as our professional background, we will guide you on a journey of
self-exploration, setting goals and heading towards a healthier future.
No, we are both coaches working with people dealing with social and psychological (mental) challenges that get in the way of recovery. We DO NOT make diagnoses, prescribe diets, provide medication or medical help, nor do we offer any kind of medical treatment.
What we do is work alongside you to find useful tools to deal with the challenges you face in your life. Through our knowledge, we support you in finding your own path towards a healthier future.
Together, we have more than 3 decades of work experience within mental health care and social care. We worked in places such as a forensic psychiatric hospital, homeless shelters, addiction clinics, care homes, youth psychiatry, community centres in inner cities and in schools. For more details, please see the, about us, section.
Hiking sessions last for a minimum of two hours, and all other coaching sessions are one hour or more, depending on your preference.
Because we love dogs and Glen also loves to hike. When Glen worked at a mental hospital, he used to take his dog to work sometimes. Taking his clients out for a dog walk made them connect even more and open up about the things going on in their heads. Another good reason to use dogs is that they don’t judge. All of this plus the beauty and calmness of nature will help you relax more and "dig deeper".
Since the pandemic, many things have changed or become more accepted. Like working from home, online classes and online meetings. Health care also had to continue their work as usual. Therapy, coaching and conversations with other counselors and coaches continued, of necessity, online. This turned out to work better than previously thought, and it even has advantages.
For example, you don't need transport and you can do it from wherever you want.
Yes, of course. If you are afraid, the dog(s) stay at home.
No, you don’t have to be. Glen can adjust the hikes for almost everybody.
Try to find competent help, like you’re doing right now. Please, tell us more about what worries you, and we will try to guide you in the right direction.
