Biography of Riene Bruffaerts

In 2001, I graduated as a clinical psychologist from the Free University
Brussels. Soon after, I started my career at the Centre for
Developmental Disabilities (COS) and later also at the Autism Reference Centre
(RCA). After several years, I had the opportunity to combine this work with diagnostics
and supervision within a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry service. This versatile
experience enabled me to gain in-depth knowledge about the development
of children, diagnostics and counselling.
Over the years, my interest in early child development grew,
with a particular focus on attachment and trauma. I attached great importance to the
intensive parental involvement in counselling. To further expand my expertise
to expand, I pursued a postgraduate degree in experiential, integrative psychotherapy
for children, adolescents and families. This enabled me to expand my clinical work and
further develop therapeutic skills.
Over the years, I have increasingly specialised in caring for young
children, inspired by the Infant Mental Health vision. I have various training courses
followed that have enriched my work with young children and their parents, and made me
have helped to work in a trauma-sensitive way.
While working in the child psychiatric ward, I collaborated on the expansion
Of the Infantry. Over time, I felt the time had come
for a new challenge. Since May 2023, I have been working at a Centre for
Mental Health, where I provide support within the children's team to
(prospective) parents of babies, toddlers and preschoolers.
In the group practice Healthcube, I offer psychological support and therapy
to for (young) children and their parents. Growing up a child can involve
deal with attachment, development and parenting challenges.
Sometimes there is a difficult start or exposure to stress and trauma in the
first years of life, leaving a child or the bond between parent and child out of balance
touched. Sometimes parents have questions or concerns about development, parenting, the
behaviour or well-being of their child.
With a warm and engaging approach, I start with an intake to get your story and
identify needs. Based on this, together we draw up a treatment plan
on, aimed at strengthening connection and promoting resilience and
balance in your family. The starting point is working together with child and parents.
If indicated, I also offer EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and
Reprocessing) to children and their parents.