Marieke Rutten, a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience, resides and works in both the Netherlands and Belgium. She specializes in coaching parents and professionals in "New Authority" and "Nonviolent Resistance," excelling in conflict dynamics. Marieke's journey began as a family advocate, honing her skills in parenting principles. She expanded her influence to train professionals in youth care. Her biography reflects unwavering dedication, continuous learning, and a commitment to positive change. Marieke Rutten is an inspiring figure in family dynamics, offering invaluable insights for trust and resilience.
Marieke Rutten, Youth Care Trainer, Family Therapist, Mediator
Introduce yourself! Please tell us about you and your life, so we can get to know you better.
I am a versatile coach and trainer who works in practice and educates parents & professionals in methodical work. I live in the Netherlands, in the brainport city of Eindhoven, and have what we sometimes call a "patchwork family" in the Netherlands with three children, two cats, and two fish. I've had my own practice for almost 10 years now and developed an online training platform together with my business partner Anne Braamse. My heart beats for Greece where I've renovated a house and sometimes rent it out. I enjoy sports, play the piano, and love thrillers and traveling, whether or not in a camper. Of course, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. Fun fact; I once learned fire breathing!
What is the mission or primary goal of "Kracht van Ouders"?
With "Kracht van Ouders," or translated into English "Powerful Parenting," we want to provide all parents and professionals with powerful knowledge and practical skills in the field of new authority, vigilant care, and non-violent resistance. Our desire is to empower parents to cultivate positive relationships with their children while supporting professionals in increasing their expertise in family therapy. Together, we create a world in which parenting and family dynamics are based on love, understanding, healthy boundaries, and effective communication. And especially to do this in time so that parents know how to make the right choices!
Could you explain the range of services or products offered through your website or business?
At the moment, we have an extensive training on "new authority" and a training on "screen time." Soon, we'll be working on training for professionals to better support parents and a course where parents learn exactly how to help their child if they lack self-confidence or are anxious. We are also writing a book that will be released in 2024.
What inspired you to start this platform, and what gap or need in the market does it address?
We started with the idea for an online platform five years ago because we noticed that parents often get access to the knowledge they need too late to prevent difficult situations. We want to make this knowledge available to everyone. In the future, we also want to make sure that people in all countries have access to our knowledge.
How can parents or individuals benefit from being a part of your community or using your services?
Parents can simply go to our website, and from there, all the trainings they can find are listed. Starting from 2024, the training will also be offered with coaching, so we can assist people with questions they may have. After completing the training, parents will know how to deal with their teenagers, set boundaries without arguing, and feel more self-confident and optimistic about the future.
Are there any success stories or examples of positive outcomes that you can share related to your platform or services?
All parents who have taken the training so far have told us that they have experienced tremendous growth within themselves. The training is really intended to make parents stronger but also more loving. Their children have also noted a change in their parents' behavior and mentioned that there are no more arguments at home.
Do you have any future plans or initiatives in mind for "Kracht van Ouders" that you'd like to highlight?
A book is coming soon, and we recently launched our new online training called "screen time," where we teach parents in five days how to help a child or teenager develop healthy screen behavior, even if they're not interested!
Tell us about your greatest career achievement so far.
A few years ago, I organized an incredibly inspiring conference in Belgium, and we plan to do that again this fall. I also organized a day a while back, and it continues to have such an impact. We had invited international experts, and it was a great success. Of course, it was also challenging to create a two-day program for such a large group, filled with workshops and knowledge, but it was successful, and I look back on it with great pride and satisfaction.
If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why?
I would want to change many things;
People would have quicker and easier access to the right help
The world of coaching and therapy would be solution-focused
We don't tell people what to do; instead, ask them questions to help them discover their own knowledge. People can do much more than they think!
Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today.
I have worked in restaurants since I was 14. I was always surrounded by adults, who often shared their personal stories and dilemmas with me. I quickly felt like I was no longer a child. I was good at listening and empathizing, and had no trouble with language. However, I noticed that I often didn't know what to say but had a strong desire to. After a year of traveling alone at 18 through Australia, New Zealand, and Asia, I came to the conclusion that I wanted to study psychology.
