My Background
My name is Norah Namuddu van Laar. I was born and raised in Uganda and later I moved to Kenya where I had my university studies majoring in psychology and communication studies. I then moved to the Netherlands where I live now and also had an opportunity to enroll in the academy for coaching and counselling to further my professional and personal development in mental health. Having had a chance to live in these three countries, I have had a share of both good and bad experiences which have had an impact on my mental, physical and intellectual development and I have taken each of these experiences as opportunities to being able to relate and connect with different kinds of people and gain an understanding on how similar experiences can affect us differently and therefore make us react differently.
Growing up in Uganda and living the experiences as a young girl, mental health was not seen as a relevant part of our lives. Struggling mentally was always linked to luxury or witchcraft, depending on your background. Although that was the case, it doesn’t take away the fact that mental illness and struggles related to mental health don’t affect us all. I have experienced days of lowness, anxiety and depression but I had no one to talk to about my feelings because I was scared of being labeled as mad or possessed. I therefore had this increasing fascination on whether other people experience similar things and questioning if it was a normal thing that can happen to everybody else.
My interest in psychology and mental health came about due to my personal struggles. Having no money to pay for therapists made me choose a course with the aim of learning more about myself and finding clarity about my feelings and emotions. After gaining a lot of knowledge and understanding of psychology I made it my personal goal to spread awareness for mental health through providing coaching and counselling services at an affordable price.
When I took a course at the academy for coaching and counselling, I gained a lot of practical experience which I would like to share with many others. I have worked with some people who were on the verge of losing hope and seeing them thrive confidently again gives me so much joy. I have always been interested in people and how diverse we are therefore I keep an open mind to learning about each other. I have always been a natural confidant to many people around me, friends and strangers and this motivated me to make a career out of it. I use my curiosity and empathy to provide a safe space for everybody to share their experiences without judgement. I believe in people’s ability to create a life they desire therefore I provide space for people to come up with what works for them.
With all being said, the main purpose for me is to create a difference in people’s lives. Every issue is a big issue for someone who feels held back, however small others may label it, it has a power to make you feel stuck and sometimes helpless and that’s when Talk to Norah comes in to help you find clarity.
