Together on the road to meaningful recovery
Restorative where possible, forensically sharp where needed. Ikigai Counseling brings humanity and safety together.
Welcome to Ikigai Counseling
Every person seeks direction, connection, and meaning. Sometimes that process gets stuck due to life-altering experiences, persistent patterns, or circumstances that seem stronger than yourself. Ikigai Counseling supports both individuals and organizations in recovery, growth, and sustainable change. We offer professional guidance with a human approach: hopeful, respectful, and focused on inner strength, behavior, and future perspective.
Ikigai stands for that which gives life meaning. We believe that every person has the ability to recover, develop, and choose a new direction — regardless of past, situation, or starting point.
What we do
Ikigai Counseling offers guidance and programs for:
For organizations
Ikigai Counseling supports organizations with:
- trainings and workshops;
- ons-site recovery groups and programs;
- professional development;
- deployment of experiential expertise;
- restorative and humane work;
- guidance concerning detention, reintegration and forensic recovery.
For individuals
Ikigai Counseling offers guidance with:
- recovery and personal growth;
- addiction and relapse prevention;
- dealing with shame, guilt and loss;
- breaking old patterns;
- preparation for or recovery after treatment;
- meaning in life, identity and personal autonomy.
Our working method is used in both individual trajectories and group programs, and aligns with current knowledge in psychology, the narrative approach, motivational interviewing, and recovery-oriented work.
Our approach
We work on the basis of professional methodology, empathy, and clear frameworks. A characteristic of our guidance is that it:
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safe and human-centric is – without judgment, with room for the story behind behavior
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experiential and practical is – learning by doing, discovering and practicing
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evidence-informed and evidence-based is based on what works in recovery processes
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results-oriented – with a focus on sustainable change and social participation
We combine experiential expertise, scientific insights, and practical knowledge. This creates an approach that is both personal and effective.
Together towards a meaningful future
Recovery is not an endpoint, but a path you do not have to walk alone. Ikigai Counseling will walk a part of the way with you — until you can once again give direction to your life, in connection with yourself, others, and your future.
Would you like to know what Ikigai Counseling can do for you or your organization? Feel free to contact us for an introductory meeting.
Ikigai Counseling supports recovery from:
Recovery may be necessary when someone gets stuck due to addiction, trauma, detention, loss, shame, behavioral problems, or recurring patterns. Sometimes this involves stopping substance use. Sometimes it involves finding a new direction, taking responsibility, restoring trust, or learning to live with what has happened.
Ikigai Counseling supports people and organizations in recovery processes centered on humanity, safety, self-determination, and future perspective.
We offer support with, among other things:
addiction and substance use
disruptive life experiences
detention and return to society
trauma, shame, and guilt
stubborn behavioral patterns
loss of direction, identity and meaning
relapse and recurring patterns
difficulties with personal autonomy, structure, and responsibility
recovery after treatment, detention or crisis
professional and personal growth
Addiction remains an important part of our expertise. At the same time, we take a broader view: looking at the person behind the behavior, the context in which someone gets stuck, and the steps needed to find direction again.
New: Ikigai Expertise Center for Forensic Recovery
Within Ikigai Counseling, a specialized development line has emerged for recovery, detention, addiction, experiential expertise, and reintegration.
Ikigai Center of Expertise for Forensic Recovery focuses on people with a justice background and on professionals and chain partners working on sustainable return, reduction of recidivism, and humane guidance.
The development line consists of four pillars:
Ikigai Inside
rehabilitation programs in prison
Ikigai Training & Advice
strengthen professionals
Ikigai Experience Expertise
professional deployment of experiential knowledge
Ikigai Research, Methodology & Innovation
methodology and impact measurement
Recovery is about more than stopping use
Recovery does not just mean stopping substance use or destructive behavior. Recovery is also about finding direction again, taking responsibility, learning to cope with vulnerability, repairing damage, and building a meaningful life step by step.
Many people get stuck due to a combination of addiction, trauma, shame, loss, detention, psychological vulnerability, behavioral problems, or circumstances that seem larger than themselves. Ikigai Counseling doesn't just look at the problem, but primarily at the person behind the behavior and at what is needed to regain perspective.
We support people and organizations in recovery processes centered on motivation, self-direction, connection, safety, and future prospects.
Image by hartono subagio from Pixabay
Testimonials
What does Ikigai mean?
Ikigai is a Japanese philosophical and cultural tradition that can be applied in everyday life. According to the Japanese, everyone has an Ikigai, a reason to be. It is very important to start and continue the search for yourself. It is that drive that keeps people going, despite setbacks and difficulties; simply because they feel that what they are doing is their calling. Ikigai consists of four elements, namely what you love to do, what you think the world needs, what you are good at and what you can be paid for.
The center of these 4 elements is your Ikigai. In your Ikigai everything comes together that makes you happy deep down. Ikigai, The reason to get out of bed full of motivation every day and fulfill your passion, is for me the most powerful tool I have been able to find, in addition to participating in a self-help program, to live a clean, fun, fulfilled and successful life. The ability to help others break through their destructive behavior and/or addiction issues and help destigmatize addiction through the use of my own experiences and my professional knowledge, that is my Ikigai.
Get in touch.
Are you stuck and want immediate help? Or are you looking for someone who can speak on this topic?
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