About

Hi, I'm Janette, a mental health and well-being coach with a BSc in Psychology and formal training in coaching and counselling. I've been working on boats since 2013, across a range of vessels and roles, and bring firsthand experience of life at sea into my work. My approach focuses on positive mental health — not just the absence of struggle, but building a way of living that feels sustainable, grounded, and genuinely enjoyable.

In 2020, I went back to university and started my BSc in Psychology in the Netherlands. During those three years, I still did temp jobs on yachts here and there.

And then… two weeks after finishing my studies, I found myself back in yachting. I guess a lot of us know that feeling — the golden handcuffs, doing “one more season” even when we’ve said we’re done.

At the same time, I wasn’t ready to let go of psychology completely, so while working on yachts, I did a year-long online training in coaching and counselling.

With more awareness of psychology, I started noticing how little attention mental health and emotional well-being actually get in yachting. 

I’ve been feeling isolated, lonely, overwhelmed myself, and not really knowing how to deal with it. Not having anyone outside of the crew to talk to who would understand the uniqueness of life on board.

That’s when I realised that with my background and experience, I could support other crew members going through similar things.

My goal is to offer support in a way that actually fits this lifestyle — something that feels easy and accessible, not like another thing to add to an already demanding to-do list.

Not something heavy, but something that fits into the reality of life on board.
Something that feels normal, practical, and genuinely helpful.

A space where you can get support, but also build awareness and skills to take care of your mental well-being in a way that actually works for you.

Because when you feel more steady, clear, and supported, you’re not just doing your job better — you’re also a better teammate, and you can actually enjoy the highs of yachting without letting the lows take over.

And yes — working on yourself is still work.
But it should fit into your life, not feel like another pressure — whether you’re on board or off.

-Janette