About Abdelfattah Arissa

For over three decades, I've witnessed something profound: when we understand the deeper patterns in our relationships—the invisible loyalties, the unspoken debts, the stories passed down through generations—transformation becomes possible, even when the path forward feels impossible.

I help individuals, couples, and families move from confusion to clarity, from conflict to connection, and from inherited pain to conscious choice.

 
My Approach
I work from contextual therapy with an intergenerational lens, which means we don't just treat symptoms. We explore the roots together.

What this means for you:

Your pain has a story. It didn't begin with you. The anxiety, the relational patterns, the invisible weight you carry—these are often inherited loyalties passed down through generations. When we bring what's invisible into the light, real change becomes possible.

My integrated methods:

• Functional Family Therapy (FFT) — I trained under Dr. James F. Alexander, the founder of FFT at the University of Utah

• Trauma & Attachment — using the Slapende Honden Method (ICTC) and EMDR for gentle, effective trauma processing

• Psychodrama — experiential work that helps transform stuck patterns through embodied practice

• Voice Dialogue — exploring your inner complexity and the different voices within you

I meet you exactly where you are—without judgment, with deep cultural sensitivity, and with 32 years of experience holding space for complexity.

 
Where I Can Help
Families Navigating Complexity
Supporting families with children who have ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, or attachment difficulties. I help parents understand their child's unique world while maintaining balance and connection within the family system.

Trauma & Attachment Wounds
When past experiences continue to shape your present relationships, I use gentle, evidence-based approaches that respect your nervous system and work at your pace. This includes work with complex trauma, developmental wounds, and relational injuries.

Relationships in Transition
Guiding couples and families through divorce, separation, and family restructuring with deep attention to children's emotional well-being. I provide support for high-conflict situations and help rebuild healthy co-parenting relationships.

Intergenerational Patterns
Breaking cycles you swore you'd never repeat. Together we explore family loyalties, relational patterns, and the invisible forces that shape your choices—creating space for conscious decision-making rather than automatic repetition.

Culturally Sensitive Care
Bridging Dutch and multicultural perspectives, I honor diverse relational traditions within evidence-based therapeutic frameworks. Having lived between cultures myself, I understand the unique challenges of bicultural identity and family dynamics.

 
My Journey
My path began at the University of Marrakech, where I studied English Language & Literature (1983–1987). This foundation sparked my fascination with human communication, storytelling, and the power of language to shape our realities.

That fascination led me to the Netherlands in 1988, driven by deeper questions: How do families shape us? Can we heal what we didn't break?

After completing my Bachelor in Social Work at Fontys University in Eindhoven (1992–1996), I pursued extensive postgraduate training in contextual therapy, family therapy, psychodrama, and trauma treatment. Over the years, I've worked in youth care and child & adolescent psychiatry at GGzE and De Bascule, where I specialized in complex family situations and evidence-based interventions.

In 2000, I founded Al-Osra Healthcare & Welfare, dedicated to providing culturally sensitive guidance for families facing complex challenges—particularly those who felt caught between different cultural worlds or overlooked by mainstream services.

Bridging Worlds
Having crossed continents and cultures myself, I bring the clinical precision of Western therapy combined with the relational wisdom of multicultural traditions. I understand what it means to belong to multiple worlds, and I bring that lived experience into every session—not as theory, but as genuine understanding.

 
Credentials & Continuous Learning
Academic Foundation:

• BA English Language & Literature — University of Marrakech (1983–1987)

• Bachelor in Social Work — Fontys University, Eindhoven (1992–1996)

Key Specializations:

• Functional Family Therapy (FFT) — trained under Dr. James F. Alexander (founder, University of Utah) during my work at GGzE and De Bascule (2008–2014)

• Contextual Therapy — intensive postgraduate training, Utrecht & Antwerp (2002–2005)

• Trauma & Attachment — Slapende Honden Method (ICTC) with Arianne Struik (2018–2021)

• Psychodrama Director — advanced certification (2014–2016)

• EMDR Practitioner — certified (2013)

• Voice Dialogue Facilitator — Voice Dialogue Academy (2025)

Currently pursuing:

Postgraduate Supervisor in Family Therapy — Thomas More University / KU Leuven (2025–2026)

Treatment languages: Dutch • Arabic • French • English

 
What Working With Me Looks Like
First, we create safety. You need to feel seen, heard, and understood—not judged or reduced to a diagnosis.

Then, we explore together. What patterns are showing up in your life? What's underneath the surface? What invisible forces from your family history might be shaping your present?

Together, we work toward change—at your pace, with methods that fit your situation, always honoring your culture and context.

The goal? Not perfection. Not "fixing" you. But clarity, connection, and the freedom to choose differently.

 
You Don't Have to Carry This Alone
You don't need to have all the answers.

You don't need to know exactly what's wrong.

You just need to take one step.

Whether you're carrying family pain across generations, navigating the challenges of neurodiversity, working through trauma, or searching for clarity in your relationships—there is a way forward.

I'm here to walk alongside you.

 
Let's Begin the Conversation
For individuals & families:
Ready to take that first step? I offer confidential consultations where we can explore whether my approach is right for you.

For professionals & referrers:
I welcome professional referrals and am available for consultation and interdisciplinary collaboration.