Mental Health Meetup
In 2025, IHL conducted a survey to understand how internationals in Leuven and the surrounding areas were doing. One thing internationals mentioned they needed more of was mental health support.
So we are launching Mental Health Meetups at IHL. Each month, different topics will be featured relating to mental health. The events will be hosted by mental health professionals, bringing their expertise to the international community.
These events will be in a variety of formats. Some will be informational, conversational, interactive, etc. It's a safe space to participate how you would like (active or passive).
Check below for the upcoming events and topics that will be covered.
When
Register via clicking on the date below:
| Date | Time | Host & Topic |
|---|---|---|
| 27 October | 18:30-20:30 | Larissa Ernst - Grieving the loss of identity and being far from home |
| 12 November | 19:00-21:00 | Tamara Cortoos - Light that fire! Rediscover your purpose in midlife |
| 29 November | 14:00-15:30 | Eli Bemani - Body & Mind: Well-being in Motion |
Where
International House Leuven - Tiensevest 60, Leuven
Price
These events are free but are not meant to repalce 1:1 sessions with a mental health professional. If you are seeking help, we urge you to contact a mental health professional or ask the host of the event for further resources.
About your hosts
We have several providers for these meetups. Learn more about them below:
Emma Biggs - A psychologist and researcher based in Leuven, after spending time in the US, the UK, and the Netherlands. She earned her PhD from KU Leuven and Maastricht University, focusing on chronic pain, and later worked with adolescents with chronic pain at Stanford School of Medicine. She went on to serve as Assistant Professor of Medical and Clinical Psychology at Tilburg University before establishing her own counseling practice and research consultancy in Leuven.
Larissa Ernst - Since relocating to Belgium in 2017, Larissa Ernst has established a psychotherapy practice in Leuven, catering primarily to the international and expatriate community. In addition to face-to-face consultations, Larissa offers online therapy to clients around the world - many of who also deal with the challenges of being an expat. Specialising in adult individual, couples, and family therapy, Larissa has a keen focus on interpersonal communication and its effects on mental well-being. Experienced in facilitating amicable separations and divorces, Larissa prioritises the welfare of children involved. Through the years she developed deep experience specifically with how expat children integrate in the Belgian school system. She also has a vested interest in perinatal mental health, particularly in expatriate settings where support for new parents is often limited.
Tamara Cortoos - Tamara Cortoos knows what it’s like to hit a turning point in midlife. Halfway through her own international career, she realised she was stuck in expectations, routines, and responsibilities, and chose a new direction. That decision became the foundation of her work as a midlife coach today: helping people in their 40s and 50s see midlife not as a crisis, but as an opportunity.
A native Belgian, Tamara spent nearly two decades living and working in Barcelona, London, and Sydney before returning home with her family. Those years abroad gave her first-hand insight into identity, belonging, and the growth that comes when life, midlife, and international experiences meet.
As founder of MidlifeCoach.be and the Midlife Crossroads Academy, she guides midlifers to reconnect with their passion and purpose. With energy, warmth, and a touch of humour, her workshops are practical and down-to-earth. No theory at arm’s length, but tools and insights participants can put into action straight away.
For Tamara, midlife isn’t the end, but the starting point of a powerful new chapter filled with meaning and possibility.
Eli Bemani - A physiotherapist and master’s student specializing in mental health physiotherapy at KU Leuven, with experience in pelvic floor health and a focus on the mind–body connection.
Ash Hanson - I'm a native English speaking psychotherapist from the US, practicing with a multicultural and collaborative lens. My approach is integrative, with an emphasis on the here-and-now (Gestalt), the somatic relationship between body and mind, and parts work (IFS informed). Stylistically I don't shy away from challenge, while providing a playful and caring environment. I specialize in working with folks wanting a deeper understanding of their own actions and patterns to address stuckness; those new to Belgium and struggling with isolation and/or culture shock; anxiety and depression, and couples wanting to refresh and change relationship dynamics. I also have extensive training and experience in supporting folks from the queer community.
Silvana Romero- Versatile researcher and psychologist with 15+ years of experience in academia, research, and private practice. A driven and passionate professional with a proven track record of delivering impactful results in behavioral sciences, digital health, and health literacy, including leading complex research projects and mentoring students.
Sheerin Kaur Dhaliwal - Aspiring mental health counsellor with a strong interest in emotional well-being, therapeutic support, and client empowerment.
Past topics
- Emma Biggs - Journey mapping for life with chronic conditions
