We are Traumanet
Meet our team, board of directors, and the partners who make Traumanet possible.
Traumanet is an independent platform on trauma, resilience, and healing. With reliable information, valuable insights, and practical self-help techniques, we support people with trauma symptoms and their loved ones on their path to greater resilience and healing.
We make space for diverse voices, perspectives, and insights. In an accessible way, we introduce people to both conventional and broader views on trauma and healing. We bridge the gap between scientific information and experiential knowledge, bringing together people affected by trauma, loved ones, and professionals. Online, and at our events.
Trauma affects everyone
About eight in ten Dutch people make at least one during their lifetime potential traumatic event. Where it is not (properly) possible to process this, various psychological, emotional and physical symptoms can arise. Symptoms that can have a profound impact on someone's life, work, family and relationships.
Trauma thus affects society as a whole. At the same time, there is a severe shortage of specialized support and treatment. A lack of proper knowledge and its dissemination among people with trauma, loved ones, and professionals is also a problem. Due to incomprehension, (self-)stigmatization, long waiting lists, receiving incorrect diagnoses, and/or undergoing inappropriate treatments, a great deal of often invisible suffering is created, piling on top of the trauma already present.
That must and can be done differently!
We stand for humanity and connection
With Traumanet, we want to show how. We strive for greater knowledge about trauma and healing, more understanding, and more support for people with trauma and their loved ones. Because loved ones are invaluable in the healing process and at the same time can be affected themselves by the impact of trauma, we explicitly focus on them as well. Humanity and connection are central to our approach. We look beyond diagnoses to the whole person within their context and build connections between people, experiences, and perspectives.
Because greater resilience and healing can only truly arise in contact with others—whether they are fellow sufferers, loved ones, or professionals.
Our cairn
A graphic common thread in Traumanet's branding is a cairn. And scattered here and there across the website, you will find various images of loose stones. Cairds are known for guiding travelers in the mountains. In trauma therapy, building cairns (or block towers) is sometimes also used as a regulation or orientation tool.
For us, the symbolism of the cairn perfectly aligns with the role we hope to fulfill as signpost for people with trauma and their loved ones. For us, the cairn also refers to everyone's personal quest for greater resilience and healing. A large part of that journey consists of finding the various building blocks that work for you. Finding stability in that can – just like with cairns – sometimes be a precarious balance.
Traumanet wants to assist you on your journey, step by step and stone by stone.Â
The core team
Dr. Anne Marsman
Initiator and editor-in-chief
Flourishes from... a good cappuccino!
Trained as a psychologist and trauma therapist and obtained her PhD in 2021 on research into the long-term impact of adverse childhood experiences. In her dissertation, she combined scientific knowledge with her own experiential knowledge regarding trauma and psychological issues. Something that is characteristic of all her work and also forms the basis of Traumanet, which she founded in 2022. In addition to her work as editor-in-chief of the platform, Anne is a passionate speaker and trainer on the subject of trauma and is involved in various national projects.Â
Frank Bonekamp
Events Organizer and Project Leader Relatives
Flourishes from... a game of table tennis in the office!
Started his career as a sports teacher in the correctional system and later transitioned to outpatient forensic psychiatry. Following that, he has dedicated over 14 years with great dedication (and heart!) to the inclusion of people with mental health vulnerabilities. Frank did this as the initiator and director of the Socialrun Foundation, a literal and figurative movement to promote inclusion, with its annual highlight being a non-stop 555 km relay race in 48 hours. In addition to his work for Traumanet, Frank is a trauma-sensitive partnership trainer and works as a coach guiding partners and loved ones of people with trauma.
Janita Naaijer
Head of Marketing and Communications
Flourishes from...the sea!
Studied psychology and journalism and worked for more than ten years as a journalist and (managing) editor including for de Volkskrant, the School & Safety Foundation (Stichting School & Safety), and the Inclusive Societies Knowledge Platform (Kennisplatform Inclusief Samenleven - KIS). In addition, Janita guided mission-driven entrepreneurs for over seven years at the intersection of personal development, strategy, marketing, and communication.
Damian
ICT, technology and support
Flourishes from…digitalization and automation!
Started the Panoma project a few years ago, through which he created custom animations, podcasts, and webinars, among other things. His activities then smoothly transitioned into the Socialrun foundation. Here, he dedicated himself to inclusion for over four years. Now he is making the move to Traumanet. His sharp analyses and his tremendous qualities in automation and process digitization are of great value to our platform.Â
The board of the Traumanet Foundation
Ted van den Bergh – Chairman
Board member and non-profit consultant
‘Traumanet is the place where everything and everyone related to trauma and healing come together. Information, background, and paths to take if you have experienced trauma or are a loved one. Traumanet sparks the imagination and provides hope. Here, we are together and within ourselves. To quote Gabor Maté: Safety is not the absence of danger, but the presence of connection. I hope Traumanet brings that closer.’
Prof. Dr. Elisa van Ee – General Manager
Clinical psychologist, systemic therapist, and extraordinary professor of Psychotraumatology in a developmental perspective at Radboud University.Â
‘When someone experiences a traumatic event, the degree and quality of social support is one of the most important predictors for developing trauma symptoms. Trauma therefore has a strong relational component, something that receives too little attention in the trauma field. Traumatic experiences affect not only the victim, but also have an impact on their loved ones. They are burdened as well. What I consider important is to help people tap into the strength that exists within the system. Insight into that dynamic can contribute to strengthening resilience. That is what I want to advocate for as a board member of Traumanet.’
Jos van Scheppingen – Treasurer
Board member and non-profit consultant
‘I have held various positions in financial services and have also been active for many years as a board member for various non-profit organizations. Since 2022, I have been involved as treasurer with the Traumanet Foundation. My motivation stems from the desire to provide financial reliability, so that the Traumanet Foundation can be further developed as an online platform for anyone who has to deal with the subject of trauma in any way.’
Our volunteers
Our partners
