About
Luistervink is me: Karin van Brugge
I bring around 15 years of experience in employment, careers, development and return-to-work support, working with and through municipalities, UWV and businesses.
My roles have included job coach, career adviser, employment broker and regional connector at Werkcentrum Zuidoost-Brabant.
I am also a registered stress and burnout coach.
Over the years, I have spoken with people from many different backgrounds: employees, jobseekers and entrepreneurs. People with clear plans, and people still figuring out what they want.
Listening before finding solutions
My background taught me to look for practical next steps. It also taught me that a solution is not always what someone needs first.
Sometimes it starts with listening, asking a good question and giving someone space to think.
I bring my experience. You bring yours. You set the pace and remain in control.
Humour and perspective are part of how I work. I take people seriously without making every conversation feel heavy.
Coaching, not therapy
Luistervink offers coaching, attention, a listening ear and room for reflection. Not therapy or treatment.
You are welcome at Luistervink with whatever is on your mind, including stress, grief, loneliness, work pressure or personal problems. The aim is not to treat complaints, but to give you room to tell your story, organise your thoughts and come to your own insights.
Three principles guide this:
- No diagnosis or treatment: Luistervink offers non-medical coaching only.
- The client leads: the client decides what is discussed. Luistervink listens, asks questions and helps you reflect.
- Knowing the limits: when professional care seems needed, the advice is to contact your GP or another appropriate care professional.
Personal, with a professional network
I am the face of Luistervink and your regular point of contact.
For larger assignments, I can draw carefully on my network of experienced coaches and advisers in the region. That allows Luistervink to remain personal while providing additional capacity when needed.
What does the name Luistervink mean?
Luistervink is Dutch for an eavesdropper — someone who listens in on a conversation. The name combines luister, from luisteren (“to listen”), and vink, meaning finch.— for me, a symbol of lightness, resilience and choosing your own direction.
A small reminder to step out of everyday life occasionally and ask:
How am I doing? What gives me energy? What would I like next?
Not everything needs to change. Sometimes one conversation helps something move forward. Sometimes it helps you appreciate what is already going well.
For me, it is a playful way to describe someone who really listens.