Strengthening your self-confidence may sound like something you need to 'fix' yourself, through more discipline, positive thinking or simply pushing through. But when self-doubt runs deep, willpower rarely helps. It is not a lack of motivation, but patterns shaped by experiences, beliefs or memories that your system still perceives as threatening. IEMT focuses on precisely that deeper level: not on what you think, but on what you feel and believe about yourself, and how that can change.
When self-doubt runs deeper than you thought
You know you do good work, yet before every presentation you feel sick with nerves. You receive a compliment, but feel nothing. You withdraw in situations where others join in effortlessly. These patterns are not character flaws; they are learned. Somewhere along the way, your system decided that you are not enough, that you are not safe or that making mistakes is dangerous. Building self-confidence truly begins when you address those underlying beliefs, not just the behaviour on the surface.
How IEMT works with a stuck self-image and inner doubt
IEMT, Integral Eye Movement Therapy, uses guided eye movements to reduce the emotional charge of memories and beliefs. Unlike traditional talking therapy, you do not need to describe what happened in detail. You focus your attention on the memory or feeling while following the guided eye movements. That sounds simple, but the effect is noticeable: the memory loses its grip, and the belief attached to it shifts too. In March 2026, the first peer-reviewed study on IEMT was published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Psychotherapies, with researchers affiliated with Maastricht University. This exploratory study involving 33 participants showed that IEMT eye movements significantly reduced the emotional charge of negative memories, with results comparable to EMDR. This is an initial, exploratory study; further evidence is needed, but the early results are promising.
| Approach | Addresses beliefs | Session length | Available online |
|---|
| IEMT | Yes, including identity patterns | 60 minutes | Yes, entirely via video call |
| EMDR | To a limited extent | 60 minutes | Sometimes |
| Talking therapy | Indirectly, through insight | 45–60 minutes | Sometimes |
| Coaching | Through behaviour | Varies | Yes |
What to expect when you want to rebuild your inner confidence
Your work with Ik Wil Verandering begins with a 60-minute initial consultation, entirely online via video call, with no installation needed. Janine is a certified IEMT practitioner and works in a calm, structured way. Together, you explore which memories, situations or beliefs undermine your sense of self-worth. You then work specifically on the emotional charge behind them. The approach is designed to be short-term: not months of talking, but focused sessions that set change in motion. The initial consultation costs €100 excluding VAT, with secure payment via Stripe. IEMT is not a medical treatment and offers no guarantees, but for many people it is a method that feels like a genuine shift from within.
Who is this approach suitable for, and when will I refer you to someone else?
IEMT is suitable for anyone, regardless of age, anywhere in the world who speaks Dutch or English and struggles with persistent self-criticism, fear of failure, social insecurity or a deep-rooted sense of being 'not good enough'. People who have already done a lot of talking but have not felt any real change often find a new way forward here. Are you currently in an acute crisis, struggling with serious psychiatric difficulties or in need of intensive support? In that case, I recommend contacting your GP or a specialist care provider first. IEMT is a valuable method, but it is not the first step in every situation.
