Dr. Paula Zeestraten

Academic Background & Early Career

After obtaining her gymnasium diploma, she started higher vocational education in Youth Social Work, before transferring to Utrecht University. There, she obtained her master's degree in pedagogical sciences in 1989 (specializing in special education and care for the intellectually disabled).

In 1996, she started a private practice as an educational psychologist. In close collaboration with child and adolescent psychiatric facilities, she focused on the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with complex developmental issues. Simultaneously, she worked as an educational psychologist in practical and special needs education. It was during this period that the foundation for the ReAttach method was laid from daily clinical practice. In 2011, she ended her private practice and school activities to fully focus on the scientific substantiation and dissemination of ReAttach.

International Dissemination and Foundation

Her drive to provide accessible care led to extensive (voluntary) international work. From 2013 onwards, she gave workshops and treated children with autism and intellectual disabilities in places including Romania (Napocencis Medical Centre), the United Kingdom (Action for Aspergers), and various foundations in India. She also participated in projects in the Netherlands to apply ReAttach for individuals with dementia. To ensure global quality and implementation, she founded the ReAttach Therapy International Foundation in 2016. This non-profit organization manages the quality register, publishes training materials, and is the founder of the Journal for ReAttach Therapy and Developmental Diversities (JRTDD). Since then, several international ReAttach conferences have been organized.