Belonging isn’t something you find, it’s something you build.

Roughly half of adults in the Netherlands feel lonely. Maybe you are one of them. This loneliness can express itself in many different ways, from endless scrolling on social media, to sitting with co-workers on a Friday night and going home in silence. It’s not just about physical isolation, but missing the underlying needs of closeness, belonging, and a sense that your life has meaning.

Empowered Connections Coaching is an online and in-person coaching service for people who are looking to take action to feel less lonely and make more friends along the way. Loneliness isn’t a permanent feeling, but a very normal emotion we all feel at times in our life, often coming during hard transitions like starting a new job or moving to a new city. I’m here to help you start from wherever you are with honest conversations, and to help you rediscover strengths you already have, all while building skills and friendships you can use for the rest of your life, long after we’ve met.

feels lonelydoesn't1 in 2YOUNG ADULTS IN THE NETHERLANDSEXPERIENCE LONELINESSSource: RIVM — rivm.nl
— In your coaching session
  • We talk. We’ll start with an honest conversation about how things are going and discover what you’d like to focus on.
  • We plan. We’ll work with the G.R.O.W. model to set measurable goals to work towards.
  • You accomplish. We’ll celebrate your successes and you’ll have my support until you feel satisfied.
— Free · 45 min

Intro conversation

We'll have a complete FREE first session, this will lay the foundation for how sessions would look in the future and help us get familiarized.

Book a call
— One-off · 45 min

Single session

Great for short-term support or a little boost in the direction you'd like to go. I do my best work with sessions planned weekly or every other week, but come and go whenever works best for you.

Plan a session
— Planned arc · 1 month

Coaching journey

Ready to give coaching a chance? While one month may seem short, by the end you'll have some real skills with the G.R.O.W. model you can use regardless of whether we continue meeting or not.

See the arc
— About

From hospital rooms, to class rooms.

I’m Landon Aldana, originally from the United States, where I worked for years as a healthy relationship educator alongside survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, and other social work professionals.

I now work with those not often in crisis, but the skills I’ve learned with them help me to offer that same quality of support as a coach and friend, someone who can listen carefully, encourage, and support you in achieving the goals we set.

— Essays

Recent letters from the practice.

— Coaching / Friendship · 3 min read

From a Life Coach in Leeuwarden: What Is Life Coaching, and How Can It Help You?

There are almost as many coaching niches as there are types of cheese. Here's what life coaching is, how it can help, and why I focus on friendship and loneliness.

— Coaching · 3 min read

What Is the G.R.O.W. Model? How a Simple Coaching Framework Creates Real Change

The G.R.O.W. model is the most widely used coaching framework in the world. Here's what it stands for, where it came from, and how I use it with clients.

— Friendship · 4 min read

How to Make Friends as an Expat in Leeuwarden, with Local Recommendations

Practical, personal advice for meeting people in Leeuwarden as an expat, from local clubs and events to online groups and small daily interactions that build real friendships.

— Loneliness · 4 min read

Why Do I Feel So Lonely in the Netherlands?

Feeling lonely in the Netherlands isn't a personal failing, nearly half of Dutch adults feel it too. Here's what causes it and what actually helps.

— Loneliness · 4 min read

How to Cope With Loneliness in the Netherlands: What Actually Helps

Understanding why you're lonely doesn't fix it. Here's what actually helps right now, from small first steps to knowing when to get more support.

— Coaching · 5 min read

Life Coaching vs. Therapy: What's the Difference?

Coach or therapist? Here's the real difference between the two in the Netherlands, what Dutch law requires of each, and how to know which one you need.

— Friendship · 5 min read

Why Your Friendships Keep Fizzling Out (and What It Takes to Fix It)

Friendships rarely end with a fight, they quietly fade instead. Here's what causes that drift and what it takes to rebuild one that's slipping.

— Loneliness · 4 min read

How to Cope With Homesickness After Moving to Leeuwarden

Moving somewhere new doesn't stop it from feeling strange. Here's what homesickness actually is, who feels it most, and what can help you settle in.

— Begin a conversation

Want to talk, or have a question? Send me a note.

I read every message myself. I’ll get back to you within three working days, usually sooner.

I reply within three working days.