Our Staff

​All our facilitators are Choose Again trained. Each facilitator has come to this work as part of their own healing journey, so they have experienced first-hand the incredible transformation it brings, and they are here to help you experience the same transformation in your own life.

Diederik Wolsak RPC, MPCP. | Founder & Program Director

Diederik is the founder and program director of Choose Again. Diederik’s journey started in 1942 on the island of Java, Indonesia. He spent the first three years of his life in Japanese concentration camps. Many of his core beliefs were developed during that early, potentially traumatic phase. At age 8 he was sent to a foster home in Holland and by the time he rejoined his parents and brothers two years later he was filled with self-hatred and fear of the world around him. This self-hatred, fear and guilt translated into prolonged alcohol and drug abuse till finally at age 50 he reached that point where he realized that there had to be a better way or there would be no point in continuing. While his self-hatred drove him to be a successful businessman and international athlete, it allowed him little joy.
Following the fork in the road where something had to change, Diederik entered upon a spiritual path of deep healing. This path eventually led to a fulfilling career as counsellor in private practice. He is a masterful therapist. Every client recognizes immediately that they are being trained to become independent of their counsellor, that they are worthy of respect and that they have their own answers. Diederik is there to assist in finding and removing all blocks to happiness and peace in a most gentle and loving way. Clients also sense that Diederik has been in many of the dark places they see in themselves; he has personal knowledge of deep depression and substance abuse. He has personal experience of what they are going through and has largely transformed his life. However, he will be the first to tell you: “I am a work in progress.”
Diederik is the founder and program director of the Choose Again Attitudinal Healing Centre. He is the lead facilitator of both the Vancouver and Costa Rica arms of the organization. He is an international workshop leader, public speaker and relationship counsellor with years of experience in group facilitation.

Costa Rica

Gad Sprukt

​Growing up in a suburb of Jerusalem, Israel, a part of me always knew that eternal happiness is mine to have. 
It wasn't so clear, to begin with. Indeed, it took more than twenty years of relentless wandering, seeking, falling flat on my face and rising up again. But today I can say with certainty that my childhood intuition was correct; peace and happiness are always available to me if I choose them. This is the great lesson that I keep learning and sharing here at Choose Again.
Before joining Choose Again 2017, my professional and spiritual background included:
The study and practice of Buddhist insight meditation, in Thailand and Israel. 
I have a bachelor degree in Philosophy from Tel Aviv Universality. 
I was married and divorced (twice). 
In 2008 I became introduced to the teachings of Advaita Vedanta. I met the British teacher Rupert Spira whose spiritual instructions and guidance provided the framework for my life, for the next four years.
But despite all the insights under my spiritual belt, my life was in many ways dysfunctional. I was carrying unprocessed childhood trauma that no yoga or meditation could dislodge. And so I decided to dive deeper into my mind. 
In 2012 I left the life I had built in the UK to join the Sat Yoga Ashram community in Costa Rica. I lived with this visionary community for five years as a postulant monk. 
There I was given the opportunity to study the insights of the great minds of western depth psychology (Jung and Lacan). I was able to undergo a course of psychoanalysis, with weekly sessions for almost five years. I could not wish for a better school in which to learn and explore the hidden labyrinths of the human soul.
I found Choose Again soon after my time at the Ashram came to its natural close. I initially joined as a volunteer, but it quickly became clear that I found a place in which to tie the loose ends that were left in all my years of study. At Choose Again I was finally able to get right to the core of the issues that were keeping me from resting in happiness.
As I write this, I feel very grateful for the humbling opportunity given me here. Here I get to remember again and again that abiding Happiness is mine to have. It's the most beautiful gift I could ever wish for.

Saskia Wolsak

I have been a counsellor with Choose Again since 2006. Long before that, however, I began my life-long interest in the transformative power of honesty and awareness. This began at an early age with my interest in poetry, and later in the visual arts. Through writing and painting I taught myself to become aware of my own thought patterns and to transform them by opening my mind to greater insights.  
My quest for self-awareness then branched out to include Buddhist meditation, Aikido, the culinary arts, and wilderness survival skills, in particular traditional plant knowledge. When I am not counselling, I am a researcher and educator in the field of ethnobiology – helping to rebuild bridges between humans and the natural world through historical inquiry and experiential education. My guiding principle in life seems to be: what does it mean to be human, and how can we do it well? 

Working as a counsellor for Choose Again offers me the opportunity to deepen self-awareness while guiding clients to do the same. I view counselling as a partnership in healing; we learn from and grow with each other. 

As a counsellor, I strongly believe that we each have access to an inner knowing – call it intuition, our higher self, or an inner teacher – which can help us through our most difficult times and guide us in every decision. My goal is to help clients access this inner knowing through cultivating awareness of old patterns and habits; learning to question the stories that drive us; and practicing the 6-step process of forgiveness. I believe that everyone has the ability to reconnect with the desire to heal and to love that resides within us all. 

I am available for one-on-one Skype sessions; and for in-person one-on-one and Holotropic breathing sessions in Vancouver. 

Fred Wilberts 

​When I was offered the opportunity to become part of Choose again early 2012, I could barely believe my ears. It felt like everything fell into place. No words could describe my feeling: this was my chance of a lifetime, the possibility to live the kind of life I had envisioned for myself: a life dedicated to Truth, Self-discovery, all of that.
Something similar actually happened about 20 years before with that other favorite point of interest of mine: cooking. I then also was presented with this opportunity to turn my hobby into my professional life. 
I find it quite amazing to notice how these wonderful opportunities basically presented themselves. All I had to do was to accept and say yes. And so I did, on both occasions: a full fat big YES it was and still is.  That does not mean I did not have to go through any walls but it is now more clear than ever that that is what it all was and is for in the first place. To face these seeming walls and realize that they are nothing but the result of my own limitations that I -and nobody else- had laid upon myself.
In my former job as a chef / jobcoach the focus already was on working with people who found themselves in a rough place and time in life. Political refugees, people coming from countries at war, people with drug or alcohol issues, convicts, psychiatric patients or just people being unemployed for an extended period of time.... People just like me maybe?
I found that in providing them with a safe space to rediscover their self-worth, the same thing was actually happening with myself just as well.
And so now, the work I am doing within Choose Again is noting but the next step in that process. It now makes sense that "what I give, I receive" or "Your healing is my healing".
I am so grateful I can continue this healing journey with you within a clear Choose Again framework with the six steps process at our disposal. Very simple, very practical, very efficient. 
And let it be a happy journey! Yes, let's be brutally honest and courageous in the process, for sure, but let's not forget to laugh at ourselves because, in the end, laughter is all my insanity deserves.

Claudia Mosele

What brought me to Choose Again was my strong desire to deepen in my spiritual journey. Before I came to the Healing Centre in Costa Rica I had been studying the Course in Miracles for many years and I had lived in a residential community dedicated to this teaching. But at Choose Again I immediately recognised that I had found an important piece of my healing puzzle and an effective tool that helped me to truly question my beliefs. I got to see how powerful I am and that I can choose in every moment how to experience myself and the world around me. Now the choice is simple: "Do I want to suffer or do I want Peace?"
Supporting others in this work gives me a purpose that I have long been searching for. To share and feel the changes in someone who opens up to seeing themselves differently is truly beautiful. This moment of clarity connects myself and "the client" at a very deep level. We both recognise our inherent Truth and it becomes clear that your healing is also my healing. I look forward to connecting with You!

Vancouver

Anne Andrew 

Anne has been involved with Choose Again for over fifteen years since she began working with Diederik to help her through a crisis in the family. She quickly discovered that her depression was a choice and swapped it for feelings of euphoria that she had seldom experienced prior to doing ‘the work’. As a result of her remarkable healing, every member of her family has been introduced to the Choose Again methodology. 
 
Anne began facilitating circles in Vancouver in October 2017 and spent the summer of 2018 co-facilitating workshops at Les Labadous in June and September. Feedback from clients tells of the supportive, safe space she provides for healing to occur. Her background in teaching has helped her to develop a number of visual aids and other strategies for helping clients to assimilate the Choose Again philosophy more easily.
 
Applying the Six-Step Process to parenting issues is of particular interest to her and she wishes that she had access to this information before having children. That’s why she wrote What They Don’t Teach in Prenatal Class:  The Key to Raising Trouble-Free Kids and Teens and teaches workshops for parents in person and online.

Paul Panteleyev

I first became involved with Choose Again in the beginning of 2012 in the aftermath of the suicide of my long term girlfriend and coinciding with a long pattern of self hatred, antisocial behavior, dysfunctional relationships and substance abuse. My day to day life had become unbearable and filled with feelings of despair and hopelessness. I knew very little of what was involved but was aware that a major change was both imperative and long overdue. In all honesty I was skeptical that any improvement would be possible but decided to investigate what was being offered.
The results were nearly immediate and surpassed any and all expectations. I was amazed by the effectiveness of the tools and teachings and began applying them to completely transform my self made identity. The result continues to be nothing short of remarkable and has completely transformed my life to one filled with joy and peace. When the opportunity to join the team in a leadership role was presented, I gladly accepted and embraced the opportunity with enthusiasm and gratitude. It has provided a daily environment in which to deepen my understanding and grow from each experience presented. It is my pleasure to share what I have learned and what it has meant in my life, the results speak for themselves and are available to anyone ready to make a real positive change.

Sean Smith B.Com., B.Ed., M.Ed. (Counselling), RTC, MTC

​Sean’s association with Choose Again began in 2011 after a post-surgical, near-death experience, a rapid and intense deterioration of the body, and a reluctant reliance on sleep, anti-anxiety, and pain medications to ‘assist’ him through this very tumultuous period of his life. After a two-week stay at the Choose Again Residential Centre, having discovered the root cause of his physical and emotional challenges, he was free of all medications and had an empowering outlook based on the incredible teachings he encountered and embraced. His family, friend, and work relationships all improved as a result of his experience – but most importantly, the relationship with himself.
Sean kept up his practice with several Vancouver workshops and volunteering for one month at the residential centre. Sean then returned to Costa Rica in December 2015 for two weeks to heal an unexpected life crisis. Within days, he had re-established the solid grounding that the Choose Again wisdom process delivers. He felt the call to commit more deeply to his spiritual practice and returned to join the team at the residential centre in July 2016.
Sean’s background includes 10 years with the Bank of Montreal in Treasury and Investment Banking in Vancouver and Toronto, and 20 years working with youth in diverse environments including probation, mental health, physical disability, and the public school system as both teacher and counsellor. He also enjoyed 5 immensely rewarding years at home as primary caregiver to his children Stephanie and Connor during their formative years. 
Sean offers a loving, empathetic, and practical approach with a focus on helping clients rediscover the wisdom within.

Dawn Green RTC, CCAC

I trained as an elementary school teacher at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver BC, and after a brief period with the Vancouver School Board, I branched out to working for a private organisation teaching vocational skills to mentally challenged adults. I led weekly meetings on healing dysfunctional relationships with food and body image as this issue healed in my own life due to the universal principles of healing that I was learning and applying. I enjoyed running my own Reiki practice and have worked extensively with A Course in Miracles, which I first drew into my life about 30 years ago. I also studied and practiced Buddhism for an extensive period of time.
I have been with Choose Again for almost 8 years as a counsellor in our Costa Rican residential centre, and have recently moved to Vancouver Island the continue the same work. It has been a dream of mine for many years to move to Vancouver Island, and I now live in Nanaimo, where I work as a counsellor and circle facilitator. I will also be working in Duncan and Victoria.

Amy Rice

I became involved with Choose Again sparked by a desire to seek deeper happiness in my life.  I was immediately drawn in by the power of circles; witnessing people transform vulnerabilities and become visibly more centered, relaxed, and confident.   I felt empowered as I learned that my experiences of happiness, joy, and satisfaction are limited only by beliefs I hold about myself. And that I can change those beliefs. In 2009-2010 I lived and worked in Costa Rica at Choose Again’s Attitudinal Healing Center, and I have been facilitating workshops, breathwork sessions, and circles ever since.  
In my passion for social justice, youth development, education, and well-being, I acknowledge Choose Again for teaching me the fundamentals of how to live authentically.  These fundamentals combine psychology, spirituality, and philosophy to create a holistic and inclusive approach to healing.  In addition to my work with Choose Again, I am a teacher and school counsellor in the West Vancouver School District.  My growth through Choose Again has been my greatest professional development.  As I apply my skills for connecting first within myself, I am then energetically able to attend to others around me.  I have learned to be more intentional about my life experiences. Instead of trying to set up the external conditions that I hope will bring me happiness, I turn to my internal mindset as the foundation for peace. This concept appeals to me in principle, but requires dedication and practice. I feel honoured to share this with others because as I teach, I am simultaneously infusing my own spirit.  This simultaneous nature of teaching and learning creates a sustainable practice, and offers incredible potential for deep connection. ​

Europe

Saskia Teppema

Saskia Teppema is personal, life and executive coach. She started her personal development years ago, but it got wings after she visited El Cielo in Costa Rica in 2011. From that moment she started to give workshops and seminars in working with the six steps and she wrote a book about her journey and how the six steps changed her life from victim to happines. She has 35 years of experience with groups and counselling and she loves to work together with Diederik and others.

Lukas Klein

For about half a year in 2013, I witnessed the world through different eyes. What a magical and beautiful place the world appeared to be!
With the full force of the spiritual ego, instead of accepting what I saw and maybe even seeing myself in the same light, I grew ever more judgemental and controlling. This took a  toll on my health until finally, four years later, I saw no other way but to ‘choose again’.
Was it possible that I was actually not ‘bad’? Lovable even?
Despite tenacious ego resistance, since then I experienced enough to know deep down that we are all innocent. That we are all good enough. Wholly lovable and loving. Choose Again circles allow such truths to well up, and in gratitude I facilitate a London circle.

Floris Odding

Three years ago I discovered Choose Again and it’s Six Step Process. My ego was skeptical at first, but soon I experienced the simplicity and the power of the method. I wanted to experience this first hand so I subscribed to a workshop in the South of France. This was such an eye opening experience, that I decided to volunteer at the center in Costa Rica for 2,5 months. I can say for sure that I learned more in those weeks than I ever did in university. The Six Step Process is simple and clear but super effective in discovering the barriers I created for myself. It keeps on showing me who I really am.

Christine Riedtmann Engi

​Diederik’s six steps have transformed my life, relieving me from years of recurrent heavy depression. Since I have come into contact with Choose again a few years ago I have witnessed miraculous transformations in many others.
 
It is important for me to give more people access to the method. I do that in my everyday life whenever someone seems to be in need and agrees to choosing again. It is a joy for me to participate in workshops at Centre Les Labadous and to facilitate Choose again circles.

Martin Engi-Riedtmann 

Choose Again has brought great blessings to my life. Just what relief the Six Steps can bring, was first revealed to me when I saw it in my wife Christine. Since then, time and again, I keep experiencing miraculous transformations in workshops and circles. It has taken me some time before I recognized how much I benefit myself. Eventually I did realize that there are no “small” upsets, that everything is for me. I am full of gratitude. 

Charles Nye

My journey started in 2012 when I finally answered the calling that had been ringing most of my life. I had been using drugs for the last two years and one of my tumulus relationships had just come to a painful end. The realisation came to me that I had been hating myself all my life and was on a path of self destruction. When it finally hit me, I decided to start loving myself. Suddenly all I wanted was to be happy. Even though I had no idea what that was going to look like. With that decision the puzzle pieces started to fall into place which have brought me to the here and now at El Cielo in Costa Rica.
In doing this work I found out how I had created this identity, learned how to let it go and am still doing so to this day.
Here I have found one of my passions in sharing this, being of service and helping people realise that this is accessible for everyone.

Staff in Training

Loeth Zeeman

Now (2022), I can say that I tried to save the outside world in my job, at home and my spare time. I started as a teacher, but it became clear that my desire of saving children from bad school experiences did not work out. I changed my goal to the individual and became a diagnostician of learning- and behavior disorders and made treatment plans for pupils. During my study I got active in politics, later on in union work and a solidarity committee. Years later I stopped for I was forced to take a stand I did not support. And at home I created a patchwork family with different cultural backgrounds. I divorced after eighteen years and stayed as a single mother.
At the age of  fifty I collapsed, my body and mind were burnt out. I was fired and my whole identity was crushed.
It took me fifteen years of searching to keep my head above the water, from painting, yoga, systemic psychotherapy, through mastering energy healing and shamanism to finally the non-dualistic thought system. When I met Diederik in the Netherlands (2011) he pointed to my feelings, somehow I knew that was my missing link. I knew only a few feelings and several years later I had no other choice than to dive deep and intensively in the six steps process. Based on the nondual teaching this tool and caring counselors brought me my healing by discovering my feelings and beliefs. My body recovered, my mind is joyful and if not I Choose Again.
Instead of saving the outside world now I am going on to heal my inside world first. What became very clear to me is that “we walk each other Home”. We need each other to become aware of our hidden beliefs by recognizing, through accepting to loving Who I am in Truth.

Admin & Support

Andrew Burt

Andrew is the client manager for our Costa Rica retreats. He helps to place individuals in our programs and then works with them from registration through arrival. He has lived, worked and trained as a Choose Again counselor at the retreat center for over six years and has recently moved to a home in a nearby city to start a family. Andrew also assists with our technology infrastructure, sales and marketing endeavours and organizational planning. He first attended the center as a client in early 2012 to work through long held beliefs and family patterns of addiction and abuse.
Andrew participates in several retreats and workshops throughout the year as a circle facilitator and organizer. He is a patient yet tenacious counsellor who promotes a practical, direct experience of forgiveness through the Six Steps to Freedom method and Choose Again programs. Please feel welcome to contact him at any time for a free consultation.

Wynne Erdman

​My objective for work has been to commit to a company where I could be passionate about my contribution and the overall mission of an organization. I had no idea when I attended my first circle as a casual visitor in Costa Rica that Choose Again would be such an epic part of that quest.
I spent years in abusive homes as a child. My fear of life and not trusting people lead me straight to substance abuse. I just didn’t want to feel anymore. I started recovery 30 years ago through 12 step groups and sought spiritual modalities through church, yoga, sweat lodges, retreats etc. I always felt like I was just existing, forcing myself to be happy and grateful.
I had monumental shifts after that first circle with my friend.  I learned the powerful 6 steps after attending several workshops and attending circles in my community. A true joy and authentic happiness have blanketed my journey.
Today I am the Administrator for Choose Again. Utilizing my education and 16 years of Office Management experience for a company that is a priceless gift to me. Joyfully, I guide clients to the resources available at Choose Again. The 6 steps truly guide me to freedom every day. I am beyond grateful to be here.
I am passionately ready to answer your questions about resources at Choose Again and guide you to Joy in your life too.