Separation is profound.
Guidance makes
the difference.
Legal expertise, mediation, orthopedagogy, psychological care and communication guidance — united in one shared vision for families in Curaçao and Bonaire.
On a small island, separation affects not just two adults — it affects families, schools, work and social networks.
That calls for cohesive, expert guidance.
Guidance that goes
beyond agreements
We offer integrated, multidisciplinary support to families during and after separation, with children's wellbeing and development as our starting point.
Mission
Limiting harm, strengthening resilience and enabling lasting agreements — legally sound and psychologically responsible.
Vision
Separation is not a moment but a process. Legal clarity, emotional processing and communication must be in balance.
When parents get emotionally stuck, dialogue stalls. When communication escalates, children suffer. By working multidisciplinarily we can signal earlier, respond faster and support more purposefully. Parents don't have to organise the connection between disciplines themselves — we do that together.
Five disciplines,
one shared vision
Each professional brings specific expertise. Together we form a network capable of addressing the full complexity of separation — without fragmentation for the family.
Legal guidance
Lasting agreements on children, finances and responsibilities — legally sound and understandable for all involved.
Mediation
When communication escalates, mediation offers a structured space for constructive dialogue between parents.
Orthopedagogy
Identifying and supporting children who show behavioural changes as a result of tension and loyalty conflicts.
Psychology & EMDR
Trauma processing for parents who are stuck due to unprocessed grief, anxiety or past experiences that complicate the separation.
Communication guidance
Communication coaching to break destructive patterns and build more stable communication between parents.
One vision, multiple expertises
No fragmentation. When multidisciplinary support is appropriate, we coordinate — always with your consent.
How we work together
for your family
Start with one professional
You contact one of our professionals. They become your dedicated point of contact — maintaining coherence throughout your journey.
Identifying your needs
Your guide assesses whether additional expertise is advisable: legal advice or a parenting plan, orthopedagogy for child signals, EMDR for trauma, mediation if tensions escalate.
Consent first
Any exchange between professionals always takes place with your written consent. No consent means no information sharing.
Warm handover
Your dedicated contact guides you to the right expertise. You don't need to arrange this yourself — we take care of a smooth connection.
Regular coordination
Fixed consultation moments between professionals. Always focused on alignment — no duplicate trajectories, one coherent approach.
Children must not suffer harm from conflicts that parents cannot regulate.
The professionals
behind Kompas
Mariëlle van Hoek, LLM
Mariëlle is a lawyer, mediator, divorce coach and experiential expert. As a family law attorney she witnessed how legal procedures escalated conflict. Her own divorce in 2020 made her realise that separation is so much more — and offers far more opportunities than people think.
Today Mariëlle guides people not only legally and practically, but also helps neutralise blocking emotions and improve mutual communication. Her deepest conviction: a conflict is always also an opportunity for growth.
Els Steenhagen
Separation affects not just the partners — it affects the entire system. Drawing on her background as a sociologist and certified mediator, Els guides people in reaching workable agreements, even when emotions run high and children are involved.
From her personal experience — her parents divorced in her teenage years and later reunited — Els knows better than anyone how a separation affects the entire family system.
As a trainer, Els delivers training courses through Hoek & Steen for professionals and parents on communication, conflict patterns and the divorce process.
"Moving forward happily together, or happily apart."
Verda Betrian, MSc
Verda Betrian holds a master's in Clinical Psychology and has extensive experience in psychiatry and addiction care. In 2024 she opened her own practice Calm Waters, where she supports people with mild to moderate psychological complaints — including processing relationship breakdowns and divorce.
After her studies in the Netherlands, Verda deepened her knowledge with training in cognitive behavioural therapy, EMDR, schema therapy and addiction treatment. She strongly believes in continuous professional development and works from that drive to raise broader awareness of mental health in society.
Yanieck de Wolff
Yanieck is an orthopedagogist and owner of Grow with Me Orthopedagogy on Curaçao and Bonaire. With a background in Educational Sciences (Leiden University) she has broad experience in diagnostics and treatment of children with learning and behavioural difficulties.
In her practice she works daily with children and families on questions of development, parenting and education — where divorce and complex family situations regularly play a central role. She has a sharp eye for the signals children give when they are caught between two parents.
Alongside her practice work, Yanieck is a guest lecturer in higher education and involved in national and international projects on children's rights and parenting support.
Rooted in
Curaçao & Bonaire
On a small island, people keep crossing paths — at school, in the neighbourhood, at the supermarket. Parents remain visible together in their children's lives. Our guidance understands and respects that local reality.
We are available for families seeking professional support with separation on both Curaçao and Bonaire. We know the communities, the relationships and the cultural context — and work from that understanding.
More than
individual guidance
Kompas bij Scheiding aims to contribute to awareness in the broader community — for parents, schools, referring professionals and children in Curaçao and Bonaire.
Lectures for parents & teachers
Accessible presentations on the impact of separation on children — for parents and education on Curaçao.
Flyers & information materials
Clear information for families, schools, GPs and the Court about our integrated approach.
Mini-conferencecoming soon
A platform for professionals, referrers and parents to share knowledge about separation and child wellbeing.
Podcast & children's booksin development
Stories for children about separation, and conversations for parents about the separation process in Curaçao.
Taking
a first step
Do you have questions or want to know which professional best suits your situation? Feel free to reach out. We respond within two working days and will look together at the best guidance for you.