Saar Roelofs

Dr. Saar Roelofs is a clinical psychologist / behavior therapist, educated at the University of Utrecht, the Netherlands. She worked many years in the Dutch mental health care, as scientific researcher, therapist and department manager. 

In her thesis she unravels the complex interaction between excessive alcohol use and anxiety, and offers starting points for treatment. See summary of this thesis.

She published five non fiction books, four of which are illustrated by her own hand.     ►►                                                                  

 ►► In the E-document No talent for docility Saar Roelofs looks back on her personal experiences in the Dutch outpatient mental health care around the Bijlmer air plane crash of October 4 1992. Together with the books below Do not disturb (1997) and Who is crazy actually (2008) this document forms a critical, still relevant triptych on the Dutch mental health care.

She is also a painter. She followed a full time education at the Dutch State Academy of Arts (Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten) in Amsterdam.

Her paintings are exhibited in venues such as the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, the Concertgebouw Amsterdam and the National War and Resistance Museum Overloon, the Netherlands.
 

WHO IS CRAZY, ACTUALLY? (2008, text in Dutch) about the mental health care shows that the boundaries between "healthy" and "ill" are not as sharp as one often supposes in the mental health care. The book comments on the current diagnostics and shows that the treatment can derail by unresolved emotional problems of the therapist. It discusses how therapists could make better use of the resilience of clients. Finally the author describes how people in psycHological disstress are able to tap into unsuspected inner sources.

Richly illustrated with examples from the therapeutic practice and referrals to the visual arts, world literature and music. With cartoons by te author.

Selection of reactions:

• "An eye-opener for both therapists and patients about important issues." (National Public Library) 

• "Saar Roelofs shares with the well known psychiatrist and writer Irvin D. Yalom sincerity, commitment and respect for the experiences of the patient." (Dutch Foundation of Confidants in the Health Care)

• "A thorough reflection on what happens between the walls of the consulting room (Zinweb - Dutch internet book magazine) "

• "Clarifying. With funny cartoons." (Dutch client website)

• Saar Roelofs is a good observer. She is able to see every patient as unique. A thorough reflection on what happens between the walls of the consulting room (Zinweb - Dutch internet book magazine)

Do Not Disturb (1997, text in Dutch) is a critical reflection on the Dutch outpatient mental health care based on the critical professional literature, dossier research and own observations. The author discusses the bureaucracy, the inadequate diagnostics, the often ineffecient treatment methods and the undervaluation of preventive care. She also presents several usually unsuccessful attempts to innovate the mental health care, includig the care for clients wit an migration background.

Do not disturb ends with a description of the developments in the regional mental health care after the Bijlmer airplane crash of October 4 1992. 

Do not disturb  is interlaced with examples from the daily practice, quotes by professionals and passages from the world literature. With  cartoons by the author.

Selection of reactions:

• Saar Roelofs describes the mental health care on the basis of examples from the daily practice in a playful and humorous way.” (Dutch national tv, current affairs programme: Een Vandaag)  

• "Criticism applying to all kinds of professional health care organizations. The book discusses in fact the arrogance and opportunism of therapists and organizations.'  (Journal of Psychiatry)  

•  “An eye opener for anybody who works in the (mental) health care.”  (Modern Medicine)  

     Selection of reactions:

• "Totally different from other eyewitness reports of the Second World War. Saar Roelofs is an excellent writer." (Dutch national radio, VPRO).  

• "A book with much expressiveness." (National Public Library)

• "Much attention for the psychological consequences of an  unhappy childhood and war experiences"

• "A real contribution to the existing literature about this subject." (New Israelite Magazine, NIW)

• "Psychologist Saar Roelofs shows a.o. that youth trauma's can prevent the integration of war trauma's." (Readers review on bol.com = Dutch equivalent of amazon.com)  

Turning Point (text in Dutch) The Chinese word for crisis consists of two characters: wei and ji. The first character means danger, the second opportunity. In TURNING POINT the author looks at crises in the light those characters. The book contains stories of eleven people who changed the course of their life in a positive direction after a personal crisis or a series of far reaching life events. The stories are told by people as different as a piano teacher, a family doctor, a policeman and an opera singer. Their problems vary from the death of a child and the loss of a job till a destructive relationship.

Selection of reactions:

• “An accessible writing style. Food for thought.” 
  (National Public Library) 
  

• "An inspiring book." (public press)  
  

• "A series of remarkable interviews." (professional journal 
  Care and Health)

The first 1995 version of The girl and the wolf was 3x exhibited in the Netherlands.
Selection of reactions:

• "Not only confronting, but also a beautiful work of art"  (public press:  De Gelderlander)"

• A powerful statement of universal application" (Jack Boas, writer about Dutch Jews under de Nazis)

• "Images, still and moving, subdued and expressive." 
  (public press: Zinweb)

• "Interesting and moving" (Helmuth Braun, Head of Exhibitions Jewish Museum Berlin)

• "Impressive paintings.” (Inge Jaehner, former director Felix-Nussbaum-Haus)

• "Powerful and exceptional." (Marcia Reines Josephy,
  former director/curator of the LA Museum of the Holocaust)

Selection of reactions:

• "Clearly  written biographies which are excellent introductions of the work of the composers" (professional journal: Mens & Melodie)

• “Roelofs uses an accessible writing style. In a nutshell she gives an excellent impression of the life of ten composers. Meanwhile she also describes the connections and similarities between the composers. The painted portraits show a convincing likeness with the represented persons. (professional journals: De Muze van het Museumplein, Summer issue 2001; Oorsprong, November 2001)

• “A beautiful book. Very characteristic portraits. Life and work of the composers are written in an accessible way.” (Dutch radio station for classical music: Radio 4, December 2000)

• “Roelofs describes life and work of the ten composers in a pleasant style. Because of the painted portraits the composers become more alive.” (Public press: Dagblad van Almere, March 22 2001)

• "Psychologically striking portraits." (Public press Het parool January 24, 2001)

PAINTINGS: MUSICIANS
Conform her interest in music and  composers Saar Roelofs also paints musicians. Her most recent work (2015) consist of a series of violinists. 
Former series were exhibited i.a. in Music Center Vredenburg Utrecht and Gallery Amsterdam.

"With whirling brushstroke and strong diagonals Saar Roelofs creates a maximum of movement 
without  losing sight of the characteristic posture of the musician."

(Concert agenda Music center TivoliVredenburg)

PAINTINGS: COMPOSER PORTRAITS (1999)
Enclosed in the book: Ten composer portaits in word and image. Exhibitions in music center Exposities o.m. in Vredenburg/Tivoli Utrecht, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, and Museum Van Bommel Van Dam Venlo.

Selection of reactions:

"Beautiful portraits which Saar Roelofs created with profound understanding and convincing brushstrokes." 
Public press:  De Gelderlander.

“Remarkable portraits. Professional Music journal: Mens & Melodie

"The portraits of the seven composers who I knew personally impress me because of their psychological accuracy." Ton Hartsuiker, former managing director of the Cinservatory Amsterdam.

PAINTINGS: FAR BEYOND THE HORIZON
In her paintings the human figure is  the most important subject. She also created a series of landscapes, some of which were exhibited during concert exhibitions  in the Concertgebouw of Amsterdam.