Finding your place in social work: how Luthiën turned empathy into action

Today, Luthiën works as a Junior Counselor at COBA-Begeleiding in the Netherlands. Together with counselors and coordinators, he helps create a safe environment where people can grow, connect and work towards their goals. “What I love most is the equality within the field,” Luthiën says. “Everyone works together. Creativity is encouraged and you really build solutions as a team.” 

His path to social work didn’t start with a clear plan. After studying in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic, Luthiën started questioning what he wanted to do next. While exploring English-taught programs in the Netherlands, he discovered International Social Work at HAN. “I’ve always enjoyed helping people,” he explains. “But I never imagined it could become my profession.” That motivation still drives him today. In his work, he supports people one-on-one and within communities. Something that connects closely to the international and human-centered approach of ISW. 

One of the things Luthiën values most about social work is the freedom to develop your own professional identity. “My biggest achievement has been discovering what social work means to me personally,” he says. “I learned how I work as a social worker and how I want to support others.” At HAN, students learn by doing. Through internships, teamwork and practical assignments, Luthiën developed the skills to turn empathy into professional action. “I learned how important boundaries and communication are,” he explains. “The program helped me understand and explain skills that already felt natural to me.”