Alie Weerman

Dr. Alie Weerman is a lecturer at Windesheim University of Applied Sciences where she has worked since 1990, affiliated with the Lectorate Mental Health and Society within the Social Work program. Her work bridges mental healthcare integration with societal contexts through collaborative research and practical applications.

Her educational background includes:

• Master's degree in Work and Organizational Psychology and Philosophical Foundations of Psychology from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (1988, cum laude)
• PhD in Experiential Experts in Healthcare and Service Providers from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (2016, cum laude)

Dr. Weerman specializes in participatory action research at the psychiatry-society intersection, combining scientific knowledge, professional expertise, and lived experience. She develops innovative connections across formal systems using art-based methodologies, focusing on ethical integration of mental healthcare into social domains. Her collaborations actively involve affected individuals, researchers with lived experience, artists, and practitioners to address systemic challenges in mental health services.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• Cum laude distinction for Master's degree (1988)
• Cum laude distinction for PhD dissertation (2016)

Dr. Weerman pioneered the Mental Health and Addiction Care and Experiential Expertise specializations within Social Work education, authoring six textbooks and over 40 professional publications. The Mental Health and Society research group she contributes to examines practical implementation frameworks, theoretical foundations, and ethical considerations for community-integrated mental healthcare solutions.