Athalie de Koning

CO-FOUNDER & PRESIDENT, ACCREDITED COUNSELORS OF THAILAND (ACT); JAZZ VOCALIST & EDUCATOR

Industry : The Arts

Athalie de Koning is a Dutch-born, Bangkok-based musician, educator, and mental health advocate who serves as Co-Founder & President of the Accredited Counselors of Thailand (ACT) and works as a Jazz Vocalist and Educator, having made significant contributions to both the arts and counseling communities in Thailand.

Her musical journey began in her early years, growing up in a family known for harmonious singing earning them the nickname “the Von Trapp Family,” and leading her to pursue formal education with a Bachelor of Education in Music and a Master of Arts in Education specializing in Voice and Interdisciplinary Improvisation from Utrecht Conservatory in the Netherlands. Her passion for music led her to form two bands: Jazziam, focusing on classic jazz, and Chilla Nova, which blends jazz with steel drum influences, performing at various Bangkok venues including the St. Regis and Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, and participating in international projects such as recording a tribute song for the late King Bhumibol the Great of Thailand.

‘In 2024, she co-founded the Accredited Counselors of Thailand (ACT), a non-profit organisation aimed at standardising counseling practices in Thailand by offering accreditation to counselors based on international standards, dedicated to improving counselling quality, ensuring accountability, and providing support to both local and international counsellors while working towards regional recognition and acknowledging that local laws and licensing rules still apply. Her connection to Thailand began in infancy when her parents worked with Hmong refugees in Loei province, spending her early years in Thailand before moving between the Netherlands, England and Malaysia, and ultimately returning in 2010 with her husband to make Bangkok her home, where she now resides in Sukhumvit 101/1, an area known for its street food and proximity to the new True Digital Park.