ACT and the Power of Psychological Flexibility
I'm drs. Sarah Boon. You are welcome to have ACT therapy with me in Amsterdam. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a form of behavioral therapy that focuses on psychological flexibility. This means that you learn to deal flexibly with changes in both the external and internal world. ACT does not emphasize that you are free from difficult experiences; it is about being willing to embrace these experiences as part of human existence. At the same time, ACT helps you to pursue a meaningful life, regardless of the challenges you encounter.
The ACT processes
- Acceptance: Do you embrace your inner experiences without judgment? Or do you do everything you can to avoid difficult feelings or thoughts?
- Defusion Do you experience painful thoughts as a reality or can you break free from them?
- Self-image Do you have a good self-image? Or do you tell yourself a painful story about who you 'are'?
- Here and now Can you be present? Or does your mind spend a lot of time reliving the past or predicting the future?
- Values Do you know what you value? Or don't you really know what you want?
- Values based actions Are you pursuing your goals? Or do you let yourself be held back by fear or negative thoughts?
Why ACT is helpful
ACT does not work with diagnoses or protocols, but with processes. You are unique and your request for help is also unique. Decades of research show which internal processes cause us suffering, but also which internal processes make us experience a valuable life. Working with the ACT model, I can focus on these specific processes as a therapist. I use various therapeutic techniques to realize lasting positive changes. These techniques also include hypnosis and mindfulness if desired.
ACT is suitable for the following complaints, among others:
- Stress, sleeping problems and depression. Such as recovery after burnout or depression.
- Phobias and anxiety Such as fear of driving, fear of flying, fear of animals.
- Trauma. Such as processing an emotionally shocking event.
- Addiction Such as quitting smoking, smoking marijuana or drinking alcohol.
- Lifestyle problems. Such as help with losing weight.
- Difficulties in relationships. Such as jealousy and fear of commitment or abandonment.
- Unwanted thoughts. Such as the treatment of compulsive behaviour or intrusive thoughts.
- To deal with a difficult situation. Such as grief processing, regret or illness.
- Low self-esteem or lack of self-compassion. Like feeling insecure or socially anxious.
A values based life
Through various exercises you will learn to let go of difficult thoughts and feelings. Sometimes we do some work in the past, but the focus is usually on your present life. I help you to rediscover your inner compass and take steps towards a meaningful life. You will no longer be hindered by your inner world, but experience the freedom to thrive.
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