ACT stands for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
ACT is about what works and what doesn’t. It aims not to change the past, but to transform the way we understand and see the present. To be truly present and to act based on your core values is the overall goal. ACT provides a model and the tools to achieve psychological flexibility.

Use of Art

During sessions I will ask you to make something, to do some form of art, which will help us to look at the problem you experience. In our every day life, we are often used to talking about our problems, but words both limit and fix our understanding of what is happening to us. I use visual art as a method to approach what is present in our lives, and to reflect on what happens when we do. This way of using artistic methods helps to get to the core of our issues much more quickly.

I do not use art as a way of healing. Yet as a form of experience, it can help to experience transformation in an artistic manner. Following steps of the artistic practise, which you can then also practise in real-life environments.

What kind of art?

I use visual arts in a broad sense, including drawing, painting and working with clay, as well as different body-mindfulness techniques. The aim when using art is to get more insight and understanding about what is happening, what is truly going on. And to practise acceptance. Art helps us to go beyond the stories we have trained ourselves to tell others (and ourselves). That I work with art doesn’t mean that you need to have a background in art. You don’t need to have any experience or artistic abilities.

ACT!

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is based on cognitive behavioral therapy and works towards psychological flexibility. ACT means we work with what is present, to aim to find a way of dealing with life that ‘works’. It is not possible to control what happens to you, but it is possible to make sure you can deal with whatever comes your way. Acceptance and commitment are fundamental to these processes. ACT is a scientifically proven effective method.

Although ACT is very commonly practised nowadays by psychologists and therapists, using art and ACT together is rather unique. I studied how these two methods work together extensively at Vrije Academie ‘t Pad, where I now also teach these methodologies to therapists in training.

Find more information on ACT here in English.

Practical aspects of Therapy

I offer individual sessions as what in Dutch is called ‘psychosociaal therapeut beeldend’ [literally: psychosocial art therapist]. I base myself on my philosophical background (PhD) combined with my training as an art therapist with specialisation in ACT – Acceptance & Commitment Therapy.

Therapy is a highly individual process. I do not work with fixed steps.

During the intake, you will be able to experience whether this combination of art therapy and ACT resonates with you. Afterwards, we can together discuss the options you have. Generally speaking, people will come once every two weeks, for on average six to eight sessions. More information on practical details can be found here.