Introduce
Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back.
Plato
About me
I am Gerrie Bours, mother of a beautiful son and beautiful daughter, and now also four fantastic grandchildren. I love walking with my dog in nature, cycling in the hills of Limburg and dancing Argentine tango with my partner. I have been working in higher education for about 30 years, where I passionately support professionals, researchers and students in healthcare and welfare to get the best out of themselves and to develop into the person they want to be. During my training as a coach practitioner, I learned about ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy / Training / Coaching). From the first pages I was hooked on this playful, fun, evidence- based approach.
I see guiding you as professional process in which I can constantly developing and where it is important to reflect. I do this in the following way:
Intervision: I reflect in various intervision groups together with other ACT therapists/coaches. We meet at least once every two months to discuss cases to learn from each other and keep each other sharp.
ACT Professional: I am affiliated with this platform that offers webinars for further training and deepening and connects colleagues for collaboration, supervision and intervision.
ACBS BeNe SIG Education: I am a member of this special interest group dedicated to promoting ACT in education.
ACBS and ACBS BeNe: I am a member of the (inter)national professional associations for coaches and therapists who work with ACT. They regularly organize webinars with different themes for further training and in-depth knowledge.
ACT Guide App: I use this app developed by ACT Guide with which I can easily share exercises, information and videos to support the coaching process.
Psyflix: I am a member of Psyflix, a video platform with a wide range of scientifically based knowledge and experience in the field of psychology.
NOBCO: as a coach I am affiliated with the Dutch Association of Professional Coaches (NOBCO). NOBCO is the largest professional organization for professional coaches in the Netherlands and works continuously and actively on the professionalization of the coaching profession.
Qualifications
- ACT en Trauma, ACT-EMDR centrum, 2024
- Trauma focused ACT, Russ Harris, 2024
- Polyvagal theory in therapy, Deb Dana, 2023
- Webinar, Trauma and the body, by Anne Marsman, 2022
- Webinar developing prosocial team strength, Jenny Blaauwbroek, 2022
- Focused ACT at Practical ACT, 2022
- ACT in groups, ACT guide, 2021
- ACT advanced training, ACT guide, 2021
- ACT basic training, ACT guide, 2020
- Coach Practitioner Training, ICM, 2019-2020ACT
- Webinars with different themes (including ACT for sleeping problems, ACT for young people, ACT for chronic pain, ACT in relationships, ACT in balance)
- Personal Leadership, Zuyd Hogeschool, 2014
- Mindfulness training, Vullings Mindfulness Counseling & Training, 2012
- Post-HBO register training teacher course, 2010
- PhD Maastricht University, 2003
- Epidemiology, VU University Amsterdam, 2002
- Health Sciences, Maastricht University, 1991
- Bachelor in Nursing, 1982.
ACT coach/trainer
I am affiliated with the ACBS BeNe. This is the Belgian Dutch association for ACT coaches, therapists and trainers.
I am a member of ACT guide: a platform for ACT professionals. Here I went through the certification process for ACT master. Continuous training is required to remain certified.