Table of contents
JongStressVRIJ stands for
- Online & on location
- No waiting times, immediate help
- For everyone
- 1 permanent practitioner
ACT therapy, short for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, is a proven effective treatment method in which you learn to stop fighting difficult thoughts and feelings. Instead, you focus your attention on what is truly important to you and start acting based on your own values. At JongStressVRIJ, we offer ACT therapy at our locations in Zwaagdijk and Tuitjenhorn, as well as online for clients throughout North Holland and the Netherlands. You can usually see us within a few days, without a referral and without a waiting list.
What is ACT therapy?
ACT therapy stands for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and belongs to the third generation of behavioral therapy. As the name suggests, it is about acceptance and commitment. Acceptance of what is, even if it is difficult or painful. And commitment to a life that aligns with your values, even when circumstances are challenging.
The premise of ACT therapy is that fighting against negative thoughts and feelings is itself the cause of much misery. The harder you try to suppress an unpleasant thought, the more prominent that thought becomes. ACT teaches you to observe those thoughts without getting caught up in them, so that they lose their grip on your behavior.
ACT therapy uses six core processes, collectively known as the hexaflex:
- Acceptance: being open to feelings instead of avoiding them
- Defusion: distancing oneself from thoughts instead of becoming absorbed in them
- Contact with the here and now: mindfulness, being present in the moment
- Self as context: seeing yourself as more than your thoughts and feelings
- Values: clarifying what is truly important to you
Committed action: taking small steps towards a meaningful life
Who is ACT therapy suitable for?
ACT therapy is suitable for a wide range of complaints. It is not a therapy that requires a specific diagnosis. Both people with recognized psychological issues and those struggling in daily life can benefit from it.
ACT is also effective if you have previously undergone therapy but find yourself repeatedly falling back into the same patterns. The method does not focus on eliminating symptoms, but on increasing your psychological flexibility, so that symptoms define your life less.
ACT therapy works well for
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Burnout and overstrain
- Depression and gloom
- Chronic stress and worrying
- Perfectionism and fear of failure
- Difficulty setting boundaries
- Social anxiety and insecurity
- Social anxiety Persistent physical complaints with an emotional component of insecurity
Therapist Ellen also has a lot of experience with negative thoughts and how to convert them into positive thoughts
ACT is also effective if you have previously undergone therapy but find yourself repeatedly falling back into the same patterns. The method does not focus on eliminating symptoms, but on increasing your psychological flexibility, so that symptoms define your life less.
How does an ACT program work at JongStressVRIJ?
After you register, we will contact you shortly. We will schedule an intake interview, without a long waiting time and without any upfront paperwork. During that interview, we will discuss your needs and determine together whether ACT therapy is right for you. If so, we will start the process.
In most cases, an ACT course consists of a number of individual sessions of 60 to 90 minutes. We work practically: with exercises, metaphors, and mindfulness techniques that you learn to apply in your own daily life. Between sessions, you work on what you have practiced yourself. In this way, real change takes place not only in the consulting room, but in your life.
You always work with one dedicated therapist. No changing faces, no referrals halfway through a course of treatment.
ACT therapy at JongStressVRIJ vs. regular mental healthcare
Many people seeking ACT therapy first run into the regular mental healthcare system. A referral letter from the GP. Waiting months for an intake. Then waiting another months for the treatment itself. And when the treatment finally starts, you work with a protocol that leaves little room for what you really need.
At JongStressVRIJ, we work differently. We are a private practice, which means:
- No waiting time. You can usually come to us for an initial consultation within a few days.
- No referral letter is needed. You can register directly via our website.
- No diagnosis required. You don't need a label to get help.
- Nothing in your medical record. Our care is independent of your health insurer and GP.
- One dedicated practitioner. No rotating therapists or handovers.
Personalized program. We do not work with standard protocols but tailor to your situation.
The downside is that our sessions are not covered by basic health insurance. However, for many people, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages: immediate help, genuine attention, and no waiting months while things don't get better.
ACT therapy on location or online
You choose how you prefer to follow the therapy. We offer ACT therapy at two locations:
- Zwaagdijk-Oost (also accessible from Hoorn, Enkhuizen, Medemblik and Purmerend)
Tuitjenhorn (also accessible from Alkmaar, Heerhugowaard, Den Helder and Bergen)
Prefer not to travel? Then you can also follow ACT therapy entirely online via a secure video connection. Many clients from Purmerend, Alkmaar, Heerhugowaard, Hoorn, Den Helder, Castricum, and other places in North Holland choose online sessions because of the convenience. The quality and personal attention are the same as a session on location.
Costs and reimbursement for ACT therapy
JongStressVRIJ operates as a private practice and does not work with health insurers. Our sessions are not reimbursed through basic insurance. We make this choice deliberately: this allows us to work without diagnoses, waiting lists, or fixed protocols. You can find the rates for ACT therapy on our website. investment page.
Some supplementary insurance policies reimburse a portion of the costs for private therapy. It is worth checking with your insurer about this. Do you have questions about the costs? Feel free to contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions about ACT Therapy
Both therapies originate from the field of behavioral therapy. With CBT, you work on changing negative thoughts. With ACT, you learn to deal with thoughts differently without necessarily wanting to change them. ACT focuses more on acceptance and living according to values, while CBT focuses more on correcting cognitive distortions. In practice, at JongStressVRIJ, we regularly combine elements of both.
This varies per person and the nature of the request for help. For simple complaints, such as specific anxiety or stress, six to ten sessions are sometimes sufficient. For more complex or long-standing complaints, a course of treatment may take longer. We always discuss this during the intake and continue to evaluate throughout the process.
Yes. ACT is recognized as an evidence-based treatment method for, among others, anxiety disorders, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and chronic pain. Extensive international research has been conducted on it over the past decades.
That is certainly possible. At JongStressVRIJ, ACT is regularly combined with elements from the Weeber method, EMDR, cognitive behavioral therapy, or mindfulness, depending on what suits you best. We always tailor the approach in consultation.
You register via the registration form on our website. No referral letter, no lengthy intake beforehand. We will contact you within one business day to schedule an initial meeting. Contact us. here contact us.
JongStressVRIJ stands for
- Online & on location
- No waiting times, immediate help
- For everyone
- 1 permanent supervisor
ACT therapy in your area
Are you looking for ACT therapy in Alkmaar or Heerhugowaard? Our location in Tuitjenhorn is easily accessible for clients from this region, and online therapy is always an alternative if you prefer not to travel.
Are you looking for ACT therapy in Hoorn, Enkhuizen, or Medemblik? From West Friesland, you can quickly reach our location in Zwaagdijk, or you can opt for an online session from home.
Do you live in Purmerend and are you looking for ACT therapy without a waiting list? At JongStressVRIJ, you can sign up immediately, without a referral and without waiting for months.
Are you from Den Helder, Schagen, or Bergen? You are welcome with us for online ACT therapy, wherever you live in North Holland.
GOOGLE REVIEWS
Read our clients' experiences
Curious about the experiences of JongStressVRIJ clients? Read real-life testimonials here and discover how others have found their way to a stress-free life!
ReviewsI am incredibly happy that I ended up here. The loving approach and the personal guidance. This is exactly what I needed. I went through the process together with Joyce, and I can recommend her to everyone! We worked hard together on my recovery and I am eternally grateful to her. For good guidance, you are absolutely in the right place here, which will benefit you for your entire life!
A safe place where you can express and discuss your deepest thoughts and feelings—that's how I would describe Jongstressvrij in Tuitjenhorn. The feeling of trust has been overwhelming. Emotionally stuck around the age of 50, I started working with Joyce on my life path. Each session was perfectly tailored to what I needed at that moment. Now I feel so much lighter and stronger in life. I would recommend Jongstressvrij to everyone.
CUSTOMERS OF
JongStressVRIJ and Collaborations
