Hi,
My name is Marleen ter Avest. I am a psychologist, working mainly based on mindfulness, compassion and acceptance and commitment principles, but above all: I am someone who enjoys the little things in life.
With a background in medicine and psychology, I ended up doing a PhD studying the working mechanisms of mindfulness (MBCT) and compassion (MBCL) in people with recurrent depression.
In addition to the PhD, I followed the 1.5-year post-master mindfulness teacher trainers program at the Radboudumc Center for Mindfulness (cat. 1), the compassion teacher trainers program with Frits Koster and Annetje Brunner (MCBL, cat. A), and the acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) education program at the RINO in Utrecht. Soon thereafter, I started my own practice, Kind to Mind, and this is what brings me here.
My Story
What drives me?
Many people thought that I was crazy when I switched from medicine to psychology. I had to work quite hard, starting a new study from scratch, and I needed a lot of persistence, but it took me less energy than to not make this switch.
How is that possible?
The shift from medicine to psychology has been a switch from head to heart. The moment that you get in touch with your feelings, needs and wishes, and learn to seriously listen to them, and act accordingly, you will get into a flow. Your energy levels will increase, because of doing exactly what brings you energy and joy.
I am here to inspire you to start making more conscious decisions that suit you. Because, there is so much more to get out of life, in which you can be of more support to both yourself and others.
Who are you?
Are you someone who struggles with one or several of the following?
~ Stress or Burnout
~ Restlessness
~ Indecisiveness
~ Uncertainty
~ Worrying
~ Self-critical thoughts
~ Low self esteem
~ Fear or Panic
~ Feeling blue
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Then you are at the right place.