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Psychologist | Author | Inspirator | Survival Expert | Speaker
Gary Bootsman Beth
A tumultuous childhood and the New Year's fire brought Gary's world to a standstill. Now Gary's world is fully in motion again: as a 'survival expert', she speaks about overcoming setbacks, breaking patterns, resilience, and living authentically.
Languages:
Employability:
Keynote spreker,Presentatrice
Employability:
Keynote spreker,Presentatrice,
About Gary Bootsman Beth
Gary Bootsman (Beth) is a proud mother of two sons and deeply in love with her partner. She was born and raised in Volendam. Her life story reads like one long trigger warning list, but despite the many setbacks, it is primarily a story of triumph. As a speaker, author, and psychologist, she now aims to lighten the path for others.
After a tumultuous childhood and struggles with an unsafe environment, anorexia, and a blended family, she narrowly survived the fire at café De Hemel in Volendam at the age of fourteen. After a month, she was discharged from the hospital and had to pretend that nothing had happened, despite the visible but especially invisible scars. Just keep going, like everyone else. A long road of setbacks, therapy, and pretending followed, but after more than nine years of stagnation, she could no longer wear the mask. The shame almost cost her her life. On the PAAZ ward, she finally managed to break free: it wasn’t her fault – she was good enough. She learned that healing occurs in connection and that it begins with being shamelessly yourself.
She no longer allowed herself to be belittled by her surroundings and found her passion: helping others with her experiences and breaking taboos. A psychology degree, the suicide of her beloved brother, and the subsequent burnout translated into inspiring novels and lectures/keynotes that illuminate the path for others. In her novels, she entices the reader by packaging profound life lessons in romance, humor, and zero fucks. In her speaking engagements, she emphasizes how powerful vulnerability is. Although she discusses the most intense setbacks, it is essential for her to both touch and maintain lightness, preferably with self-deprecation and sarcasm. Ultimately, it’s about motivating and inspiring. She loves to inspire others to overcome setbacks, break patterns, and be authentically themselves. Her brother didn’t give her the chance to help him, but she gladly prevents others from the same fate: there is always hope.
Healing happens in connection, and it starts with shamelessly being yourself!
Background Sketch
Having undergone countless therapies, treatments, and therapists herself, she knows very well what works and what doesn’t. She decided to complement her practical experience with theoretical knowledge by pursuing a psychology degree. This has allowed her to develop a unique perspective, seamlessly connecting her knowledge as an experiential expert with that of a psychologist.
For a more holistic approach, grounded in new scientific insights, she recently completed a training program at Happy Brain Clinics. This stems from her ongoing quest for the best way to get the most out of yourself and your life. She is committed to passing on valuable lessons that lead to sustainable change. This has resulted in her novels Old and New and I Know Who You Are, the upcoming ROMCOM, and numerous keynotes as a speaker, now exclusively for Speakers Academy.
Whether it’s writing, speaking, or interviews: her goal remains the same with every medium—to help others with her experiences. Additionally, she is frequently seen in the media in interviews, podcasts, recordings, and shoots. Examples include interviews for De Telegraaf, Vrouw, Flair, Margriet, and NHD, the podcast That One Moment from EO, the YouTube interview at EO Wonder, the documentary Museum for the Heaven, and her role as a Volendam language coach in Blablabla.
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Specialist Subjects
Videos
GARY ontsnapt aan cafébrand in Volendam | Wonder | EO
