Psychologist | Author | Inspirator | Survival Expert | Speaker
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.
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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!
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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Gary takes her audience on a journey in her own unique way through her inspiring life story – vulnerable yet powerful. The turbulent journey brings everyone, packed with valuable life lessons, closer to themselves. Her energy, resilience, and humour make it an unforgettable trip.
By sharing her impressive experiences – narrowly surviving the café fire and the intense aftermath: being completely halted by depression, PTSD, a burnout, and also the suicide of her own brother – Gary motivates to turn trauma and setbacks into resilience. Gary shows how you can become your authentic self to live fully in connection.
From victim to victor. Gary demonstrates personal leadership by how she ultimately took back control of her life: from surviving to fully living! The keynote inspires with gripping examples, psychological insights, societal reality, and concrete tools to overcome setbacks, break patterns, and be authentically yourself. A speaker who motivates, connects, and makes an impact.
Based on her impressive life story – narrowly surviving the café fire, being completely halted by depression, PTSD, a burnout, and also the suicide of her own brother – Gary motivates to turn setbacks into resilience. Taking leadership over your own suffering. No trendy shortcuts, but sustainably to the core. The key to successful living and working is authenticity.
How far would you go when you take control of your own story? How successful would you be when you are no longer held back by your own insecurities, by your environment, by negative patterns and beliefs? Resilience / Connection / Sustainability / Growth / Leadership. Gary tells a story that turns the often-used, hollow terms into real concepts, so they can be applied in reality and set real change in motion. When setbacks are turned into resilience, challenges into opportunities, and growth results in a happy ending.
The keynote inspires with gripping examples, psychological insights, societal reality, and concrete tools to bring out the best in yourself and each other. It moves individuals and organisations to break negative patterns, embrace positive ones, and achieve success in connection.
Gary’s impressive life story comes with a long trigger warning list, but she has found the tools and resilience to overcome setbacks, and she wishes that for everyone. As a romance/smut writer and speaker, she motivates women to take leadership over their own story. “Just a girl” fighting for a happy ending.
‘How do you survive setbacks, too small boxes, and unrealistic expectations from your environment? As a “survival expert,” I write and speak about breaking out, overcoming, and living fully, wrapped with humour, romance, and zero fucks!’
With powerful storytelling, humour, and relatability, she takes her audience on her quest for happiness. Gary inspires women to break out: freedom lies in being authentically yourself. Only through connection with yourself and others can you live and love fully.
A keynote full of applicable insights for women who want to get the best out of themselves, work, love, and life. It moves to break negative patterns, embrace positive ones, and achieve success in connection. Also for the next generation, because all that is not resolved is passed on.
Being a powerful woman | Self-love | Taking up space | Increasing resilience
As a “survival expert,” she speaks about personal experiences many women face, such as insecurity, trauma, divorce, loss, depression, and burnout. Gary encourages women to take up their space and not be held back by fears and insecurities.
The keynote inspires with gripping examples, psychological insights, societal reality, and concrete tools to empower women. A speaker who motivates, connects, and makes an impact.
At the client’s request, more focus can be placed on themes such as resilience, motivation, growth, leadership, authenticity, connection, healing, or other industry-specific wishes. Additionally, the keynote can be tailored to the audience.
Examples include:
Schaamteloos groot! Suitable for young people, pupils, and students.
(Despair)Hope! Recognising, addressing, and preventing suicide/suicidality, lowering the threshold for seeking help and discussing it, as well as increasing understanding and knowledge.
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