About Tessa – Your Guide in Gentle Self-Help

I’m Tessa — psychologist (MSc) from the Netherlands, specialised in Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) and self-compassion.

For 15 years, I’ve supported people facing anxiety, depression, burn-out, trauma, self-criticism, and life’s heavier moments. What I’ve learned is simple: change doesn’t happen through pressure, quick fixes, or one-size-fits-all advice. It happens when you feel safe, guided, and understood — and when you have tools you can return to anytime.

Throughout my career, I’ve combined scientific evidence with human connection. I have worked with CBT and EMDR, but it was ACT and self-compassion that truly moved people — helping them not just survive, but come alive, even in the presence of pain.

Why Talk2Tessa Feels Different

AI can be powerful — but only when It’s guided with care. Many people try using AI for emotional support, only to
feel overwhelmed:

● The responses are too long

● Too vague

● Too cold

● Too… not what they needed

That’s where Talk2Tessa is different. Created by a psychologist with 15 years of experience, it blends Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), self-compassion, and AI Coaching Prompt Flows into a warm, structured, and accessible self-help experience.

Why I Created Talk2Tessa

For years, I sat with people carrying pain — anxiety, depression, shame, grief, trauma. I saw their longing for relief.

And I watched, again and again, as they were told:

“You’ll have to wait.”

Months on a waiting list. Stuck between overwhelm and inaccessibility.

It broke my heart. And it made me want to build something different — something that could reach people before the crisis, that felt warm, practical, and grounded, and that could walk beside them on the days they felt alone.

Blending Psychology with AI — A New Kind of Support

When I discovered how AI could deliver small, compassionate prompts, I realised I could merge technology with psychology to create something new — a way to make mental support available to everyone, anytime.

That’s how Talk2Tessa began: as a kind, steady companion you can turn to whenever you need it.

Every tool I’ve created blends ACT, self-compassion, and AI Coaching Prompt Flows to give you warm, structured support you can follow in your own time, in your own language.

ACT Shows the Way

ACT isn’t about “fixing yourself” — It’s about learning to be with your thoughts and feelings without fighting them. Instead of pushing discomfort away, you make space for it — like bamboo in the storm: rooted, flexible, and able to bend without breaking.

ACT helps you:

● Open up to your inner experience

● Step back from unhelpful thoughts

● Focus on what truly matters

Take gentle, values-based action — even in difficult moments

Self-Compassion Softens Each Step

Instead of harsh self-talk, you’ll be reminded to respond to yourself with care — because healing doesn’t come from pressure, it comes from kindness.

Self-compassion means treating yourself the way you’d treat a close friend:

● With understanding instead of judgment

● With gentleness when things go wrong

● With patience when progress feels slow

It’s not about being perfect — it’s about staying kind to yourself, even in the middle of the storm.

AI Becomes a Thoughtful Guide

With prepared AI Coaching Prompt Flows that support reflection, Talk2Tessa doesn’t just give you answers — it helps you gently uncover your own.

No need to search for the right words or figure out what to say. Everything is prepared — ready to copy, paste, and begin.

● A safe rhythm when you want to grow

● A kind voice when you feel stuck

● A warm guide when life feels heavy

Why ACT & Self-Compassion Work So Well Together

Every Prompt Flow is built on two deeply researched foundations: ACT and self-compassion. Together, they help you face challenges — not by pushing pain away, but by meeting it with courage, presence, and care.

ACT helps you stop fighting your thoughts and feelings, make space for your inner experience, and take meaningful action — even when life feels messy.

The six core processes are:

● Acceptance

● Defusion

● Present Moment Awareness

● Self-as-Context

● Values

● Committed Action

Self-compassion adds the warmth:

● Self-Kindness – “This is hard, and I’m doing my best.”

● Common Humanity – “I’m not the only one feeling this way.”

●  Mindfulness – “This is what I’m feeling — and I don’t have to run from it.”

Together, they give you practical, repeatable tools to live more meaningfully — even when anxiety, doubt, sadness, or overthinking show up.
And with Talk2Tessa, AI walks beside you — helping you apply ACT and self-compassion in real moments, so these skills gently become part of your everyday life.

Grounded in Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (Hayes et al., 1999) and Self Compassion (Neff, 2003).

Want to start gently?

Try the Free Self-Compassion Prompt Flow — a short mini reset to soften your inner voice.

Start Free Flow

Looking for structured support?

Explore psychologist-designed 6-day Flow Programs for anxiety, burnout, self-criticism, and more.

Browse All Flow Programs

Prefer to dive deeper in one complete guide?

Discover my book AI for Self-Help — 175+ pages blending psychology, ACT, self-compassion, and AI coaching flows.

Read the Book