What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, offers a fresh and empowering approach to life. Rather than traditional cognitive behavioural therapy, ACT encourages you to embrace what’s out of your control, stay present in the moment, and take actions that reflect your core values. It’s about living genuinely, even when faced with difficult circumstances.
ACT blends mindfulness, acceptance, and behaviour-change techniques, all aimed at boosting your psychological flexibility. The aim? To support you in navigating life’s challenges with ease, overcoming self-imposed barriers, and thriving.
What does it involve?
There are few key components to ACT. This is a nutshell breakout of the key things we’ll be covering
Acceptance: ACT invites you to acknowledge you thoughts, feelings, and sensations rather than avoiding or pushing them away. By accepting what is beyond your direct control, you can foster a more compassionate and non-judgemental outlook towards yourselfyou’re your experiences.
Cognitive Defusion: ACT introduces methods to help you create some distance you’re your thoughts, reducing the influence of unhelpful thinking patterns. By understanding that thoughts are simply mental events and not necessarily a reflection of reality, you can free yourself from their grip.
Mindfulness: A key element of ACT, mindfulness involves staying aware of the present moment with an open and non-judgemental attitude. Through mindfulness practice, you will learn to observe thoughts and emotions more clearly, enhancing self-awareness and allowing you to respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively.
Self as Context: This concept involves developing an awareness of the ‘observing self’, which can notice and hold experiences without becoming entangled in them. By recognising this observing self, you can gain perspective and distance, helping you to accept your experiences without feeling defined or overwhelmed by them.
Values: ACT places importance on clarifying and connecting with personal values. By identifying what truly matters to you, you can make decisions and take steps that align with your values, leading to a more fulfilling and purpose-driven life.
Committed Action: In ACT, you are encouraged to take steps that reflect your core values. By setting meaningful goals and working towards them, you can move closer to living a life that honours your deepest beliefs and aspirations.