Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

How does ACT work?

ACT is relevant to just about everyone. At its core, ACT involves learning the skills to accept the things that are out of your control and commit to actions that lead to a fuller and more enriching life.

The key principles of ACT include accepting our entire spectrum of experiences and committing to action in order to create the desired behaviour changes that will improve your quality of life.

It helps you to be more psychologically present; more in touch with your values; more able to make room for the inevitable pain of life; more able to defuse from unhelpful thoughts, beliefs and memories; more able to take effective action in the face of emotional discomfort; more able to engage fully in what we're doing; and more able to appreciate each moment of our lives, no matter how were feeling. ACT aims to teach you how to be present, fully embrace your experiences and do what matters most to you, so you can live a rich, full, and meaningful life.

What are ACT therapy sessions like?

During the therapy sessions, difficult choices, concerns, thoughts, feelings, and problematic situations will be identified. New skills are developed to help you separate from your challenging thoughts, feelings or concerns to make room for all personal experiences. We explore how your current actions respond to these private experiences, whether they move you toward or away from who /what you care about. In light of your values, we explore goals that move you in the life direction of your choice.

ACT has been scientifically studies and shown to be affective with a wide range of conditions, including:

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

• Social phobia

• Borderline personality disorder

• Workplace stress

• Chronic pain

• Drug use and

• Weight control