What Is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (pronounced ‘act’) is a mindfulness-based therapy aimed at dislodging the psychological suffering experienced as a result of human language. Language, whether it be talking, gesturing, imagining, or thinking, can lead us to criticise or condemn ourselves or others; it can further lead us to judge, lie, manipulate, jump to the future, or relive unpleasant experiences from the past. ACT uses multiple techniques to support clients to live a life worth living (values), in the present moment (mindfulness).
How does Acceptance and Commitment Therapy work?
There are three main stages of ACT:
- Accept your reactions and be present
- Choose a valued direction
- Take action
Accepting a situation you cannot control, or perhaps a character trait that is hard to change, or indeed an emotion that is difficult to deal with can allow you to move forward. This is part of what makes ACT unique and an effective form of therapy: it invites you to accept reality and work with what you have.
This acceptance, along with mindfulness techniques that encourage management of psychologically heightening experiences and emotions, is what can make acceptance and commitment therapy work well for many people with different referral issues.
Would you like more information about ACT and how it might benefit you?