ACT – Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
ACT (pronounced “act” as in “do something”, not “ay-cee-tee”) is a cutting-edge development within Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), based on research and the latest insights in psychology. There is a big overlap between CBT and ACT. ACT places greater importance on how to engage in helpful behaviours, spending less time and energy analysing and changing unhelpful thoughts. It teaches people true psychological flexibility, and how to “hold painful thoughts and feelings lightly” while stepping forward into a life based on their very own values and goals.
Techniques used include mindfulness exercises and how to refocusing and redirection attention. Then, learn how to step back from the unhelpful “stuff” the mind so frequently throws at us. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy has been described as intriguing, initially counterintuitive, refreshing, and life changing as it opens up new philosophical dimensions. For example, what if happiness is an event that comes and goes as a result of action, rather than a state to be achieved – and then clung on to? Perhaps true and lasting change is not always about feeling better, but about getting better at feeling. What could greater psychological flexibility do for you? Read more about ACT here.