Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
What is ACT?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT – pronounced intentionally as the word ‘Act’ rather than A.C.T. as individual letters) is another evidence based therapy which sits under the CBT group of therapies. ACT is an active approach to helping people cope more effectively with difficult internal experiences (such as distress, traumatic memories, pain) and external experiences (such as the actions of others, life events, accidents) that show up for all of us in our lives.
In therapy, an ACT therapist will work with clients on 6 core processes to support greater psychological flexibility to cope with difficulties that arise within our own minds and bodies, as well as externally in the world. These processes are Values clarification (knowing what’s important to us), Committed Action (making goals and committing to reaching them), Defusion (being able to step back from thoughts and feelings), Acceptance (not trying to change or stop experiences, but embracing them), Present Moment Awareness (being in the present moment, noticing, without judging) and Self-as-Context (a complex notion but essentially the ability to see ourselves from a variety of different perspectives, whilst retaining a clear sense of Self).
ACT therapists will use a variety of therapeutic tools to develop these core processes, including the use of a lot of metaphors, imagery and mindfulness exercises and clear behavioural tasks. The process of ACT therapy is very engaging, active and focused on behavioural change.
ACT has a very strong evidence base with people experiencing all sorts of difficult emotional states and life situations. It is a model that can be used across most problems people come into therapy with.
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