Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) evolved from CBT so is sometimes called “third wave CBT”. Instead of trying to weigh up the evidence for and against negative thinking and changing limiting behaviours, ACT takes into account that this isn’t always easy to do, or truly
reflecting your reality.
As humans, suffering is an inevitable part of life and so sometimes we need to be flexible and open psychologically to our experiences and observing them, rather than becoming tangled in them.
If we can learn acceptance and still commit to our life values and goals, we can overcome some of our challenges and live a meaningful life despite our suffering. Rather than trying to control or eliminate unwanted thoughts or emotions, ACT changes your relationship with them usingtechniques like mindfulness and “cognitive diffusion” (i.e. noticing a thought rather than
become wedded to our negative thoughts).
The Six Core Principles of ACT
- Acceptance
- Cognitive “Thought” Defusion
- Being Present (Mindfulness)
- Self-as-Context (Observing Self)
- Values
- Committed Action
Resources
Would you like to rate yourself on your psychological flexibility using the six core therapy processes in ACT? Download this worksheet and feel free to send it to us and discuss it in your first consultation. Alternatively we have a values exercise. To what extent are you living your life according to those values and what more can you do to get there?
On the Breaking Through Therapy podcast, Dr Esther Cole and her friend “Mabel” talk about their past experiences living with Long COVID and using ACT principles in their Long COVID support group to manage their symptoms.