Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) in Norwood, Adelaide
What is Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)?
ACT helps you develop a healthier relationship with difficult thoughts, emotions, and life challenges. Rather than struggling against uncomfortable experiences. ACT focuses on building psychological flexibility so you can respond to life with greater clarity, resilience, and self-compassion.
ACT is based on six principles, which encourage acceptance and alignment with personal values, creating a flexible and resilient mindset.
Contact with the Present Moment: Practice mindfulness to stay grounded in the here and now.
Acceptance: Allow difficult feelings to be present without trying to change or avoid them.
Values: Identify what genuinely matters to you and let it guide your actions.
Cognitive Defusion: Learn to "unhook" from unhelpful thoughts rather than getting caught up in them.
Self-as-Context: Cultivate a flexible, non-judgmental view of yourself, fostering growth.
Committed Action: Take meaningful steps that align with your values, even when it’s challenging.
ACT combines mindfulness strategies with practical tools to help you reconnect with what truly matters to you.
What might ACT therapy look like?
ACT sessions typically begin with an initial assessment, where your Psychologist gets to know you and your challenges. This helps to clarify what may be keeping you stuck and to determine if ACT is the right approach for you. Sessions often include exploring and practicing the following strategies:
Mindfulness: Cultivate non-judgmental awareness of thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and your surroundings. This may be particularly helpful during stressful moments by using your breath or environmental cues to stay present.
Cognitive Defusion: Learn techniques to observe and "unhook" from repetitive or catastrophic thoughts. This can be useful when you're stuck in negative thinking patterns.
Acceptance: Practice sitting with uncomfortable feelings without trying to distract, avoid, numb, or suppress them. This is especially helpful in situations that evoke difficult emotions or bodily sensations.
Values: Identify what truly matters to you. This process can help bring clarity when you're feeling lost or uncertain.
Committed Action: Set realistic goals that align with your values to foster meaningful change. This can be particularly helpful when you're dissatisfied with your current situation.
Self-as-Context: Develop a more objective and flexible view of yourself to support growth and resilience.ACT is not about “getting rid” of emotions. Instead, it helps you build the confidence and flexibility to handle life’s challenges while continuing to move towards what matters most to you.
Get in touch to inquire about therapy or to arrange an initial appointment. We offer a free, no obligation, 15 minute phone call to potential clients.