Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - How to accept your feelings and move forward
The Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) approach encourages you to embrace your thoughts and feelings rather than fighting them (or feeling guilty for them). Through mindfulness-based therapy, ACT aims to help you explore your awareness and acceptance of your thoughts and feelings so you can take action on your therapeutic journey. Similar to other behavioural talk therapies, ACT emphasises acceptance over avoidance of behaviours, thoughts or feelings.
“Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is a type of therapy that aims to help patients accept what is out of their control and commit instead to actions that enrich their lives.” (Harris, 2013)
What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?
A form of behavioural therapy that combines mindfulness skills with self-acceptance, ACT aims to help you accept your thoughts, feelings, and the struggle that sometimes goes along with them. By allowing yourself to feel uncomfortable without judgement, you can face your problems head-on and develop psychological flexibility.
Core principles of ACT
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy has a few core principles guiding you to develop psychological flexibility.
Acceptance - accepting your thoughts and feelings without avoiding, denying or trying to change them.
Cognitive Defusion - distancing yourself from your thoughts rather than buying into or getting caught up in them.
Being Present - experiencing what is occurring around you without trying to change the experience.
Self as a Context - realising you are more than your thoughts, feelings and experiences.
Value - choosing standards of behaviour you want to exemplify and living according to those values.
Committed Action - take actionable steps to create a life consistent with your values.
How Acceptance and Commitment Therapy works
At its core, ACT aims to help you accept your behaviours, thoughts and feelings whilst taking action to change those attitudes or emotional states that do not align with your values. Instead of trying to avoid or control your painful emotions or the situation, you accept them as suppression ultimately leads to more distress.
Finding a Psychologist that suits your needs
When undertaking ACT therapy, you must find a psychologist near you with whom you feel comfortable discussing your distressing thoughts and actions. Plus, your Psychologist should have experience working with clients who have faced similar issues.
Psychologist in Geelong
Psychology Outcomes is dedicated to providing the most effective treatment for our clients. We know that each person’s experience with mood disorders, anxiety, panic attacks, and more is unique and requires tailored therapy. Our unique data-driven therapy approach offers individualised, tailored therapy with the right Psychologist for you to achieve your therapy goals. At Psychology Outcomes, your needs are met by an experienced Psychologist qualified to provide the tailored therapy you need. Contact us at reception@psychologyoutcomes.com or call 0414 232 043 to schedule a therapy session. Get matched with the most effective Psychologist for you.
