What is Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a mindfulness-based cognitive behavioural therapy.
The goal of ACT is to live a rich, full and meaningful life, whilst accepting the pain that inevitably goes with it (Harris, 2006).
http://www.actmindfully.com.au/upimages/Dr_Russ_Harris_-_A_Non-technical_Overview_of_ACT.pdf
One of its emphases is to improve quality of life, via a process of first clarifying, and then living by, your values. Values are those characteristics that you care deeply enough about to want to be remembered for. Using values as a guide, action steps that would move you forward are discussed and worked towards.
The other main emphasis of ACT is necessary as its usually unpleasant private experiences (thoughts, feelings, memories, urges) that get in the way of us living according to our values. ACT teaches a set of mindfulness skills that can be applied in everyday life – as a way of acknowledging the distressing internal experiences and moving forward.
Mindfulness is paying full attention to the present moment, with an open, non-judgmental, and compassionate stance. When we are in a state of mindfulness, we are far more likely to cope with difficult emotions and situations, and may even learn new things about these experiences. It is a skill to be learned through practice, as it is a simple concept that can be difficult to apply. In ACT therapy, mindfulness is used in every session, and practice in between sessions is encouraged.
Overall, ACT is about accepting those things we cannot control, and committing to move forward with actions that will change life for the better. It is a very active therapy; one in which learning new coping skills and strategies for progressing in life is given prominence.
The goal of ACT is to live a rich, full and meaningful life, whilst accepting the pain that inevitably goes with it (Harris, 2006).
http://www.actmindfully.com.au/upimages/Dr_Russ_Harris_-_A_Non-technical_Overview_of_ACT.pdf
One of its emphases is to improve quality of life, via a process of first clarifying, and then living by, your values. Values are those characteristics that you care deeply enough about to want to be remembered for. Using values as a guide, action steps that would move you forward are discussed and worked towards.
The other main emphasis of ACT is necessary as its usually unpleasant private experiences (thoughts, feelings, memories, urges) that get in the way of us living according to our values. ACT teaches a set of mindfulness skills that can be applied in everyday life – as a way of acknowledging the distressing internal experiences and moving forward.
Mindfulness is paying full attention to the present moment, with an open, non-judgmental, and compassionate stance. When we are in a state of mindfulness, we are far more likely to cope with difficult emotions and situations, and may even learn new things about these experiences. It is a skill to be learned through practice, as it is a simple concept that can be difficult to apply. In ACT therapy, mindfulness is used in every session, and practice in between sessions is encouraged.
Overall, ACT is about accepting those things we cannot control, and committing to move forward with actions that will change life for the better. It is a very active therapy; one in which learning new coping skills and strategies for progressing in life is given prominence.