What is ACT?

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a form of therapy that helps to deal with difficult thoughts and feelings differently. The aim is not to take away symptoms, but to make space for what is, so that life can be rearranged in a way that suits what a person finds important.

Within ACT, the client learns to get less stuck in thoughts, emotions and inner struggles, and to act more from personal values. Through acceptance, focusing on the here and now and taking small, achievable steps, more resilience and freedom often emerge.

 

How does ACT work?

ACT consists of six different processes/skills:

• Acceptance: making space for unpleasant experiences

• Defusion: distancing yourself from your thoughts

• The self: dealing flexibly with your self(image)

• Here and now: paying attention to the here and now

• Values: dwelling on what really matters to you

Committed action: investing in your values

Together, these ACT skills make a person more psychologically flexible. So the aim of ACT is not so much to reduce symptoms, but to develop personal resilience. ACT makes extensive use of metaphors and exercises; one thus develops the various ACT skills in an experiential way. Watch the video on ACT below.