Acceptance and Commitment Therapy or ACT (pronounced as the word “act”) is a new development in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. We use mindfulness and acceptance strategies to help people pursue what matters most to them in their lives.

Emotional pain is a normal and unavoidable part of human experience. Often it is the struggle to avoid painful thoughts and feelings that leads to suffering. ACT can help you let go of internal struggle and live a life guided by your own values.

ACT can help people experiencing depression, anxiety, stress, relationship difficulties, chronic pain and other medical conditions, unexpected changes, grief and trauma.

It can help you

– make space inside, with compassion and lightness, for unwanted painful thoughts and feelings

– bring your attention to the present even when your mind drags you into painful memories or scary possible futures

– redirect your energy towards actions that matter to you – helping you be the partner, parent, family member, friend or person you want to be

– create a rich and meaningful life, with all the joy and sorrow that comes with that.

There’s more about ACT here and a review of the growing evidence base here .