Be Present. Open Up. Do What it takes.

That’s the essence of ACT.

ACT (Pronounced as the word “Act” rather than A-C-T) stands for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (or Training). It was developed by Steven C. Hayes and has been popularised by Dr. Russ Harris in his book “The Happiness Trap” which is an accessible read and is highly recommended.

What is Acceptance & Commitment Therapy?

“Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) gets it name from one of its core messages: accept what is out of your personal control, and commit to action that improves and enriches your life.

The aim of ACT is to maximise human potential for a rich, full and meaningful life. ACT (which is pronounced as the word ‘act’, not as the initials) does this by:

a) teaching you psychological skills to deal with your painful thoughts and feelings effectively – in such a way that they have much less impact and influence over you (these are known as mindfulness skills).

b) helping you to clarify what is truly important and meaningful to you – i.e your values – then use that knowledge to guide, inspire and motivate you to change your life for the better.” Dr. Russ Harris.

ACT is an evidence-based behavioural approach supported by extensive studies and academic research. It helps us unhook from troubling thoughts and challenge avoidant behaviours like procrastination, whilst appreciating  the here and now, i.e. the present moment. This is preferable to being preoccupied with a difficult past or agonising about an uncertain future. 

Dr Harris offers a decision tool called the Choice Point, which is designed to assist you in working out whether you are moving towards what is most important to you (i.e. a life you value), or whether you are moving further away from it. 

Another useful tool is the Resilience Formula, which runs through 4 choices in a given problem situation, ranging from dealing with it head on, to avoiding it altogether.

ACT also encourages a mindful approach to living with our daily problems, including accepting those things we can’t change, and focusing on the things we can change instead.

We are encouraged to accept those things we are living with which are not ideal, and not to waste our valuable energy desperately trying to push them away, but rather to create what change we can, in spite of them, whilst moving in the direction of a life worth living.

Contact Us to find out what ACT can do for you.