ACT
ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) is a treatment method that helps you deal with difficult thoughts, feelings and situations in a different way. Instead of constantly trying to avoid or control difficult thoughts and feelings, you learn to make space for what you are experiencing and to choose what is important to you.
ACT focuses on increasing psychological flexibility: the ability to cope with challenges whilst taking steps towards a meaningful life. The focus is not on the disappearance of symptoms, but on increasing self-direction and resilience.
When can ACT help?
ACT can help if you find yourself stuck in thoughts, feelings or patterns that significantly affect your daily life. The treatment does not focus on eliminating difficult experiences, but on developing greater space, flexibility and control in how you deal with them.
ACT, for example, might be suitable for:
- anxiety symptoms;
- feelings of gloom or depression;
- stress or overwork;
- persistent worrying;
- coping with change or loss;
- difficulty making choices or finding direction;
- recurring patterns that you find difficult to resolve.
How does ACT work?
During the sessions, you will work with your therapist to explore how to deal with difficult thoughts, emotions and situations. You will look at patterns that may be holding you back and discover ways to deal with them differently.
At ACT, your work will include:
- making more room for difficult thoughts and feelings;
- learning to distance yourself from your thoughts, without allowing them to control you completely;
- focusing attention on the here and now;
- look at yourself with more kindness and compassion;
- discover what really matters to you;
- take steps that are in line with your values and goals.
At ACT, we use conversations, practical exercises and mindfulness exercises that you can also apply outside of treatment.
Every person and every condition is different. That is why we work with you to determine which treatment is best suited to your situation, symptoms and goals. Sometimes ACT is the right choice; at other times, a different treatment or a combination of treatment approaches may be more helpful.
Together, we’ll choose what best suits your needs.
