What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a form of CBT psychotherapy that has gained popularity in recent years. It is a type of behavioural therapy that focuses on helping individuals to accept difficult thoughts and feelings rather than trying to avoid or eliminate them. ACT aims to help individuals live a more meaningful life by teaching them how to be present in the moment and take action towards their values.
ACT is based on the idea that suffering is a natural part of the human experience and that trying to avoid or eliminate it only leads to more suffering. Instead, ACT encourages individuals to accept their thoughts and feelings and to focus on what they can control in their lives. This approach helps individuals to develop greater psychological flexibility, which is the ability to adapt to changing circumstances and to act in line with one’s values even in the face of difficult thoughts and emotions.
One of the key components of ACT is mindfulness, which involves paying attention to the present moment without judgement. By learning to be more mindful, individuals can develop greater awareness of their thoughts and feelings and learn to respond to them in a more flexible and adaptive way. ACT also includes a range of other techniques, such as cognitive defusion, values clarification, and committed action, which are designed to help individuals live a more fulfilling and meaningful life.
Fundamentals of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Core Principles
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a form of psychotherapy that aims to help individuals accept their thoughts and feelings rather than trying to change or eliminate them. The core principles of ACT are based on the idea that psychological distress is caused by the struggle to control or eliminate unwanted thoughts and emotions.
ACT focuses on six core principles:
- Acceptance: This involves accepting the reality of one’s thoughts and feelings without trying to change or eliminate them.
- Cognitive Defusion: This involves learning to observe thoughts and feelings without becoming attached to them or believing that they are true.
- Present Moment Awareness: This involves being fully present in the moment and focusing on the here and now rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.
- Self-as-Context: This involves recognizing that thoughts and feelings are not the same as the self and that the self is more than just one’s thoughts and feelings.
- Values: This involves identifying and clarifying one’s values and using them as a guide for behaviour.
- Committed Action: This involves taking action towards one’s values, even in the presence of difficult thoughts and feelings.
Overall, ACT is a flexible and adaptable therapy that can be used to treat a wide range of mental health conditions. By using a range of therapeutic exercises and mindfulness strategies, individuals can develop greater psychological flexibility and acceptance, and move towards a more fulfilling and meaningful life.
Dr Gurpreet Kaur
Dr Gurpreet Kaur is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist based in Epsom, Surrey. Since graduating from University College London in 2011, Dr Gurpreet Kaur has developed her skills and has become adept at tailoring the sessions she offers to the needs of the client. Dr Gurpreet Kaur is experienced in providing CBT, EMDR, and ACT in Surrey.