Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

At its heart, ACT encourages us to accept the things we cannot control, and commit to change by taking value-directed action. ACT follows 6 principles:

1) Cognitive defusion (i.e., thoughts are not facts)

2) Expansion and acceptance (i.e., making space for unpleasant feelings and urges)

3) Connection with the present moment (i.e., mindfulness)

4) The observing self (i.e.., a continuous 'self' that can observe the transience of thoughts and feelings)

5) Values clarification (increased awareness of what is meaningful to us, how we want to live, what sort of person we want to be)

6) Committed action (setting goals and taking effective, value-led action)