Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
An action-oriented form of psychotherapy that teaches psychological flexibility rather than suppressing uncomfortable thoughts and feelings.
What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an action-oriented form of psychotherapy derived from traditional CBT and relational frame theory. Rather than attempting to suppress or eliminate uncomfortable thoughts and feelings, ACT teaches psychological flexibility. Clients learn to accept their internal experiences, detach from automatic negative thoughts, and commit to actions that align with their core personal values.
At Kindly Psychology, we use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients navigate difficult emotions without feeling controlled by them, creating meaningful life changes even in the presence of hardship.
How ACT Can Help You
ACT is effective across a wide spectrum of psychological conditions. At Kindly Psychology, we use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for:
Stress & Burnout
Managing overwhelming pressure, professional exhaustion, and nervous system fatigue.
Physical Health & Wellbeing
Managing the psychological impacts of chronic illness, pain, somatic stress, and injury.
Anxiety Disorders
Support for generalised anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorder, and phobias.
Identity, Self & Growth
Affirming care for neurodivergence, self-esteem, values alignment, and personal growth.
Extensive clinical trials affirm ACT's effectiveness. A systematic review published in the Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science (A-Tjak et al., 2015) evaluated dozens of randomized controlled trials, confirming ACT efficacy across anxiety, depression, and somatic health conditions. Furthermore, research published in Behaviour Research and Therapy (Hayes et al., 2006) established that psychological flexibility is a key mediator of long-term mental health outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions About ACT
No. Acceptance in ACT is not passive resignation. It means acknowledging uncomfortable reality as it is right now, so you stop wasting energy fighting unavoidable thoughts and can take constructive action instead.
While traditional CBT focuses on changing or challenging negative thoughts, ACT focuses on changing your relationship to those thoughts so they carry less weight over your actions.
Values are your heart's deepest desires for how you want to show up in the world (e.g., being compassionate, courageous, or reliable). ACT uses your personal values as a roadmap for goal setting.
We believe in finding the right psychologist for your journey. Book a complimentary call with us to ask your questions or to schedule your initial appointment.
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