Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps you develop a more flexible and compassionate relationship with your thoughts and emotions. Rather than fighting, avoiding, or getting pulled into internal struggles, ACT supports you in responding with clarity and intention — especially during periods of stress, anxiety, or major life change.
ACT focuses on what matters most to you and helps you move toward choices that feel aligned with your values, even when discomfort is present.
Sessions are available in person in Saanich and online across British Columbia.
How ACT Supports Wellbeing
ACT can be helpful when you’re experiencing:
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• Anxiety, worry, or rumination
• Low mood or emotional numbness
• Stress, burnout, or overwhelm
• Difficulty making decisions
• Perfectionism or internal self-criticism
• Feeling disconnected from purpose or direction
• Patterns of avoidance or over-control
ACT offers tools that support emotional steadiness and a clearer sense of direction.
Core Elements of ACT
ACT is grounded in six core processes that work together to support psychological flexibility:
Acceptance
Making room for difficult thoughts and emotions rather than fighting them.
Cognitive defusion
Noticing unhelpful thoughts without getting entangled in them.
Present-moment awareness
Staying connected to what is happening right now, with gentleness and curiosity.
Self-as-context
Seeing yourself as more than any single thought, feeling, or moment.
Values exploration
Clarifying what truly matters to you, the qualities that guide your choices.
Committed action
Taking meaningful, realistic steps that align with your values.
We move through these processes at a pace that feels manageable and grounded.
What ACT Can Look Like in Therapy
ACT is an experiential, practical approach. Sessions may involve:
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• Gentle mindfulness or grounding exercises
• Exploring internal experiences with curiosity rather than resistance
• Identifying patterns that keep you stuck
• Clarifying personal values to guide decisions
• Learning new ways to respond to difficult emotions
• Setting realistic, meaningful goals
The focus is not on avoiding discomfort, but on building resilience and choice even when discomfort arises.
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Why ACT Can Be Helpful
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People often find that ACT helps them:
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• Feel less controlled by intrusive thoughts or worries
• Build a kinder relationship with themselves
• Respond to stress with more flexibility
• Make decisions with greater clarity
• Reconnect with meaning, direction, and purpose
ACT supports both insight and action, helping you live more intentionally.
A Compassionate, Values-Based Approach
ACT acknowledges that discomfort is part of being human — but suffering doesn’t have to define your life. By understanding your values and learning skills for navigating internal challenges, you can move toward a life that feels more genuine and grounded.
If you’re curious about whether ACT might support you, you’re welcome to book a complimentary consultation or schedule a session.