When you or someone you know is battling mental health conditions, the next best action is to find help to move from your negative thoughts. If you need help dealing with your emotions, finding someone who can relate to what you are going through and understands your needs becomes essential. Are you in Sydney, Australia, looking for a licensed professional? If so, this article will help you understand how ACT works in Sydney, Australia, and the benefits you can achieve from it.
What Is Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a powerful therapeutic approach that has gained widespread recognition in recent years. Developed in the 1980s by Steven C. Hayes and associates, ACT combines cognitive-behavioural therapy, mindfulness, and other psychological approaches to help individuals develop greater psychological flexibility and emotional well-being.
ACT is based on the idea that although psychological suffering is a natural and inevitable part of the human experience, we can respond in a way that promotes positive growth and well-being.
How does ACT work?
Acceptance and commitment therapy helps you stay focused on the present moment and accept thoughts and emotions without judgement so that you can focus your energy on healing. ACT aims to help you find coping mechanisms designed for the specific situation that will be helpful to you throughout your life.
In the first stage, the therapist will work with you to identify the problems or issues you are struggling with and develop a deeper understanding of your values and goals. Once your therapist understands these, they will help you develop mindfulness skills, such as present-moment awareness and non-judgmental observation of your thoughts and emotions.
Your therapist will also work with you to help clarify your values and identify the behaviours and actions that align with those values. And lastly, your therapist will help you develop steps that will enable you to live a life in line with your values and goals.
What can ACT help with:
ACT can be helpful for a wide range of psychological issues, including:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Stress
- Chronic pain
ACT can also be helpful for individuals who are looking to improve their overall well-being and live a more fulfilling life.
One of the unique aspects of ACT is that it can be tailored to meet your personal needs, as it is not a one size fits all kind of therapy. Whether you use it as a short-term intervention or a longer-term process, ACT will help you navigate life’s challenges and live a more meaningful and fulfilling life.
Benefits of ACT
There are many benefits to using ACT as a therapeutic approach. Some key benefits include:
Increased psychological flexibility
By developing greater psychological flexibility, you learn to observe your thoughts and emotions without getting caught up in them and take action toward living a meaningful and fulfilling life.
Enhanced well-being
ACT can help individuals reduce stress, improve mental clarity, and enhance overall well-being because you will change how you relate to negative thoughts and emotions without using medication. Although you may not stop using pharmaceutical drugs, ACT will help you reduce your dosage and ultimately go off the drugs.
Be in control of negative experiences
ACT allows you to understand that negative experiences are part of life and enable us to accept and manage them, so they don’t take over our lives. ACT also helps you commit to a positive approach and take charge, so you don’t dwell on negative experiences.
Final Thoughts
ACT in mindfulness will help you pay attention to the present by being cognisant of your surroundings, feelings, and physical sensations. Your therapist will help you develop non-judgmental acceptance of your emotions, thoughts and feelings.
