Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT – pronounced act, not A.C.T.) is about taking action, rather than thinking about how you feel. It shows us a new way to handle painful thoughts and feelings – a way that is effective and allows us to live our lives as we want to live them. ACT can be used to treat almost anything – from chronic depression, addictions and anxiety, to dissatisfaction with life, and a disturbed mood.

Carolyn trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT )with Aisling Leonard-Curtin a leading ACT trainer from ACT Now Purposeful Living.. ACT was the first of the ‘third wave’ modern psychotherapies and has the largest body of empirical data to support its effectiveness.  ACT is a highly versatile and adaptable approach which can be delivered as a long, medium or short term therapy, with empirical support for as little as four sessions.

ACT is centered on such questions as “What do you really want your life to be about?” or “If you lived in a world where you could have your life be about anything, what would it be?” It emphasises such processes as mindfulness, acceptance, and values in helping clients overcome obstacles in their lives.

The path of least resistance is that of learning to accept and be fully present (mindfulness) with what we don’t want while working toward what we do want.

ACT is a cognitive behavioural method of psychology that emphasises processes such as mindfulness and acceptance in helping individuals overcome the obstacles in their lives. A critical assumption of ACT is that pain and suffering are a normal and unavoidable part of human experience and that it is our attempts to control and avoid these experiences that actually lead to more long-term suffering. It differs from traditional cognitive behavioural therapy in that instead of teaching people to control their thoughts, feelings and actions, ACT teaches us to notice, accept and embrace. Fundamentally, accept what is out of your personal control and commit to action that improves and enriches your life. As such, the goal of therapy is not to eliminate certain parts of your experience, but rather to learn how to deal with these painful experiences and help clarify what is truly important and meaningful to you as a way of inspiring you to change your life for the better.

ACT views the core of many problems in our lives to be down to the acronym FEAR:

• Fusion with your thoughts
• Evaluation of experience
• Avoidance of your experience
• Reason for your behaviour
• The healthy alternative is to ACT:
• Accept your reactions and be present
• Choose a valued direction
• Take action

CONFIDENTIALITY

All personal details and information discussed inside, and outside sessions are kept strictly confidential. Further aspects of this will be discussed in the first session.

To Contact Carolyn

To make an appointment or if you have any questions regarding counselling call or text Carolyn on 085 7264514 or fill in the enquiry form here