Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) serves as a modern psychotherapy technique which instructs clients to accept unpleasant thoughts and emotions instead of trying to fight them. The therapy teaches mindfulness combined with taking actions that align with personal values. Dr Steven Hayes created ACT as a blend of behavioural sciences with mindfulness principles during the 1980s. The therapy centers on psychological flexibility which means being present while remaining open to actions that fulfill meaningful goals. Through ACT people learn how to monitor their thoughts without allowing them to capture their attention. Acceptance Therapy does not actively change thoughts because it prioritizes meaningful life activities beyond mental pain. Acceptance-oriented behaviour forms the basis of growth while staying true to personal values according to this methodology.
What are the Core Principles of ACT?
The following are the 5 core principles that guide Acceptance and Commitment Therapy:
- Cognitive Defusion
- Acceptance
- Present Awareness
- Values-Based Living
- Committed Action
Cognitive Defusion
The process of cognitive defusion results in an emotional gap between the conscious mind and the thinking processes. People learn to recognize their thinking patterns as an independent step from getting lost in these patterns during this process. The method minimizes negative thought power. Clients can observe their thoughts instead of forming judgments about them through this technique. This practice supports emotional flexibility. Diffusion provides individuals with a way to advance without inner dialogue influencing their progress.
Acceptance
Acceptance involves allowing unacceptable emotions and thoughts without fighting against them. When people decide to accept problematic experiences they stop fighting to stay away from discomfort. ACT trains people to receive their emotions without resisting them. This approach builds emotional strength. Acceptance leads people to achieve clarity and less stress through their experiences. Acceptance allows people to take purposeful actions during times of trouble.
Present Awareness
People who practice present awareness naturally remain in contact with their current circumstances. The practice brings about mindfulness by helping people observe and pay attention to their surroundings. The practice teaches clients how to observe their thoughts together with their emotions while analysing their environment with a sense of curiosity. People achieve better focus combined with emotional balance and inner calmness through this awareness. Being present creates better clarity and blocks out unnecessary thoughts. People become more responsive when they remain focused on present occurrences.
Values-Based Living
When people follow what matters most to them their behaviors become directed. The set of values acts as individuals’ personal guidance system. Total participants study the sources that create life meaning and direction. Getting a clear understanding of root values makes both decision-making processes and motivational power stronger. People who base their life on values achieve greater purpose and satisfaction. People can maintain their identity by acting according to their desired self during emotional and stressful times.
Committed Action
People move forward through steps that respect their individual values when they take committed action. Personal values help people turn their plans into concrete actions in their daily lives. The principle enables people to maintain their efforts through difficult times. Clients learn to define their goals and move forward toward them while facing obstacles directly. Small, consistent actions build momentum. The act of committed action results in stable change because it maintains fundamental priorities regardless of what emotional circumstances surround you.
Who Can Benefit from ACT?
The following are 4 main conditions that ACT benefits effectively:
- Anxiety & Depression
- Chronic Pain
- Addiction Recovery
- Life Transitions
Anxiety & Depression
ACT provides help to anxiety-depression patients through its practice of accepting emotional inner experiences. Patients benefit from this method by reducing their pressure to stop negative emotions. Instead, it builds psychological flexibility. ACT helps clients interact with daily life while experiencing emotional distress. The method prevents people from avoiding challenges because it encourages stronger participation in daily activities. Stress management techniques within ACT combine with goal attainment and value maintenance to help people cope with challenges.
Chronic Pain
ACT enables those who experience ongoing pain to accept life situations better. The program directs clients toward learning how to function well with pain rather than concentrating on pain control strategies. The practice of mindfulness along with actions based on personal values helps people manage their responses in stressful situations. Clients achieve less suffering when they avoid fighting against their symptoms. The application of ACT produces enhancements in daily life experience. The therapy enables purposeful connection to everyday tasks regardless of pain symptoms.
Addiction Recovery
A program like ACT that supports emotional stability is essential for those in addiction recovery. The technique shows people how they can deal with their cravings before making any moves to satisfy them. Mindfulness builds awareness of triggers. People in recovery find their personal values which direct their decisions toward healing. The practice of ACT maintains constant dedication toward living with purpose. The treatment helps patients develop internal resilience as it reduces how much their addictive urges control their actions.
Life Transitions
The ACT treatment model assists clients undergoing major life adjustments including professional changes or periods of grief. The therapy enables people to manage uncertainty by teaching them how to accept and focus on being present. Clients use their existing values to assist their decision-making processes when dealing with change. When practiced ACT helps people gain emotional clarity and create direction. When individuals follow the ACT approach they successfully cope with overwhelming situations by concentrating on essential current priorities. The process of change becomes easier and personal development progresses through the strengthening of adaptability.
What to Expect in ACT Sessions in Chania?
The following are 3 key features of the ACT process in Chania sessions:
- Mindfulness & Exercises
- Clarifying Values
- Daily Practice Integration
Mindfulness & Exercises
The sessions come with mindfulness exercises which a therapist guides participants through. Clients use these tools to maintain their stability while they notice their mental activities and emotional states. When introducing helpful techniques the therapist supports clients through awareness and acceptance. Mindfulness practices increase emotional clarity. The exercises consist of direct techniques that need repetition for better retention. The methods train individuals to maintain their attention along focus. Active engagement with the current moment helps clients to develop important abilities.
Clarifying Values
The process of identifying personal values takes up most of the session time with clients. The process aids clients in determining which things matter most to them. When people know their core values, those principles help them make correct choices that lead to actions. The therapeutic process features discussions that help clients deeply examine these matters. The process of defining core values constructs an effective internal directional system. Valuing enables people to find purpose in their existence while defining their way forward. The techniques taught in this work help people sustain their motivation when emotions fluctuate.
Daily Practice Integration
The ACT teaches people to apply learned skills through their regular daily activities. Clients use mindfulness and acceptance together with values-based actions outside of therapy meetings. The practice strengthens behaviour changes through the repetition of learned material. Small steps build consistency. Emotional stability along with improved coping happens through regular practice. Daily routines become the foundation through which therapeutic principles can be put into practice because of coordination. The practice connects learners to actual challenges and aims they aim to achieve.
