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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Helping you relate differently to difficult thoughts and feelings
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, is a therapy approach that helps people relate differently to difficult thoughts and feelings, while reconnecting with what truly matters to them.
Many people come to therapy wanting painful feelings to disappear. They want to stop feeling anxious, guilty, angry, overwhelmed, disconnected, or not good enough. This is very understandable. But sometimes, the more we fight our internal experience, the more stuck we become. ACT does not ask you to ignore pain or pretend it is not there. Instead, it helps you create a different relationship with it.
ACT focuses on psychological flexibility. This means learning how to notice difficult thoughts and emotions without being completely controlled by them. For example, a mother may have the thought, “I am a terrible parent,” after snapping at her child. That thought can feel very powerful. ACT helps create space around it, so instead of becoming consumed by guilt or shame, she can notice the thought, understand what has been activated, and choose what to do next.
ACT places strong emphasis on values
ACT also places strong emphasis on values. In the middle of busy family life, it is easy to lose sight of who you are and what matters to you. Many women find themselves functioning, managing, organising, and caring for everyone else, while feeling disconnected from themselves. ACT helps you reconnect with your values, not in an abstract way, but in a practical, everyday way.
This might include exploring the kind of parent, partner, woman, or person you want to be, while also acknowledging the real pressures you are carrying. It is not about perfection. It is about taking small, meaningful steps toward a life that feels more connected and true to you.
Making room for difficult feelings
In my work, ACT can be helpful for mothers, parents, and families who feel stuck in guilt, fear, avoidance, emotional exhaustion, or self-criticism. It supports you to make room for difficult feelings while still moving toward what matters: connection, presence, honesty, rest, boundaries, and a family life that feels lighter and more aligned with your values.
