Acceptance & Commitment Therapy
6 Core Principles of ACT
VALUES
What matters most to you? What gives your life purpose? If you’ve lost touch with that, we’ll take steps to reestablish that connection and determine what it looks like in terms of action.
PRESENT MOMENT
Life is lived in the present moment, but many of us spend a lot of time on auto-pilot. When it comes to making change, noticing our experience as it is happening is the secret power to moving toward goals.
DEFUSION
Who is in charge - you or your mind? Our minds are amazing things that are always giving us thoughts, analysis, and predictions. But if we rely too much on what our mind tells us, that sets us up for frustration.
ACCEPTANCE
Be willing to experience what is happening in our mind and body without judgment and without trying to change it. (I know from experience this is not easy, but it sure is powerful when you buy in!)
OBSERVER SELF
Like the mountain above, we are strong, stable beings. We experience thoughts but we are not our thoughts. Even when we feel battered by thoughts, we remain whole. This perspective can bring a sense of peace and clarity.
COMMITTED ACTION
Rather than waiting for symptoms to clear or until we find the right answer or the root cause, let’s get moving in a direction that’s meaningful now. You can do it when it’s connected to your core values.