Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)

ACT is an approach that aims to reduce our avoidance of negative feelings, while also increasing our tolerance. It suggests that it is our excessive attempts to avoid such emotion that lead to more intense, less manageable feelings.

The approach can help us to manage feelings of anxiety, uncertainty and distress. We learn to become more aware of the nature of our thoughts and feelings, our sense of ourself and, ultimately, what is important to us.

The approach then helps us to identify our values in order to guide our attempts at change – so that we can fully commit to this plan.