ACT Wellington

We think about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as a way of helping people live their lives based on their values, and without painful thoughts and feelings getting in the way.

Emotional pain is a normal and unavoidable part of human experience. Often it is the struggle to avoid painful thoughts and feelings that leads to suffering. ACT is literally about taking action: accepting what you can’t change and committing to what you can.

ACT can help people who are experiencing depression, anxiety, stress, relationship difficulties, chronic pain and other medical conditions, unexpected life changes, grief and trauma. You’ll learn to:

• make space with curiosity and compassion for unwanted painful thoughts and feelings

• bring your attention to now even when your mind drags you into painful memories or scary possible futures

• redirect your energy towards actions that matter to you – helping you be the partner, parent, family member, friend or person you want to be

• create a rich and meaningful life, with both the joy and sorrow that comes with that.