Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)

What it is

ACT builds psychological flexibility: making room for difficult feelings instead of fighting them, unhooking from unhelpful thoughts, and taking committed action guided by your values — even while discomfort is present.

In addiction work, ACT is outpatient counselling — one part of care, alongside whatever medical input a person needs. It is not a substitute for medically supervised withdrawal, which is assessed separately.

What a session feels like

Reflective and surprisingly freeing. Expect metaphors, values work, and mindfulness — less 'fix the thought', more 'loosen its grip'.

Often used for

Approaches are tools, not boxes — most counsellors blend methods around you, and the intro consultation takes care of finding the blend that fits.