Acceptance and commitment therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) does not challenge your distressing negative thoughts about yourself by looking for evidence and developing more rational thinking as in CBT.

ACT is based on the idea that, generally, trying to struggle to rid ourselves of pain and distress only increases suffering, entangling us in further upset which turns it into something traumatic.

The alternative is to accept distress without being defeated or tolerating suffering. ACT therapy encourages individuals to recognise that a thought can be noticed and accepted as a thought - for example, "I notice that I'm thinking I'm useless" You are taught 3 basic techniques of mindfulness, acceptance, and values-based living.