ACT-Thelifeuwant.co.uk
Interventions
The main model that we use is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
This approach uses the idea of 'mindfulness' - a mental state of awareness, focus and openness - which allows us to engage fully in what we are doing at any given moment. In this state, we make room for and 'allow' any difficult or unhelpful thoughts and feelings but do not let them have any significant impact and influence on what we do.
There is no attempt to control or manipulate our feelings or thoughts that happens with existing psychological methods like standard CBT, positive thinking and visualisation, which often have only a temporary or very short-term effect. In contrast, our approach does not set out at all to control our feelings and instead focuses on our behaviours and how these serve the achievement of specific desired goals or things of importance to us. Resulting in a positive sense of purpose in our life.
The ACT approach is based on 'relational frame theory' (RFT). Developed out of experimental psychology using high-integrity studies under laboratory conditions, this looks at the context in which we determine our actions in given situations. The theory stresses how the interactions that we have with our inner self within specific social contexts together with our verbal behaviour and language are key influences on how we choose to behave. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is about helping us to overcome our internal barriers to change - such as negative thoughts, fears and false assumptions resulting in an improved quality of life.