What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, said as the word act rather than the letters, is an evidence-based therapy developed by psychologist Steven Hayes and colleagues. It belongs to the mindfulness-based generation of behavioural therapies, and it has been applied to a wide range of difficulties.
ACT rests on a different idea from many therapies. Instead of trying to get rid of difficult thoughts and feelings, it helps you change your relationship with them, so they have less hold over you, while you commit to actions that move you toward the life you want. The goal is not to feel good all the time, which is not realistic, but to live well and meaningfully even when life is hard. It builds what clinicians call psychological flexibility: the ability to stay present, open up to your experience, and do what matters.
At Integro Health, ACT is delivered by registered therapists in a warm, non-judgemental environment in South West WA, in person or online.
How ACT works
Much of our suffering is made worse by the struggle against it. The more we fight anxiety, push away sadness, or argue with self-critical thoughts, the more entangled we can become, and the more our lives shrink as we avoid anything that stirs up discomfort. ACT offers a way out of that struggle.
Through mindfulness and other techniques, ACT helps you notice thoughts and feelings without being ruled by them, a skill called defusion, and to make room for difficult experiences rather than fighting them, which is the acceptance part. At the same time, it helps you get clear on what truly matters to you, your values, and take committed action in that direction, even when uncomfortable feelings come along for the ride. Over time, life becomes less about controlling how you feel and more about doing what matters.
It is a subtle but powerful shift, and for many people it brings a real sense of freedom.
The core processes of ACT
ACT works through a set of interlocking processes rather than fixed stages. We weave these into the work in a way that fits you, building psychological flexibility over time.
Being present
We help you come out of your head and into the present moment, through mindfulness, so you can meet life as it actually is rather than getting lost in worry about the future or rumination about the past.
Unhooking from thoughts
You learn to notice thoughts as thoughts, rather than absolute truths or commands, so that a harsh or frightening thought loses its power to run your life.
Making room for feelings
Instead of exhausting yourself fighting difficult emotions, you learn to allow them to be present, which paradoxically loosens their grip and frees up your energy.
Clarifying what matters
Together, we get clear on your values, the kind of person you want to be and the life you want to live, which becomes your compass.
Taking committed action
We help you take real, values-guided steps, even when uncomfortable feelings come too, so your life moves in the direction that matters to you.
Meet our practitioners
At Integro Health, ACT is delivered by registered clinicians and qualified therapists with genuine warmth and years of experience. Take a moment to read about our practitioners and find the right fit for you.
Dr Paul King
General Practitioner
MBBS Bachelor of Medicine/ Bachelor of Surgery
FRACGP Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
Jools Fordyce
Social Worker & Family Therapist
Bachelor (Hons) – Applied Social Science with Diploma in Social Work
Postgraduate Diploma in Family and Relationship Therapy
Brooke Eden
Psychologist
Bachelor of Psychology
Graduate Diploma of Education
Member of the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc.
Nicholas Kerr
Psychologist
Masters of Psychology (Organisational)
Bachelor of Arts
Member of the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc.
Carli King
Office Administrator
As Practice Manager, Carli keeps the daily operations of Integro Health running smoothly, ensuring our clients always receive the highest standard of care.
What ACT can help with
Anxiety
Practical, evidence-based help for worry, racing thoughts, and constant unease, so you can feel safe in your own life again.…
Anxiety →
Depression
Warm, judgement-free support for depression and persistent low mood, helping you find your way back toward feeling like yourself. In…
Depression →
Stress
Support to understand what is driving chronic stress and build a more sustainable way to live, before it tips into…
Stress →
Burnout
Recover from burnout and rebuild a sustainable way of living and working, not just top up the tank. Support in…
Burnout →
Grief & Loss
Compassionate support to carry grief and loss in your own way and at your own pace, with no timeline to…
Grief & Loss →
Perfectionism
Loosen the grip of relentless standards and free your sense of worth from the need to be flawless. Therapy in…
Perfectionism →Why Integro Health
Registered, experienced clinicians
Your therapy is delivered by registered clinicians and qualified therapists trained in the approach. Experience and genuine care come as standard.
A whole-person approach
We look at every part of you, your thoughts, feelings, relationships, and circumstances, because difficulties rarely sit in just one area of life.
The right approach for you
We use ACT where it genuinely fits, and draw on other evidence-based approaches when they would help, rather than forcing a one-size formula.
In Bunbury and online
See us in person at our Eaton clinic near Bunbury, or by secure telehealth anywhere in South West WA and beyond. The choice is yours.
Is ACT effective? The evidence
ACT is a well-researched, evidence-based therapy. A large and growing body of studies supports its effectiveness for a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, chronic stress, and living well with ongoing difficulties such as chronic pain. It is recognised as an effective approach by clinical guidelines and professional bodies.
One of ACT’s strengths is its breadth. Because it targets the underlying struggle that fuels so many difficulties, rather than one specific symptom, its skills tend to generalise across areas of life, and many people find they keep using them long after therapy ends.
As with any therapy, ACT does not suit everyone or guarantee a particular result. It asks for a willingness to sit with discomfort rather than avoid it, which some people find challenging at first. Where a different approach would serve you better, we will say so and tailor accordingly.
What to expect in ACT
ACT sessions are often experiential rather than purely analytical. As well as talking, you might try mindfulness exercises, work with metaphors and imagery, or explore what really matters to you, all designed to help you relate differently to your inner world and act on your values.
It can feel a little different from what people expect of therapy, because the aim is not to argue your way out of difficult thoughts or to feel good all the time, but to build a more workable relationship with your experience. Your therapist will guide this gently and make it relevant to your life. Sessions usually run for around 50 minutes.
You can read more about what to expect on our first session page.
Is ACT right for you?
ACT may be a great fit if you feel stuck in a struggle with your own thoughts and feelings, if avoidance has narrowed your life, or if you want to focus less on controlling how you feel and more on living meaningfully. It is helpful across many difficulties, and especially when you want an approach that works with the whole of life rather than one symptom.
ACT is one of several approaches we offer. Some people prefer the more structured, change-focused style of CBT, or are working through trauma or deep patterns that call for EMDR or schema therapy. Often a blend works best. If you are not sure what suits you, reaching out is a good first step, and we can help you decide together.
Your questions answered
Both are evidence-based, but they emphasise different things. Traditional CBT often works to change or challenge unhelpful thoughts, while ACT focuses on changing your relationship with thoughts and feelings, accepting them rather than fighting them, and committing to values-based action. Many practitioners, including ours, draw on both, tailored to you.
No. In ACT, acceptance does not mean resignation or approving of painful situations. It means stopping the exhausting, often losing battle to control feelings you cannot control, so you can put that energy into the actions and changes that are within your power. It is an active, empowering stance, not a passive one.
ACT provided by a registered psychologist can attract a Medicare rebate if you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP, which covers up to 10 individual sessions per calendar year. We are happy to explain what applies to you and talk through the options and costs before you begin.
Not at all. ACT uses mindfulness, but in a practical, down-to-earth way, and you do not need any prior experience or a particular belief system. The exercises are simply tools to help you be more present and less caught up in difficult thoughts, and your clinician will make them relevant and accessible to you.
This varies with what you are working through. ACT can be relatively brief for a focused concern, or form part of longer-term work. Because its skills apply broadly across life, many people keep benefiting from them well after therapy. We agree a plan with you and review progress as we go.
Yes. We offer sessions by secure telehealth across South West WA and Australia-wide, as well as in person at our Eaton clinic near Bunbury. For most people online sessions are just as effective, and they are especially helpful if you are in a regional area or short on time. You can read more on our online therapy page.
No referral is needed to book a session. You can contact us directly to arrange a first appointment. If you would like to access a Medicare rebate through a Mental Health Treatment Plan, you will need a GP referral first, and we can guide you through that.
ACT helps with a broad range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, stress, burnout, grief, and perfectionism, as well as living well with ongoing difficulties. If you are not sure whether it fits, we are happy to advise.
Medically reviewed by
General Practitioner
The clinical information on this page has been reviewed for accuracy by Dr Paul King, General Practitioner at Integro Health. It is general information, and not a substitute for personal medical or psychological advice.
