Learning to Live Well, Even When Anxiety Is Present
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an approach that helps you build resilience and become more adaptable to anxiety. I use ACT to support you in developing practical strategies that help you respond differently to anxious thoughts and feelings, so they have less influence over your life and wellbeing.
ACT is based on the understanding that the goal is not to get rid of anxiety altogether. Instead, it helps you accept that anxiety may be part of your experience while learning how to live a meaningful and fulfilling life alongside it.
Anxiety can sometimes be a helpful signal that something in your world needs attention. For others, it can become overwhelming and begin to affect everyday life. It may stop you from going shopping, meeting a friend for coffee, going for a walk, or enjoying activities that once brought you joy. Over time, anxiety can begin making decisions for you instead of allowing you to make choices that reflect the life you want to live.
Responding Differently to Anxiety
ACT encourages you to stop struggling against anxiety and instead develop a different relationship with it. For many people, constantly fighting anxious thoughts and feelings can lead to even more distress and worry when the anxiety doesn’t go away.
Rather than allowing anxiety to control your choices, ACT helps you acknowledge your thoughts and feelings without running away from them. It supports you to step back, notice what is happening, and then refocus your energy on actions that improve your wellbeing and align with what matters most to you.
How We Work Together
When I use ACT in our sessions, we begin by gently exploring how anxiety is showing up in your life. Together, we’ll work at a pace that feels right for you, without judgement or pressure.
We’ll learn a process called defusion, which helps you recognise that anxious thoughts are simply thoughts—they don’t have to control your actions. I’ll also introduce mindfulness strategies that help bring your attention back to the present moment, rather than becoming caught up in the past or worrying about the future.
As we continue working together, we’ll identify your personal values and use them as a guide for taking meaningful action, even when anxiety is still present.
ACT isn’t about waiting until anxiety disappears before you start living your life. It’s about helping you move towards the things that matter most to you, building confidence and resilience along the way, and discovering that anxiety doesn’t have to define yo