What is ACT therapy?
ACT, pronounced “act,” is an acronym for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. At the heart of this therapeutic approach is the intention to develop greater cognitive flexibility through techniques that can be applied directly in daily life.
The goal of developing this mental flexibility is to help us avoid getting “stuck” in repetitive thought patterns or in the repetition of ineffective or destructive situations. Step by step, we learn to experiment with what does or does not work for us, in order to build a life that feels deeply satisfying.
How does ACT therapy work?
ACT therapy does not aim to endlessly revisit a patient’s personal stories, because these stories can sometimes reinforce a strong causal link between subjective personal memories and very real consequences. In other words, inaction and self-destructive behaviors can sometimes be caused by unfounded beliefs that have become too deeply rooted in the mind.
To help us “reframe” ineffective perspectives, ACT teaches us how to put three key principles into practice:
Openness
Openness consists of detaching from personal stories that are no longer useful, or that may even be harmful, in order to become more open to new and fulfilling experiences.
To achieve this, the therapist guides the patient through a series of questions and metaphors, while adopting a neutral, compassionate, and non-judgmental attitude.
Present-moment awareness
A wide range of techniques inspired by Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction — such as breathing exercises and attention to physical sensations — can help reduce the influence of thoughts that keep us trapped in inaction, harmful behaviors, and negative spirals.
Present-moment awareness is a prerequisite for being able to act according to the circumstances.
Committed action
As opposed to avoidance, exercises that clarify our values and help us manage our goals allow us to make conscious choices motivated by what truly matters to us — our sources of vitality and satisfaction. This naturally leads to committed action.
The difference between satisfaction and pleasure
Our instinct tends to make us seek pleasure, because the link between satisfaction and pleasure is obvious. What is less obvious is the link that can exist between satisfaction and unpleasant situations.
Just as some short-term pleasures can be harmful in the long run — addictions are a typical example — some experiences may be unpleasant in the moment but enriching over time. Pain is often an opportunity to clarify our priorities and values in order to build a life filled with satisfaction.
The pursuit of fulfillment and satisfaction by aligning our actions with our personal values is different from the pursuit of happiness, and is often incompatible with the pursuit of quick pleasures.
The FACT variant: when should it be used?
ACT therapy is particularly well suited to support people who want to live better with chronic pain, whether mental or physical. This form of therapy can show positive results in a very short time.
For this purpose, Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy — FACT — is a variant designed to get straight to the point in as little as 30 minutes. Each session provides the patient with a new technique they can use in their specific context, whether they are dealing with a difficult situation, thought, or emotion.
In this way, FACT can be perfectly integrated as a complement to another form of care. Some health and wellness professionals use FACT during consultations or alongside other forms of support, such as nutritional counseling.
Personally, I support people with irritable bowel syndrome through a holistic approach aimed at improving several aspects of digestion:
ACT therapy: to help you move forward and develop awareness, ACT provides tools to clarify your priorities and motivate you to take targeted and effective action.
Nutritional counseling: to support a balanced diet and optimal hydration, while taking into account personal sensitivities and food intolerances.
Clear, practical, and straight-to-the-point guides: to help you understand how to rebalance the gut microbiota and use supplements to act quickly on symptoms related to digestive disorders. My expertise in food supplements, based on scientific research, allows me to offer personalized guidance that takes into account not only your symptoms, but also the cost of supplements and their level of effectiveness as supported by science.
The process of digestion also extends to the digestion of ideas and thoughts.
Kind regards.