ACT Therapy in Edmonton
Learn About Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
What is ACT?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT, pronounced “act”) is a modern, evidence-based form of psychotherapy that helps people live more meaningful, values-aligned lives — even in the presence of difficult thoughts, emotions, and experiences.
Unlike therapies that focus primarily on eliminating symptoms, ACT focuses on helping you accept what is outside your control while committing to actions that enrich your life. It’s rooted in mindfulness, behavior change science, and relational frame theory (a model of how language and thoughts influence human behavior).
ACT is not about “fixing” or avoiding negative experiences. Instead, it teaches you to open up to them, create distance from unhelpful thoughts, and move forward with intention.
How Does ACT Work?
ACT is built around six core processes designed to increase psychological flexibility — the ability to be present, open, and take action in ways that align with your values.
The six core processes of ACT:
Cognitive Defusion: Learn to “unhook” from unhelpful thoughts by seeing them for what they are — words and stories, not facts or commands.
Acceptance: Practice making room for painful feelings instead of fighting or avoiding them. Emotions are treated as valid experiences, not problems to eliminate.
Present Moment Awareness: Cultivate mindful awareness of your thoughts, body, and surroundings so you can respond (rather than react) to life.
Self-as-Context: Develop a flexible sense of self that isn’t defined by your thoughts, past, or labels. You are more than your mind’s narrative.
Values: Identify what matters most to you — such as connection, growth, authenticity, or contribution.
Committed Action: Take small, meaningful steps toward your values, even when things feel hard or uncertain.
Rather than trying to control or “think your way out” of emotional pain, ACT helps you respond to it in healthier, more empowering ways.
What Are the Benefits of ACT?
ACT is helpful for a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, chronic pain, trauma, OCD, burnout, grief, and life transitions. It’s also increasingly used for clients who feel “stuck” or disconnected from their purpose.
Some core benefits of ACT include:
Greater emotional resilience: You learn to ride the waves of life instead of resisting them.
Freedom from thought traps: By defusing from self-judgment and fear-based thinking, you can stop over-identifying with negative mental chatter.
Improved decision-making: Values-based clarity helps you choose what really matters, even in tough situations.
A stronger sense of purpose: ACT connects you with your values — giving you a roadmap for meaningful living.
Enhanced relationships: ACT can help you show up more authentically and compassionately with others.
ACT is not about “feeling good all the time.” It’s about learning to feel everything fully, while living intentionally.
What Can I Expect in ACT?
Each ACT session is experiential, engaging, and deeply grounded in your lived reality. You won’t just talk about your problems — you’ll learn new ways to relate to them.
A typical ACT experience may include:
Identifying stuck points: Exploring where avoidance, self-criticism, or rigid thinking is keeping you from the life you want.
Mindfulness practices: Breathing, grounding, or body-awareness exercises to help you stay present and respond skillfully.
Values clarification: Uncovering what matters most to you — and how that can guide your decisions, relationships, and growth.
Creative metaphors and exercises: ACT uses stories, images, and experiential tools to help shift how you relate to inner experiences.
Behavioural commitments: You’ll set small, achievable goals that reflect your values — even if fear or discomfort show up.
ACT is collaborative and paced to fit your comfort level. The therapist acts as a guide, not a problem-solver — helping you build the skills to lead a fuller, more intentional life.
Our Approach
At Crossroads Psychological & Wellness, we see ACT as more than a therapy method — it’s a way of relating to ourselves and others with compassion, courage, and curiosity.
Our therapists are trained to:
Provide trauma-informed ACT that honours your nervous system’s needs.
Adapt ACT for anxiety, depression, OCD, grief, trauma, and existential concerns.
Blend ACT with other therapies when appropriate (like CBT or EMDR).
Help you live in alignment with your core values — not just “cope” with distress.
We believe healing doesn’t mean “erasing” pain — it means building a bigger, richer life that can hold it. ACT gives you the tools to step out of struggle and into your most meaningful self.
