Partially derived from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, this evidence based therapy works by helping you identify your core values — using them to guide the change process. With the support of your therapist, you’ll learn how to live with intention in order to build a life that is meaningful, surrounded by relationships (with self and others) that are more authentic in quality. ACT uses the powerful stress relieving principles of mindfulness to teach you how to take actions that are purposeful to fully engage in each present moment. This includes learning to accept rather than avoid emotional pain. You will develop a healthier relationship with your emotions by exploring them with curiosity and a detachment from personal identity, rather than harshly judging them and allowing them to shape your sense of identity. This process enables you to live a life in which you are no longer controlled by external circumstances and can effectively commit to change no matter what life throws your way. ACT has proven effective in treating a large variety of concerns, including anxiety, depression, chronic pain, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), etc., but you do not need to have a diagnosable mental health condition to benefit from it.