ACT
Acceptance & Commitment
Therapy
What if you stopped trying so hard to feel better and started actually living better? ACT isn't about getting rid of difficult thoughts and feelings. It's about changing your relationship with them, so they stop running the show. Acceptance isn't giving up, it's the first step toward real change.
At Evluni, we offer Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) in Beacon Hill, Calgary NW, available for in person and virtual sessions
What is ACT and why is it different?
ACT (pronounced like the word "act") stands for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and it takes a refreshingly different angle on mental health. Most of us have been taught by well-meaning people, by culture, by our own survival instincts that if we feel bad, we need to fix it. Get rid of the anxiety. Stop the sad thoughts. Control the fear.
ACT gently challenges that. It suggests that the struggle to control our inner experience is often what creates the most suffering. The more we fight a thought or try to push a feeling away, the louder it tends to get.
Instead, ACT teaches you to make room for difficult thoughts and feelings, not because you like them or agree with them, but because fighting them is exhausting and it's been getting in the way of your life. Once you're no longer spending all your energy in that battle, you have room to start moving toward what actually matters to you.
ACT is grounded in mindfulness and a strong focus on your personal values, the things that make your life feel meaningful when you're living in alignment with them.
Could ACT be what you've been looking for?
ACT is especially helpful when you feel stuck in a loop, trying everything to feel better but the same things keep coming back. You might find it helpful if you're dealing with:
Anxiety and chronic worry
Depression or low motivation
Burnout or life exhaustion
Patterns of Avoidance
Chronic pain or illness
Life transitions or identity struggles
Perfectionism
Feeling disconnected from what matters
Intrusive or obsessive thoughts
Unhealthy coping habits
Ready to stop fighting yourself and start living your values?
Let's talk. Our ACT-trained therapists in Calgary NW are here to help. Book a free 15-minute consultation with one of our therapists and we'll help you find the approach that feels right for where you are right now
Marlies Wester
Melody Lien
Registered Clinical Social WorkerRegistered Provisional Psychologist
Uzma Mehreen
Registered Social WorkerFrequently asked questions
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CBT typically focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts. ACT takes a different approach, instead of challenging the content of thoughts, you learn to change your relationship to them. Both are valuable, and many of our therapists draw from both depending on what you need.
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This is the most common misunderstanding about ACT, and it's a fair one. Acceptance in ACT doesn't mean approval or giving up. It means acknowledging what's present through your fear, your grief, and/or your frustration without adding the extra layer of fighting it. You can fully accept a feeling AND still work hard to change your situation.
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You're not alone in that experience. ACT uses mindfulness in a very practical, informal way, it's not about clearing your mind or sitting still for 20 minutes. If formal mindfulness hasn't clicked for you, your therapist can find approaches that fit how your brain actually works.
Book a free 15 minute consultation
We’re here to listen and support you. If you know you're ready, you can book your free 15-minute phone consultation directly through our online booking, it's quick and easy.
Can't find a consultation time that works for your schedule? Email the therapist of preference directly and we'll make it happen.
Not sure who to book with, or just want to reach out first? Fill out the form and we'll take it from there, matching you with the therapist who feels like the right fit for what you're going through.
And if navigating the booking site feels like one thing too many right now, that's okay too. Just reach out and we'll handle the booking for you.
We’re here when you’re ready.