Move Beyond Emotional Struggles with ACT Therapy
At Flourish Psychological Services, we offer Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in Calgary to help individuals move beyond emotional struggles and build a more meaningful, values-driven life. ACT is an action-oriented therapy that encourages you to accept your thoughts and feelings rather than fight against them, helping you develop resilience, clarity, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Our experienced ACT therapists—McKenzie Henderson, Laurissa Knight, Bailey Charrois, Kathlyn Zales, Japneet Kamboj, Jessy Mix, and Ellen Lester—provide ACT-informed care in a structured, supportive, and personalized way. At Flourish Psychological Services, we are committed to helping you build the tools and confidence to navigate life’s challenges with greater clarity and resilience.
What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)?
ACT is a mindfulness-based therapy designed to help individuals accept their thoughts and emotions rather than fight against them. Instead of focusing on eliminating distress, ACT encourages you to develop psychological flexibility—allowing you to respond to challenges with greater clarity and resilience. ACT has been shown to help with anxiety, depression, trauma, and other emotional challenges. This approach helps you:
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Accept what is outside your control while focusing on what you can change.
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Recognize and process emotions in a healthy way.
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Identify core values and adjust behaviours to align with them.
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Develop mindfulness skills to stay present and engaged in life.
How Does ACT Work?
ACT is built on six core principles that support emotional growth and behavioural change. Through guided therapy, you’ll develop the skills to break free from unhelpful thought patterns and take action in alignment with your values.
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Cognitive Defusion: Learning to observe thoughts without becoming entangled in them.
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Acceptance: Making space for difficult emotions rather than avoiding or suppressing them.
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Being Present: Cultivating mindfulness to engage fully in the present moment.
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Self-as-Context: Understanding that your thoughts and emotions do not define who you are.
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Values Clarification: Identifying what truly matters to you and using it as a guide for decision-making.
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Committed Action: Taking purposeful steps toward a meaningful life, even in the presence of discomfort.
What to Expect During an ACT Session
Your first Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) session begins with an initial consultation, where you’ll meet with one of our licensed ACT therapists in Calgary. This session is an opportunity to discuss your concerns, explore your goals, and determine how ACT can support your mental well-being. Our therapists provide a welcoming and non-judgmental space where you can openly share your experiences and begin developing a personalized approach to therapy.
Following your consultation, your therapist will help you identify thought patterns, emotions, and behaviours contributing to distress. You’ll learn mindfulness and acceptance techniques to navigate difficult emotions, clarify your core values, and explore how to take meaningful action aligned with them. Unlike traditional talk therapy, which focuses on changing thoughts, ACT helps you shift how you relate to them—allowing you to respond to challenges with greater flexibility and resilience. This first session lays the groundwork for an action-oriented approach that supports long-term emotional well-being.
What are the Benefits of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps with a variety of mental health concerns, including:
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Anxiety, Depression, and Stress
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Trauma Recovery
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Emotional Regulation
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Chronic Pain and Illness Management
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Workplace and Relationship Challenges
Who can benefit from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?
ACT is particularly effective for individuals who feel stuck in negative thought patterns, struggle with emotional distress, or face ongoing life challenges. This therapy is well-suited for:
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Individuals Struggling with Negative Thoughts: If persistent self-doubt, anxiety, or distressing thoughts are affecting daily life, ACT helps you detach from these thoughts and focus on actions that align with your values.
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People Living with Chronic Pain or Illness: ACT teaches strategies to accept discomfort without letting it define your quality of life, providing emotional relief alongside physical health challenges.
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Those Facing Workplace and Relationship Difficulties: Whether dealing with work-related stress, personal conflicts, or boundary-setting, ACT helps individuals navigate these challenges with greater awareness and confidence.
ACT is a flexible, personalized therapy that adapts to each person’s unique needs, making it an effective approach for anyone seeking emotional growth, resilience, and lasting change.
Calgary-Based ACT Specialists You Can Trust
Finding the right therapist is an important step in your healing journey. Our team at Flourish Psychological Services specializes in ACT therapy for anxiety, depression, trauma, and more, offering both in-person and virtual sessions to support clients across Calgary and beyond.
ACT vs. Other Therapies
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) shares similarities with other therapeutic approaches but has distinct differences in its principles and techniques. While Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness-Based Therapy also focus on managing distress, ACT takes a unique approach by emphasizing psychological flexibility and values-driven action.
What Is The Difference?
1) ACT vs. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and restructuring negative thought patterns to reduce emotional distress. In contrast, ACT helps individuals accept thoughts and emotions without judgment, focusing instead on developing flexibility in how they respond to these experiences. Rather than challenging or changing thoughts, ACT encourages cognitive defusion, allowing individuals to create distance from unhelpful thinking patterns. ACT also places a stronger emphasis on mindfulness and values-driven action, helping individuals make meaningful choices even when distress is present.
2) ACT vs. Mindfulness-Based Therapy
While Mindfulness-Based Therapy focuses on increasing present-moment awareness, ACT extends beyond mindfulness by incorporating values-driven behavioural change. ACT helps individuals not only accept their emotions but also take committed steps toward a fulfilling life. Additionally, ACT introduces cognitive defusion techniques, which help individuals separate themselves from unhelpful thought patterns rather than becoming overwhelmed by them.
Mindfulness-based therapy promotes present-moment awareness and non-judgmental acceptance of thoughts and emotions, but it does not emphasize behavioural change. ACT integrates mindfulness while also focusing on values-driven action, helping individuals not only accept their emotions but also take committed steps toward a fulfilling life. Additionally, ACT incorporates cognitive defusion techniques, enabling individuals to separate themselves from unhelpful thought patterns rather than becoming entangled in them.
Why Choose ACT for Mental Health Support?
At Flourish Psychological Services, we take a compassionate and personalized approach to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Our goal is to help clients manage anxiety, depression, trauma, and stress while building the skills necessary for lasting emotional well-being. ACT is a research-backed therapy that has been proven highly effective in fostering psychological flexibility, allowing individuals to navigate challenges with greater clarity and resilience.
Our therapists integrate this evidence-based approach to support clients in developing healthier relationships with their thoughts and emotions, leading to meaningful and lasting change. Rather than just providing symptom relief, ACT focuses on helping clients build lifelong coping strategies. Through a structured yet flexible approach, our therapists guide individuals to accept difficult emotions, break free from negative thought patterns, and take purposeful action that aligns with their values. We are committed to creating a safe and supportive environment where clients can explore their experiences, gain new perspectives, and develop the tools needed for long-term emotional well-being.
Scheduling an ACT Session in Calgary
Even if you’re new to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, booking a session is quick and easy. Just follow these simple steps to get started.
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15-Minute Consultation
Start by filling out our user-friendly online contact form, which will set you up with a free 15-minute consultation with a therapist of your choice. That’s where you’ll briefly share your personal concerns and what you hope to achieve. It also gives us the opportunity to make sure we’re a good fit for you, too.
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Choose Your Therapist
After your free consultation, take the time to reflect on your experience and decide if you feel comfortable and connected with the therapist you spoke with. If so, you can book your first therapy session. If not, we can try someone else, or recommend a different clinic if we feel we cannot provide you with what you need.
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Choose Appointment
Choose the format – in-person or online – that best suits your comfort level and circumstances. Our virtual sessions are always secure, confidential, and convenient, but if you aren't a fan of online and would prefer face-to-face interactions, we'll warmly welcome you for your appointment!